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 also a fancy caviar menu on offer (however, at over $200USD per person, we decided to pass).
As this was our first meal on island (including a slightly hilarious attempt at biking more or less in the dark, without a map, or any concept of how the island was laid out), I was a bit shocked at the cutlery, which were…unique? Is that a nice way to say ugly and not functional? As dinners run $140USD – ! – I thought it would be nice to have cutlery that didn’t look particularly discounted. Similarly, there was a lack of opportunity for me to photograph the dishes because of the plates, which, like the cutlery, were particularly unphotogenic. Yes, I’ve taken thousands of pictures of food, but I know almost instantly what will work on my feed and what has no business serving as a plate.
Dishware issues aside, the menu is a bit complicated, in that, being able to choose from 5 or six pages and versions of menus from three different chefs, it took us a minute to decide what we would enjoy (we hadn’t received an explanation to our package on arrival, so spent some of the time guessing). However, I was very impressed that our arrival coincided with ‘meat free Thursday’ where no red meat is served across the island. Fine for me, as I enjoyed scallops and prawns (both Keto compliant – !). Could the servings been a bit larger? Sure. Did I really need more food? No, of course not. Is $80USD for one of the cheapest bottles of white wine a little high? Yes, probably.
For those romantically inclined, there are two exceptionally fantastical seatings — speak to your Friday about arranging. Still, even in the main restaurant, Hubs and I were happy with the balmy breezes and candlelight.
Overall, I think Fresh in the Garden is a fantastic initiative, and as was pointed out to us, the first place to successfully grow dragonfruit in the Maldives. Who knew?
A to Za’atar was a guest of Soneva Fushi, Fresh in the Garden. Opinions are my own, just ask my husband.
