Getting a Drink in Malé

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No alcohol is permitted in Malé or other 'inhabited islands' in Maldives, in accordance with Islamic law. Inhabited islands are officially recognised towns. These do not include the many hotels and resorts scattered across the Maldives - these are exempt from the no-alcohol rule.

For Malé residents, the closest place to get a drink is the Hulhule Island Hotel, which is located on Hulhule Island (the airport island). This is not as much of a project as it sounds. The airport island is a quick 5-10 minute ferry ride away from the Malé jetty. Boats leave every 10-15 minutes.

Drinks are expensive. However, since there aren't too many other nearby options, the hotel is quite free to overcharge you! You can sit by the poolside or head to the Champs Bar, which has indoor and outdoor seating.

Ask if there are any offers on - the bar occasionally has deals that are not necessarily advertised out front. And make sure you get your free snack! (It's usually a mix of dry crisps, nuts and peas.) Happy drinking!

A Map of Malé

Malé is a tiny city but you still need addresses and directions to get around here! :) Of course, you can simply walk around the island until you get your bearings, but a map is still helpful to locate specific stores/restaurants/ businesses.

One of best maps I've found so far is online. It has a comprehensive number of places on the map and is very user-friendly - it's quite easy to figure out how to get from one place to another. Here's the link to the map: http://www.male-map.com/

Have fun exploring Malé!

On a Ham Run in Malé

It took me a couple of weeks to get good-quality chicken ham in Malé - the delicatessen kind, not the canned kind. (Please remember, there are no pork products available in Malé, in accordance with Islamic law.) The Fantasy store on Fareedhee Magu is the only grocery store I've found so far that stocks chicken ham. There are quite a few varieties available - paprika, moroccan, broccoli, etc.

Rate are on the high side. They vary from MVR 35-55 (approx. USD 2.5-3.5) for 100 grams. You can have it sliced into lovely, thin slices if you like! The store also has a decent (albeit wildly inconsistent) selection of olives and cheese.

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