What to eat Maldives? culinary specialties and gastronomy

In town, restaurants are generally open continuously from lunchtime until 11pm, or even midnight on Thursday and Friday evenings. In the island hotels, each restaurant has its own opening hours. Gourmet restaurants are often only open in the evening, by reservation. On Friday lunchtimes, all restaurants are closed between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., so that Muslim employees can attend the mosque. In island hotels, buffets are generally less crowded on this day.

You should expect to pay around ten ruffias for a full meal in a Maldivian restaurant. Malé's trendy restaurants are often a little more expensive.

The bill always includes a 10% service charge. Nevertheless, even a small tip is always appreciated.

In local restaurants and bouis-bouis, it's not uncommon to eat with your hands. Remember that you should always use your right hand. However, Maldivians are accustomed to Western ways and you'll always have cutlery at your disposal.

Eating with the left hand is frowned upon in the Maldives. As in all Muslim countries, the left hand is reserved for impure actions such as intimate hygiene.

Children are always and everywhere welcome in the Maldives. They generally attract the goodwill of waiters and table neighbors.

Maldivians are heavy smokers. In theory, smoking in enclosed spaces is forbidden. However, it's not uncommon for men to smoke indoors in local island cafés. There are always tables outside for those who like to eat and smoke at the same time.

Tourists generally travel directly from the airport to their island hotel. Few visit the local islands (with the exception of Maafushi), and your presence will arouse indifference at worst, curiosity at best.

Maldivian days never end very late, except on the party islands. Cafés are open during the day and close in the early evening, with the exception of trendy places that delay closing until 11pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends.

Expect to pay around MVR 35 for a coffee and MVR 20 for a soda. If you like to party, plan an all-inclusive stay on an island hotel, so you don't spend too much money at the hotel bar.

The consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the Maldives on local islands. However, it is permitted on islands reserved for tourists. If you're staying on a local island, you may be able to go to a neighboring island hotel (some allow outside visitors for a fee) to enjoy the bar. There are floating bars on the most popular local islands. A boat anchors off the island and alcohol consumption is permitted for foreign tourists. Do not try to bring alcohol onto a local island or into the country. It is strictly forbidden.

In the absence of alcohol on the local islands, Maldivians drink a lot of sodas. You'll also find non-alcoholic cocktails in some Western-style cafés.

Children are welcome wherever you go. Be aware, however, that women and children can be looked down upon in the traditional cafés of the small local islands, frequented only by the men of the village.

In theory, smoking is forbidden in enclosed public spaces. Maldivians are heavy smokers, and men sometimes smoke in small, traditional cafés. Cafés and restaurants almost always have a terrace where smokers are happy to sit.

The Maldives is a very safe country. There are no particular tourist traps or scams in the country.