The first modern Maldivian restaurant in the Maldives opened at Milaidhoo Island Maldives, serving a six-course Maldivian heritage tasting menu and well as a la carte choices, nightly from 7pm. Ba’theli (pronounced ‘bah-telly’) takes its name from the local word for a traditional wooden sailing boat, and as such has been constructed in the shape of three boats standing on stilts over the lagoon. One ‘boat’ is the restaurant, a second ‘boat’ is the bar-lounge and a third ‘boat’ is the kitchen.

Diners are encouraged to come barefoot, and can eat either outdoors on the open-air ‘deck’ of the restaurant under a starry night sky or inside the air conditioned boat, which has glass-bottom floors for views of the marine life below. The restaurant is also built facing west, making it a perfect place to watch the sunset.  

The restaurant is inspired by the story of the traditional ba’theli boats, whose history began over 5,000 years ago when the Maldives served as a key port of call for traders sailing from Indonesia and India to Arabia with cargoes of cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, cloves, ginger and pepper. The Maldivians bartered coconuts, sun-dried fish, cordage, cowrie shells and sails woven from coconut fiber for spice, rice, ceramics and silks. Locally-made cargo boats, called ba’theli in the local language, sailed throughout the archipelago with these goods, spreading knowledge about different lands, their customs and cuisine.

As a result, Maldivian cuisine today is inspired by flavors from around the world – Indian, Sri Lankan and Southeast Asian play heavy influences – and the dishes created by Maldivian chef Ahmed “Seabass” Sivath served at Ba’theli blend local herbs and spices with international ingredients. Expect classic Maldivian dishes such as Garudhiya (a clear soup with tuna), mashuni (a tuna salad with coconut, pumpkin and lime) as well as a selection of regional specialties from around the different atolls like a beef curry from the north and chicken curry from the far south of the islands.