DINING

Male has a wide variety of cafes and restaurants, most offering a range of hot and spicy local snacks and meals. The majority of the food outlets in Male are cafes or teashops which dot many of the streets. In these you would find the atmosphere busy and hectic, as well as a high noise level to match. These are the ideal places to sample the local fare. A range of 'short eats'-local sweets and savouries are displayed inside glass food cases. Teashops are of the self-service type. You may find the norms here quite different from those at restaurants you have seen elsewhere in the world or even in Male.

Don't be surprised if someone sits at your table, as here it is a sort of friendly communal atmosphere. These are often patronised by busy workers - a quick snack and off to work again. At meal times you would find a number of fish, chicken and beef curries, rice and other delicacies displayed. The curries are often hot and spicy but if you can cope, these would give you a taste of genuine local dishes. In the month of Ramadan, when locals observe the Islamic month of fasting, all food outlets in Male remain closed during the day.

Most dining though is done in within the resorts as they are often isolated and the only options available are the restaurants within the resort complexes. Other than that, there are a few restaurants in the capital city and on the other inhabited islands though to a lesser extent than on Male.

Tourist fare throughout the Maldives is varied, fresh, and almost uniformly excellent. Breakfasts would be familiar to most Westerners. Corn flakes and other cereals, scrambled eggs, omelettes cooked to taste, a variety of freshly baked breads, juice, tea and coffee. Lunches and dinners most always included rice, pasta dishes, choice of chicken, meat, fish, and wonderful curries. Salad bars are offered at lunch and dinner. Deserts included fresh, and/or canned fruits, cakes, flan and a variety of mousses.

Local favourites are the various seafood dishes on offer, some of these unique to the archipelago, but many are influenced by Sri Lankan and Indian cuisine. Maldive Fish is a favourite and consists of tuna cooked the Maldivian way. Enjoy!