Malé, the capital, has a few simple restaurants which serve local and international food. On the other islands, there are a few restaurants in addition to those run by the resorts. Cuisine is international, with all foodstuffs other than seafood imported. There are no bars, except in the resorts, where there is a good range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink available, reflecting the demands of the visitors.
Things to know: All bars are situated in tourist resorts (no alcohol is available on Malé). All accept cash, but normally add orders onto the total bill. Locals do
not drink at all. During the month of Ramadan (see
Public Holidays), visitors are not allowed to drink alcohol in public except in the tourist resorts.
National specialties:
• Seafood is widely available, such as tuna, grouper, octopus, jobfish and swordfish.
• Kavaabu (deep fried snacks made from rice, tuna, coconut, lentils, and spices).
• Curries, such as chicken or beef, are widely available. Curry leaves are added to a lot of Maldavian dishes.
National drinks:
• The Maldive Lady (a powerful and delicious cocktail, whose composition varies from bar to bar and island to island).
Tipping: This is officially discouraged.
NoteAll bars are situated in tourist resorts (no alcohol is available on Malé). All accept cash, but normally add orders onto the total bill. Locals do not drink at all. During the month of Ramadan (see
Public Holidays), visitors are not allowed to drink alcohol in public except in the tourist resorts.
NightlifeThere is little or no organized nightlife, although most resorts have informal discos around the bar areas, sometimes featuring live bands playing either traditional or Western music. Beach parties and barbecues are also popular. On some evenings, many resorts have cultural shows and some show videos.
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