Ba’theli at Milaidhoo Maldives feels like a story brought to life. Floating on a quiet lagoon, the restaurant invites guests into a culinary journey shaped by the ancient Spice Route, where Maldivian heritage and modern technique meet in one of the island’s most atmospheric settings.

The name “Ba’theli” comes from the Dhivehi word for the cargo boats that once connected the Maldives to traders from Indonesia, India, and Arabia. Those journeys carried turmeric, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, and the ideas and customs that travelled with them. Today, that sense of discovery is woven into Ba’theli’s menu, where award-winning chefs build refined dishes using fine ingredients, herbs, and spices that pay tribute to that maritime history.

The experience begins the moment guests arrive at Milaidhoo. Three handcrafted wooden boats rest on the lagoon: one holds the sunset bar, one houses the kitchen, and the third becomes the restaurant itself. Dining takes place beneath soft, billowing sails or out on the open deck, where the stars feel close enough to touch.

The evening opens at the lounge and sunset bar. Signature Ba’theli cocktails and locally inspired canapés set the tone, with the island sky turning shades of gold and rose over the water. From there, guests make their way to the restaurant to explore a menu rooted in Maldivian tradition and shaped by the flavours carried across the Indian Ocean centuries ago.

The new menu presents island cuisine through a modern lens. Setting Sail, the starter section, includes Maldivian Cold Mezze, Maldivian Hot Mezze, Boashi Satani, and Barabo Mashuni — familiar flavours reimagined with elegant precision.

The Main Voyage pays homage to Maldivian classics.

Standouts include:

  • Giyolhu Mas, coconut barbecued job fish with curry leaf juice
  • Filolhu Ihi Mas, grilled white snapper with Maldivian lobster
  • Kandu Kukulhu, pandan-wrapped tuna braised in coconut milk and spices
  • Fihunu Mas, barbecued snapper served with chilli tomato chutney

Guests can add Side Trips, including Maldivian flatbread, Mas Bai, Banbukeyo Bai, and Rangu Kattala Mash.

Reflecting the wider spice exchanges of the Indian Ocean, Ba’theli also showcases signature dishes inspired by Indonesia, Zanzibar, and Malaysia. Highlights include:

  • Beef Rendang, Indonesian braised beef cheek in red curry
  • Nyama Choma, Wagyu beef striploin seasoned with Zanzibar spices
  • Tongkol Sambal Belacan, Malaysian-seared tuna paired with hot and sour sambal

Guests may choose to dine outdoors beneath the night sky or indoors, where glass floors reveal the lagoon drifting quietly below, a rare and atmospheric detail unique to many restaurants in the Maldives.

Ba’theli remains one of the island’s most distinctive dining experiences, celebrating the Maldives’ place at the centre of the Spice Route. It brings together history, culture, and gastronomy with the ease and warmth that define Milaidhoo, guided by a team dedicated to sharing the story behind every plate.