Drink
Atmosphere Core differentiates resorts via branded dining destinations, events
Since the 1970s, when travellers first discovered these heavenly far-flung isles, Maldives has come a long way in establishing itself as one of the world’s most sought-after luxury travel destinations. Carving a niche for itself in this highly competitive hospitality industry, Atmosphere Core started its journey with Atmosphere Kanifushi launched in 2013. The success of this five-star resort built the company’s reputation for service excellence, genuine hospitality through unique ‘Holiday Plans’, and the finest food and beverage experiences.
“In the infamous words of Virginia Woolf, ‘One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well’. Consistency in delivering an exceptional guest experience is at the heart of our Food and Beverage approach, quotes, Anupam Banerjee, Vice President Food & Beverage at Atmosphere Core.
No truer words have ever been said according to Anupam, who is the creative mind behind Atmosphere Core’s exceptional dining experiences, restaurant and bar concepts and exotic menus across the group. With a firm belief that if guests eat well, have the healthiest of fresh food options, the widest variety of regional and international cuisine supported with exceptional levels of personalised service, all set within stunning environments, everything else will fall into place. Anupam and the Food & Beverage teams on each resort strive to ensure Atmosphere Core presents best-in-class guest experiences.
Take for instance ‘Just Veg’ at Atmosphere Kanifushi, the first à la carte vegetarian restaurant in the Maldives. Launched long before plant-based cuisine gained popularity, Just Veg has been ranked as the number one restaurant in the Maldives by TripAdvisor. Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts brand continues with innovative concepts such as ‘Kaagé’ at VARU by Atmosphere where travellers can savour a signature Maldivian fine dining experience. From traditional architecture to video storytelling and an artistic presentation of heritage recipes, the multi-sensory journey truly brings alive local culture.
At the forefront of luxury culinary experiences is the company’s premium brand, THE OZEN COLLECTION. Picture waking up to lavish champagne breakfasts and dining underwater at the enchanting ‘M6m’ restaurant. At OZEN LIFE MAADHOO, unmatched gastronomic adventures include ‘New Age’ Maldivian cuisine served at ‘Lonu’ alongside authentic Chinese to heritage Indian and Sri Lankan fine dining options. While over at OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI the overwater ‘ORIGINƎ’ restaurant serves signature gastronomic curations with wine pairings from its enviable cellar. Atmosphere Core also recently launched ‘Soyi’, a pan-Asian concept restaurant at the group’s flagship private island.
Bustling with vibrant experiences, at COLOURS OF OBLU brand’s four lively island resorts there are an array of memorable culinary experiences for guests to enjoy. Offerings range from modern gourmet dishes at ‘Only BLU’ under ocean restaurant at OBLU SELECT Lobigili to chilled-out dinners at OBLU Xperience Ailafushi’s ‘The Copper Pot Food Truck’ and contemporary Pan-Asian cuisine at ‘JustWok’ at OBLU SELECT Sangeli. The brand’s diving resort, OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO also reopened this year with an all-new look including the addition of a progressive Indian restaurant, ‘Raga Route’ which has already become a favourite among global travellers.
Emphasising our unwavering commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and excellence, we are pleased to announce a distinguished partnership with Sakurafresh, the acclaimed Japanese Zero Alcohol Spirits brand. In collaboration with Sakurafresh, Atmosphere Core is pioneering a ‘Beverage Partnership Program’ focused on sourcing superior natural ingredients to produce premium zero-alcohol cocktails that cater to the sophisticated tastes and growing demand in the Maldives.
Beyond the plate, Atmosphere Core differentiates itself through immersive, multi-sensory dining experiences. Guests can join cooking classes, exclusive dinners with wine makers, and special seasonal celebrations. There is also a focus on sustainability. With a conscious focus on reducing food waste, using sustainable seafood, and incorporating plant-based options into menus. Most of the company’s island resorts feature kitchen gardens to grow fresh herbs and produce, with OZEN LIFE MAADHOO having a 140 square-metres indoor hydroponic farm which now supports four islands with leaf vegetables and herbs.
In conclusion, Anupam states, “To advance our castaway island dining, we must not only exceed global trends but also ensure consistent delivery of exceptional guest experiences. To sustain Atmosphere Core’s leadership, we are committed to anticipating future trends and upholding the highest standards of quality and satisfaction.”
Drink
THE OZEN COLLECTION to host sixth Bodegas Viñátigo wine master class
For wine lovers and curious travellers alike, there are few experiences as captivating as discovering a wine with a story. And few stories are as compelling as that of Bodegas Viñátigo a winery born from the volcanic soils of Tenerife, where winemakers have spent over thirty years bringing nearly forgotten grape varieties back to life.
This November, that story arrives once again in the Maldives, as THE OZEN COLLECTION hosts the sixth annual Bodegas Viñátigo Wine Master Class, a rare and immersive journey through the flavours, traditions, and artistry of the Canary Islands.
The journey begins at OZEN LIFE MAADHOO from 23rd to 25th November with The Submerged Cellar Soirée at M6m, the iconic underwater restaurant six metres beneath the lagoon, with the experimental underwater aged wines as welcome drink and a curated menu celebrating land and sea is thoughtfully paired with the expressive wines of Tenerife. The exploration continues across the resort’s signature dining venues, each offering a distinct perspective on the Bodegas Viñátigo collection. At Sea, Salt & Soy, the bold flavours of Pan-Asian cuisine meet the nuanced elegance of Canarian wines at TRADITION PEKING, creating a symphony of taste and texture. The experience culminates with Brunch with Shakespeare, a refined and poetic conclusion to the Maadhoo chapter, where wine, food, and storytelling converge beneath the Maldivian sun.

