What Weekends are Like in Malé City, the Capital of the Maldives

Malé doesn’t always have the best reputation. The crowds are populous and dense, the skyline covered with concrete buildings, and the small geographical size of the island creates a monotony routine for the average person, where they see the same sights every single day. However, there’s a certain charm that inhabits the island, and Malé is one of the most unique cities people can come across.

The locals are adept at finding things to do, and there are many ways in which a local spends a weekend in the city.

Weekend mornings are particularly quiet in Malé, without the usual rush to work. Many restaurants are closed on Friday mornings, and a few remain closed for the whole day.

On Fridays, between 12pm and 2pm, the whole city of Malé comes to a stop for Friday prayers.

Going to Speciality Coffee Cafés

This is one of the most popular activities that spans generations. Whether you’re just catching up with a friend or trying the new fancy roast, many people choose to bond over a drink during the weekend.

When you have a city that doesn’t have malls, you’re left with an abundance of caffeine fiends and a series of coffee places that cater to their needs. Some notable places include Meraki Speciality Coffee, the Usual, Jazz Cafe’ and more.

The “popular” cafe’ of the year is usually in flux and comes and goes throughout the years. Some of the cafes become really popular for a short time period, before disappearing with another cafe taking its place. You can see all sorts of locals at the cafe, from uncles to youngsters to families trying to make the most out of the weekend.

Having a bite at the Sai Hotaa

Sai hotaa are popular tea houses that serve hedhika and other popular tea time items at an affordable rate. You can find friends winding down over kalhu sai (black tea) and talking endlessly. Unlike specialty coffee places, you can get a proper meal in sai hotaas and many people come here to eat pretty frequently.

Visiting the Parks

While they are small, Malé and Hulhumalé has some beautiful, lush green parks that are widely popular amongst the people. The Central Park in Hulhumalé, Lonuziyaaraaiy Park and Sultan Park (also known as Rasrani Bageecha) are some of the more popular parks in the Greater Malé Region.

Many people host their wedding parties at these venues, and you can also see a flock of fresh graduates taking photographs surrounded by lush greenery. You can find families having fun with their children, group picnics and people just sitting at the bench, enjoying the scenery.

Attend a Music Show

While often subject to availability, music shows are a popular form of entertainment among young people. The local music scene is bustling with talent, and many of them perform during the weekend. The organizers of the show changes depending on the time period, but in recent times, some of the popular music events include Taslaafa, Asaasee Kilaas and other random shows organized by the local bands.

Occasionally, Jazz Cafe’ hosts Fannugedharin, where you can enjoy local musical talent at the restaurant itself. While a lot of these shows are free to attend, some of them range from MVR 100 - 200 range.

Have a BBQ

BBQs are some of the easiest ways to get a group of people to bond in the Maldives. Families have bbqs in potluck styles, where each person brings a specific ingredient and many of them are organized in the beach areas of Hulhumalé. These are accessible BBQ areas where people get together to cook and bond with each other. Some popular items made in BBQs include BBQ tuna, sausages and chicken.

Trying New Restaurants

Trying out new restaurants is a popular activity amongst the foodies, and Malé has an abundance of restaurants with different types of cuisines. Whether you’re interested in having a shawarma at Thoum, nasi lemak at Mamak or have mouth watering string hoppers at Ayubowan, there’s a restaurant that can cater to anyone’s tastes in the country.

There’s a lot of variety densely packed together, and there is always a new restaurant popping up, which makes it easier to never run out of options.

Watching a local Dhivehi Film at the Cinema

There’s a small, but fiercely passionate film industry in the country, and while going to the movies may depend on the crowd and the type of film, many Maldivians enjoy watching the latest Dhivehi film available to screen at Olympus Cinema. The genre spans from horrors, family dramas, to more contemporary young adult coming of age films.

Going on a Fishing Trip

A classic Maldivian activity, nothing beats a good fishing trip amongst friends and family. You rent a boat, get a bunch of fishing gear, and try your luck at getting some good catches out in the sea. People either choose to fish during the day or night, with each fishing trip concluding with the group cooking the catch they get on the boat. It is a way in which we foster community through the shared experience of succeeding (or failing) to catch fish together, and wondering how our talented forefathers did it so effortlessly!

Visiting Nearby Islands

Sometimes, what you need is a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city, without spending a lot of money. During the weekend, it is common practice to visit the neighbouring islands near Malé, often with family or friends, just to go for a swim, snorkel or lounge at the beach. These get-togethers are accompanied with majaa, hedhikaa and drinks to share amongst each other, and time is spent to enjoy the fresh air and peace you can get from an idyllic island. Some popular islands for a short day trip include Dhiffushi, Maafushi and Himmafushi.