How to Discover Authentic Maldivian Cuisine Without Overspending - Authentic Maldivian Eats

The Maldives is renowned for its amazing beaches, tropical blue waters, and expensive places to visit and stay. Over the recent years though, it has become more affordable for tourists of all backgrounds to come visit and not break their bank. Places to stay, travelling from island to island, having delicious food and enjoying activities have all become more affordable if you know what to do. Let us look at how you can enjoy your meals in the Maldives without breaking the bank.

When to Travel to the Maldives

Maldives is a destination that has people travelling to it year-round. In the months of November to April, you will find plenty of tourists looking to enjoy themselves on their visit during the dry season. While in the months of May to October which is the rainy season and hence the off-peak season you will find some great deals on places to stay, such as Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas a resort that you can rest assured to have all your needs taken care of.

Street Vendors and Local eateries

There are a number of small cafés and streetside vendors that offer local Maldivian cuisine that can be very affordable compared to the bigger restaurants. They usually serve traditional dishes such as flatbread with fish paste, sandwiches, fish soups, fish balls, grilled fish and tuna salad. These eateries have big portions and provide wholesome meals that provide a great taste of authentic Maldivian cuisine at a budget-friendly price and some have live entertainment by local musicians that make the atmosphere more wholesome.

Hotels and Restaurants

Restaurants in the Maldives can also be found in many guesthouses and of course hotels and resorts.  These guesthouses are run by the Maldivian locals and cater to their budget-conscious guests by providing local affordable meals. Usually, you can find a mixture of Maldivian cuisine with international cuisine as well. You can expect to find dishes such as grilled seafood, fish curries and stir-fried vegetables as well as kebabs and woodfired pizzas on their menus. While most resorts will have buffet spreads and made-to-order options that will be more on the pricier side. Most guesthouses, hotels and accommodations will include a hearty breakfast as part of their room rates which is a cost-effective way to start your day. 

Image via Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

The Local Markets

There are a few local markets that you can visit to snag yourself fresh produce and have meals made to order from the produce you buy. At these markets, you will also find many street food carts and vendors selling their delicious fried snacks and meals such as kebabs, samosas, fish pastries, fish rolls and shawarmas which are quick to be made and quite inexpensive to have. The market stalls have plenty of fresh produce such as seafood, vegetables, spices fruits and drinks.

Self-Catering 

Some guesthouses and budget accommodations have their own kitchenettes that will allow you to cook your own meals. Fresh produce, when sourced from the local markets can make your meals very affordable, especially for a longer-term stay. If you decide to take a local cuisine cookery class you can put those newly gained cooking skills to work for you and enjoy some home-cooked meals. Make sure you buy and stock up on fruits such as bananas, papaya, watermelons and mangoes as well as your local spices and some rice at your local market to cook on a daily basis. You can even get your hands on a few simple snacks such as granola bars, crackers and biscuits for quick snacks. Dried fruit, jerky and energy bars and drinks will be a great energy sources for your day trips.