“Our wines from Tenerife’s volcanic soil to the pristine shores of the Maldives has been an extraordinary experience,” shares Juan Jesús Méndez. “Our collaboration with THE OZEN COLLECTION has allowed us to share these remarkable wines with a global audience. The continued enthusiasm from our guests encourages us to create even more expressions of our wines.”
The vinous voyage continues at OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI from 27th to 29th November, where curated dinners and tastings explore the artistry of the wines through innovative culinary collaborations. The journey begins with The Sand Cellar Soirée at ORIGINꓱ, a contemporary dining experience that pairs the depth of volcanic wines with modern gastronomic artistry. A Pan-Asian dinner at Sand, Smoke & Soy brings together two distinctive culinary traditions in a creative dialogue, exploring the harmony between bold island flavours and the heritage of the Canary Islands. The experience culminates with Sunset with Shakespeare, an intimate beachside wine pairing offering guests the rare opportunity to engage directly with the Bodegas Viñátigo wine makers, connect with the passion and heritage behind each vintage, and toast to an unforgettable journey.
“Canary wine is a story of land, tradition, and connection. My journey with Bodegas Viñátigo has taken me to the annual harvest in Tenerife recently, where I witnessed the care and precision that shape every vintage. That experience brought a new level of detail and understanding to our collaboration, reinforcing our commitment to bringing guests not just a wine, but a sense of place. This partnership has enriched our offering and deepened our dedication to authentic, terroir-driven experiences,” said Rohit Salunke, Assistant Director of Wines at Atmosphere Core, said about his experience with the wine makers.

Since 2021, THE OZEN COLLECTION and Bodegas Viñátigo have shared a commitment to authenticity, craftsmanship, and the art of winemaking. Each year, this exclusive collaboration brings the rare volcanic wines of Tenerife to the shores of the Maldives, offering guests an intimate glimpse into the heritage and passion behind every vintage. Over the years, the programme has evolved into a signature event on the Maldivian luxury calendar, a celebration of terroir, tradition, and the enduring bond between two island cultures.
As part of the resort’s all-encompassing RESERVE™ Plan and INDULGENCE™ Plan, this once-a-year experience invites guests to indulge in an extraordinary celebration of wine, cuisine, and island beauty. With limited spaces and a programme designed to enchant both connoisseurs and newcomers alike, we encourage you to reserve your place and raise a glass to the artistry of land, sea, and timeless craft.
Drink
Finolhu welcomes New Zealand’s Sato Wines for two exclusive dining experiences
Finolhu, a Seaside Collection Resort, will welcome the distinctive wines of Central Otago, New Zealand, for two intimate Sato Wine Dinners this September, bringing together expressive winemaking and the resort’s award-winning culinary creativity in two of its signature dining settings.
Taking place on 23 September at Kanusan and 27 September at Crab Shack, the evenings will invite guests to discover a curated selection of Sato wines, each thoughtfully paired with a specially crafted menu by Finolhu’s culinary team. Designed to complement the individual character of every pour, the menus will create a journey through flavour, provenance and craftsmanship against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean.
Founded in 2009 by husband-and-wife winemakers Yoshiaki and Kyoko Sato, Sato Wines is a boutique producer based in Central Otago, one of New Zealand’s most celebrated wine regions. Following careers in international banking in Tokyo and London, the couple pursued their passion for winemaking, studying viticulture and oenology and gaining valuable winemaking experience across several countries before establishing their own vineyard in Central Otago.
At the heart of Sato is a philosophy centred on organic and biodynamic farming and minimal-intervention winemaking, allowing the character of the grapes, vineyard and vintage to take centre stage. Today, their wines have developed a devoted international following for their purity, finesse and distinctive expression of Central Otago.

