Tucked away amid green foliage and palm trees near The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands’ striking circular pool, IWAU seems a bit hidden. But perhaps that’s the point. The intimate open-air chef’s table can only accommodate a handful of diners for its two daily dinner seatings. Despite its petite size, the restaurant delivers a big experience. After all, IWAU means “to celebrate” in Japanese. All seats face the two teppan grills, where the chef holds court, chatting with guests as he cooks up an omakase feast before their eyes.
While executive chef Ashish Yadav’s Japanese dishes featuring fresh seafood and prime meat certainly impress, the exclusivity, the chef interactions and the ambiance under the starry sky elevate it even more. Of course, so does the array of Japanese sakes, cocktails and champagne to pair with the multicourse meal.