The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort: A Culinary Paradise

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is the place to be for a great meal in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

Luxury resorts in the Maldives come a dime a dozen, where dazzling turquoise lagoons, plush overwater villas, and first-rate hospitality are baseline expectations. However, what sets these five-star escapes apart is the exceptional food. Since its 2016 opening, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort has distinguished itself as a culinary tour de force with its selection of six gourmet, globally inspired restaurants and innovative wine cellar degustation menus. Consequently, with a new guest chef series, food enthusiasts have another delicious reason to explore their next Maldivian getaway.

Guest Chef Series

The resort’s rotating guest chef series began in late 2021 and will continue through 2022, drawing a global roster of exceptional chefs to the five-star escape two days each month. For instance, in early December, celebrated chef Prateek Sadhu brought his acclaimed cooking techniques from his noted Mumbai restaurant Masque to the Maldivian coastline, hosting special dinners and intimate cooking classes. Previous headliners have included chef Dharshan Munidasa from Sri Lanka’s renowned Ministry of Crab and Valencian-based chef Eduaro Torres from Molino Roca, with the 2022 lineup yet to be announced. Even if you miss out on the special guest chef dates, the resort’s extensive array of restaurants and exquisite dining experiences will still satisfy your gourmet cravings.

Dining Experiences

The St. Regis Maldives’ centerpiece restaurant is Alba, where guests can indulge in a lavish buffet breakfast (if not enjoying it in their private pool villa) along with international choices for lunch and Italian for dinner. On a delightful morning, guests enter the sophisticated, airy space to select from a sumptuous buffet spread—ranging from fresh dim sum and South Asian delicacies to continental favorites—before enjoying a meal at beachfront tables on the sand. The breakfast à la carte menu is equally impressive, featuring sweet and savory options such as waffles, duck leg confit, and Maldivian-inspired omelets.

Decanter Experience

Tucked beneath Alba is the resort’s culinary masterpiece: Decanter, a subterranean wine cellar that hosts exclusive multi-course degustations with curated wine pairings. It is advisable to plan well in advance to secure an evening not to be missed, where executive chef Pedro Samper and Maldivian wine sommelier Ahmed Athif guide guests through a memorable dining experience featuring exquisite dishes like caviar-topped reef lobster poached in butter, coupled with selections from the resort’s impressive 2,000-plus bottle wine collection.

Casual Dining at Crust & Craft

On the more casual side is Crust & Craft, the designated “beach shack” pizzeria, the resort’s most relaxed and budget-friendly dining option. Here, guests can savor freshly baked pizzas with toppings that range from parma ham and organic basil to Maldivian smoked tuna, along with tacos, bruschetta, and burgers, including the must-try Maldivian lobster burger.

Orientale and Cocktail Experiences

Orientale, the resort’s exclusive dinner-only Asian dining venue, has recently revamped its menu to focus on Chinese and Japanese flavors. Under its elegant open-air terrace, guests can now enjoy delectable sushi rolls, Wagyu beef dishes, and other elevated classics. The Chinese menu features dim sum (some lavishly topped with caviar) and wok-fried selections like lobster and fiery Sichuan chicken. Moreover, the special beachside Orientale Express offering presents an exclusive five-course Chinese omakase dinner.

For cocktail enthusiasts, few places in the Maldives are as captivating for a sundowner as Whale Bar. Resembling a curvaceous whale shark, this overwater lounge features a pyrographic mural by artist Maya Burman that depicts coral and marine life. It’s the perfect location to sample The St. Regis Maldives’s flagship cocktail, the Island Mary—a local twist on the traditional Bloody Mary—prepared tableside and served in a seashell.

Cargo Dining Experience

Providing a unique change of scenery from the beachfront restaurants, Cargo is nestled within the island’s jungle landscape and is ideal for starry evenings. This shipping-container-turned-food-kiosk serves Middle Eastern comforts like signature hummus, falafel, and succulent lamb dishes.

Conclusion

With its extensive array of restaurants, distinguished wine collection, innovative guest chef series, and a wide variety of private dining experiences in unique locations—from sandbank picnics to intimate jungle cinema screenings—The St. Regis Maldives is the ultimate gourmet destination in the heart of the Indian Ocean. Therefore, be sure to pack your appetite for an unforgettable culinary journey.