Soneva Fushi: Down to Earth by Ravi.
There are certain images which immediately make you think of the Maldives, are there not? No matter which Pinterest boards you’ve looked at, one of those expectations has to be the romantic dining on the beach scenario. Soneva Fushi is no stranger to this game, and offer up the picturesque island setting at Down to Earth by Ravi, which we dined at during the last evening of our stay. Ravi’s offers a selection of international cuisine, and, like the rest of the F&B outlets, focuses on seafood, and other more sustainable practices. While the main section of Ravi’s is covered (where the live cooking stations are based), we took the opportunity to dine al fresco, just as the sun was nearly set. With candlelight, it was a bit difficult to see, but we wouldn’t want to wreck the ambiance, now would we? After a relatively inedible amuse bouche (a combined effort of…
Soneva Fushi: Fresh in the Garden.
Very few properties in the Maldives can boast as large and functional a garden like the one on Soneva Fushi, which is used daily to provide fresh produce to guests and staff. Even better? Settled above all the beds of edible greens and vegetables is the Fresh in the Garden dining outlet. Open for dinner, this treehouse restaurant is accessible via rope bridge (yes, it’s a good place to channel your inner child — there are a few opportunities on the island to indulge). The menu offers a selection of healthy options, many cultivated from the garden below. Vegetarian diners should be quite happy. As with many of the outlets on the island, there is a selection of starters, mains, and dessert (and, as mentioned previously, the best financial option for visitors is to include a half, full board, or all inclusive package when making a booking at Soneva Fushi). There was…
Soneva Fushi: Out of the Blue, Overwater Dining.
A highlight of our trip to the island paradise of Soneva Fushi were the meals we shared at the stunning Out of the Blue. This overwater building is an absolute showpiece at the property, and only opened this year. With soaring ceilings, an open floor plan, and distinctive maritime colors and details throughout, it’s an easy location to return to for a leisurely lunch, stunning sundowner, or romantic dinner. The venue also includes overwater nets and sun loungers — just in case you need a different location on the island to enjoy the beautiful views from. For your inner child, there is a one of a kind slide that puts you directly into the Indian Ocean (I’m still regretting not trying it). We dined at Out of the Blue for lunch both days (consisting of an international menu, including a build your own salad bar, and a variety of cheeses). The venue is…
Soneva Fushi: Barefoot in paradise.
One of the best things about living in the UAE is our easy access to tropical destinations on the Indian Ocean — Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Zanzibar, Mauritius, and of course, the Maldives. In this island nation, there are numerous resorts and hotels to choose from. While nothing is, let’s say, in the realm of ‘affordable,’ I think dream destinations are always good for bucket lists and what not. So, I’ll assume that the price tag hasn’t scared you off. Now, my previous two trips to the Maldives involved overwater villas. When reviewing our trip to Soneva Fushi, I was (of course) excited, but also interested — how would it go? Could I be swayed to villa living? View this post on Instagram From the UAE to the Maldives… I can’t wait to share @discoversoneva Soneva Fushi with you, starting with this beautiful shot from the island. #nonewsnoshoes #slowlife…
St. Regis Vommuli Maldives: Video.
Concluding my trip report to the absolutely incredible St. Regis Maldives resort, I compiled a video that (hopefully) captures the stunning nature of this property! Enjoy. [wpvideo RM0UyclA] In case you missed the rest of the series: The St. Regis Maldives, Orientale, Cargo, Iridium Spa, Crust, Alba, and The Whale Bar. [googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3984.6691830136465!2d72.86334495130905!3d2.911219997869181!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3b47a8efb8138831%3A0xe713cc3fb1e50bc9!2sThe+St.+Regis+Maldives+Vommuli+Resort!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sae!4v1495708135281&w=600&h=450]
St. Regis Maldives Vommuli: Iridium Spa.
Wondering exactly what we had in store for our planned visit to the Iridium Spa (the onsite spa for the St. Regis Maldives), Zoe and I jumped on a golf cart and headed through the lush forest to the opposite side of the island where the spa is located. From above, it has the appearance of a crustacean of some form and up close I loved the beachy color palate and amount of private space. Overall, I felt there was something dreamy about the concept of a spa set over the water (made even more real by the clear glass floors set throughout the space). After a quick tour of the facilities (which include private bungalows for treatments, a small store with high-end products, also shower, sauna, and steam room facilities), we were escorted to the deck where the hydrotherapy pool was located. Quickly receiving a glass of refreshing ginger iced tea,…
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort: Orientale.
Of the six dining destinations located at the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli resort, Orientale takes an Asian style approach in their offer, with plenty of variety, including: Korean, Sichuan, Cantonese, as well as an Indian and Pakistani grill. Even better? Putting these flavors directly on the beach under swaying palm trees. The island has plenty of romantic locations, but Orientale is especially lovely. Settling in, we reviewed the menus, and as much as I’m supposed to be worried about my caloric intake, I decided to accept that I was on vacation and to enjoy whatever I wanted. After a cleansing lemongrass-infused water ceremony (my hands never smelled better), we were first presented with an amuse bouche — something that was consistent across all the restaurants we dined at for dinner at the property (which I thought was a sophisticated touch on the part of the F&B team). To start, I ordered the Yellowfin…
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort: Crust.
Crust is a cozy wooden structure on the beach of the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli resort, and where my friend and I had lunch both days of our trip. The menu is simple and straightforward — pizza and bruschetta (with dips and plenty of vegetarian options), but guests can also order off the Alba menu as well. Having enjoyed a pizza of our own device on the first day (a tasty concoction with prosciutto, rocket, onions, chili oil, and mushrooms), for lunch on our second visit, we were feeling like a curry, and I’m so glad we listened to our stomachs. To start, Zoe ordered the Mild Coconut Curry Soup (with chicken, mushrooms, lemongrass, lime leaf and galangal) and as I was feeling peckish, we asked if they could make some form of Truffle Fries. They were happy to accommodate our request, so we enjoyed our drinks (a mojito — what else? — for me, and…
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort: Cargo.
There’s something about familiar dining when you’re far away from home, is there not? Therefore, I was delighted to see Middle Eastern fare at Cargo, the St. Regis Vommuli Maldives resort’s Middle Eastern restaurant. Set under a canopy of trees, details have not gone unnoticed here, and there is both familiar Arabic music, as well as large outdoor cooling systems in place. The name of the restaurant comes from the large cargo container (with its own back story related to the Titanic) which serves as the kitchen, located directly at the entrance. Tables are arranged in an intimate manner — spread out to give privacy for dining couples. Menus are completely digital. While most of the drinks selections are available via tablet at the resort, Cargo is the only restaurant to have an entirely digital selection. A look at the menu yielded many traditional Arabic mezze and mains. Diving right…