Anantara Veli
Maldives

5 Restaurants & 3 Bars

Four restaurants span South Asian, Japanese, Thai, and international cuisines — plus access to sister island Dhigu's venues via a connecting walkway. Two bars cover poolside afternoons and overwater cocktail hours.

Cumin

South Asian

South Asian cuisine with Maldivian curries, Sri Lankan seafood, and Indian Ocean spices. The beachfront setting with sand-floor tables makes dinner atmospheric. Breakfast offers both continental and regional options.

SettingBeachfront · Breakfast & dinner

Our tipThe Maldivian curry night is the authentic local experience

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Origami

Japanese

Modern Japanese with teppanyaki, sushi, and sashimi. Two teppanyaki seatings per evening with theatrical chef performances. The beachside setting adds a relaxed edge to refined Japanese cuisine.

SettingBeachside · Dinner only

Our tipSit at the teppanyaki counter for the full show

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Baan Huraa

Thai

Traditional Thai cuisine in an overwater teak pavilion — one of the most romantic dinner settings on the island. Shared dishes, curries, and signature Thai classics. Reservation required.

SettingOverwater · Dinner only

Our tipThe overwater setting makes this the most romantic table on the island

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Fushi Café

International Buffet

The main buffet restaurant on sister island Anantara Dhigu, accessible via the connecting bridge. Live cooking stations and themed dinner nights. Veli's all-day dining room.

SettingDhigu island · All meals

Our tipCross the bridge for the widest breakfast spread across both islands

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Sea Fire Salt

Seafood Grill

Overwater grill on sister island Dhigu serving prime seafood and steaks. One of the most sought-after tables across both islands.

SettingOverwater · Dhigu island

Our tipThe overwater grill on Dhigu — worth the bridge walk

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Dhoni Bar

Pool Bar

Poolside bar and tapas venue serving Spanish-inspired light bites, pizzas, and cocktails. Also functions as a casual lunch and dinner option.

SettingPoolside · All day · Adults-only

Our tipThe Spanish tapas menu is a proper lunch, not just bar snacks

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Aqua

Italian

Italian poolside venue on sister island Dhigu — wood-fired pizzas, pasta, and drinks by the pool. A casual lunch option or relaxed evening alternative.

SettingPoolside · Dhigu island

Our tipThe wood-fired pizzas are the casual crowd-pleaser

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The Yellow Fin Club

Cocktails

Adults-only overwater cocktail bar on Dhigu. Craft cocktails and sunset views — the newest venue across both islands, opened August 2024.

SettingOverwater · Dhigu island · Adults-only

Our tipSunset cocktails from the overwater deck — the newest bar on the atoll

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Dining Inclusions

Four tiers from bed-and-breakfast to full all-inclusive. Guests can also walk across to sister resort Dhigu for additional dining options.

Meal plan prices are a guide only — generally an average across the year. Resorts can change them at any time, they often vary by season, and a plan sold in one season may not be offered in another. We'll confirm what's available and the exact price for your dates.

Your Days on the Island

Veli punches above its size for activities — a resident Tropicsurf school with a left break you can paddle to from the pool, a PADI dive centre run by Aquafanatics, and an overwater Balance Wellness spa with hammam and Ayurvedic programmes. Virtual golf, cooking classes, and dolphin cruises fill the rest.

House Reef & Underwater

Veli's house reef is recovering and currently rated below average — coral bleaching and regrowth mean visibility and diversity vary by season. The resort runs an active coral propagation programme, and guided boat excursions to stronger South Male reefs are the better option for serious snorkelers. Dive sites accessed through Aquafanatics are excellent.

PADI dive center on-site. Night snorkeling available. Marine life observations sourced from dive logs and guest reports.

Transfer from Malé

A 35-minute speedboat from Velana International Airport — no seaplane or daylight restrictions. Transfers operate around the clock, making late arrivals and early departures straightforward. The cost is approximately $265 per person round trip.

Resort island map — Anantara Veli Maldives

Who This Resort is For

Reviewed by Tym Lewtak, founder of LuxAtolls ·Updated Sep 27, 2026

Anantara Veli works best for couples who want adults-only calm with substance behind it — real surf, a serious wellness spa, and four distinct restaurants run dine-around style. The 2022 Yamazaki renovation lifted the interiors, and the Dhigu walkway doubles your dining options without compromising the adults-only atmosphere. The weak house reef is the main trade-off.

Anantara Veli Maldives — FAQ