The collaboration finds a natural home at Finolhu, where gastronomy is an integral part of the island experience. From relaxed barefoot dining along its famous two-kilometre sandbank to refined overwater cuisine, each of the resort’s restaurants brings together its own culinary identity, atmosphere and sense of place.
The first Sato Wine Dinner on 23 September will unfold at Kanusan, Finolhu’s award-winning overwater fine-dining restaurant, where classical and contemporary Japanese influences provide a contrasting setting for the second specially curated Sato pairing menu.
On 27 September, the experience moves to Crab Shack, Finolhu’s laid-back, toes-in-the-sand dining destination at the end of the sandbank. Surrounded by the lagoon and the relaxed rhythm of island life, the setting will provide an informal yet memorable backdrop for the evening’s wine and food pairings.
The dinners follow Finolhu’s recent recognition as one of the Best Culinary Resorts at the Travel Trade Maldives (TTM) Awards 2026, celebrating the resort’s commitment to making gastronomy an essential part of the guest journey. From thoughtfully developed menus and international influences to distinctive settings shaped by the surrounding Maldivian landscape, Finolhu continues to approach dining as an experience that extends far beyond the plate.
The Sato Wine Dinners add another chapter to this culinary story, offering guests an opportunity to discover one of Central Otago’s distinctive boutique producers while experiencing Finolhu’s creativity through two very different island dining experiences.
For more information and reservations, visit finolhu.com.
Drink
The Enigma Mansion brings Vietnamese mixology to JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll
JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort welcomes an exceptional celebration of Vietnamese cocktail craftsmanship from September 17 – 19, as The Enigma Mansion brings its distinctive approach to modern mixology to the shores of the Maldives.
Recognised among Asia’s 50 Best Bars, The Enigma Mansion has been redefining the cocktail experience since 2022, blending Vietnam’s rich regional flavours with contemporary techniques and an unwavering commitment to hospitality. The bar ranked No. 93 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list, alongside recognition from Top 500 Bars and Tatler Vietnam.

Leading the experience is Bien Ngoc Vu, known as Will — Co-Founder and General Manager of The Enigma Mansion. An award-winning bartender, entrepreneur, and beverage innovator, Will was crowned World Class Vietnam Champion in 2021 and is a multiple-time national bartending champion. His approach to cocktail craft is rooted in creativity, regional ingredients, and advanced techniques, helping shape the evolving cocktail culture of Vietnam while establishing The Enigma Mansion as a destination for innovative beverage experiences.
Joining Will is Jason Le Quang Truong, Head Bartender at The Enigma Mansion and a Saigon-based bartender celebrated for his inventive approach to modern mixology. At the heart of the bar’s beverage program, Jason brings together regional ingredients, refined presentation, contemporary techniques, and thoughtful flavour development to create distinctive cocktails that reflect the character of Vietnam.

Guests are invited to join this exclusive three-day showcase, where each evening reveals a new dimension of Vietnamese cocktail artistry. At Nikkei Bar, golden hour comes alive with an exclusive sunset activation and uniquely crafted cocktails that spark connection. The next evening unfolds in JW Garden, where freshly picked ingredients from the resort garden transform into refined creations. The finale at Wahoo Bar offers an elegant beachfront setting, where tropical cocktails meet a breathtaking horizon for a serene close to the experience.
“We are delighted to welcome The Enigma Mansion to JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort. This collaboration reflects our commitment to curating exceptional beverage experiences that celebrate global craftsmanship,” said Arup Chakraborty, Director of Food & Beverage.“By bringing inventive cocktails to our signature venues, guests will experience not only creativity and innovation but also the artistry and passion that define world–class hospitality in the Maldives.”

This partnership invites guests to discover the artistry behind each pour through a distinctly contemporary lens. From the precision of modern techniques to the richness of regional ingredients, every cocktail becomes an expression of place, craftsmanship, and discovery.
For more information, please visit the resort’s official website.
-
News1 week agoMadifushi Private Island celebrates Maldivian heritage on World Coconut Day
-
Meditation1 week agoCOMO Resorts Maldives brings marine experts, artists and wellness specialists to its islands
-
News1 week agoSiyam World celebrates five years with sports, culture and Halloween programme
-
News1 week agoHuvafen Fushi expands wellness offering with Aromatherapy Associates treatments
-
Awards1 week agoSun Siyam Vilu Reef secures Best House Reef title at TTM Awards
-
Action1 week agoKandima Maldives lines up sports residencies and family festivities for October
-
Entertainment7 days agoSilent DJ brings music and movement to Madifushi Private Island
-
News1 week agoCulinary encounters and island experiences shape festivities at The Nautilus Maldives


