Li Long
Ithaafushi Island, Maldives
Restaurant in Maldives, Maldives
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Li Long is a dinner-only South Malé Atoll choice that makes the most sense for a planned celebration or polished resort evening. Forbes Recommended recognition in 2026 adds credibility, but cuisine, pricing, booking method should be confirmed before treating it as a guaranteed fit.
About Li Long
Li Long in Maldives is best planned around its evening schedule: hours are 6:30–10 PM every day, the dress code is smart casual. The 2026 Forbes Recommended recognition gives it a useful trust signal. Before committing, check any details that matter to your plans, including cuisine, menu format, pricing, seating.
Plan around the evening hours
The clearest planning detail is timing. Li Long lists hours from 6:30 to 10 PM nightly, which makes it better suited to an evening meal than a daytime stop. If the meal needs to anchor the evening, the hours are direct. If the priority is lunch or flexible daytime timing, compare other Maldives dining options before deciding.
The core planning notes are simple: nightly evening hours, smart casual dress, Forbes Recommended recognition for 2026. For cuisine, menu structure, price, seating style, contact the venue directly. Treat Li Long as an evening dining option to check in advance rather than an all-day venue.
What to weigh before choosing it over another Maldives table
If cuisine, menu format, pricing are deciding factors, the smart comparison is about how much certainty you need before committing. Diners who want a fully defined concept in advance may prefer researching broader Maldives options or contacting Li Long directly for current details.
For travelers building a wider itinerary, compare Li Long with other Maldives dining in general, or look at named alternatives such as Glow, Tangled, Terra, The Rock, Yasmeen. Keep the decision grounded in the basics: Li Long is in Maldives, lists hours from 6:30–10 PM daily, has a smart casual dress code, is Forbes Recommended for 2026.
Part of
Waldorf Astoria67 locations on PearlLocated inside
HotelWaldorf Astoria Maldives IthaafushiFull hotel guidePlanning details
- Location
- South Malé Atoll, Malé
- Website
- hilton.com/en/hotels/mleonwa-waldorf-astoria-maldives-ithaafushi/dining/li-long
- Phone
- 960-400-0300
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Li Long presents a deliberately inward-facing elegance that channels Shanghainese noble residences rather than the typical resort spectacle. Passage through a moon gate narrows and reframes the view, leading into a sequence of contained courtyard-like spaces that prioritize interior refinement. The architecture and interiors operate as the restaurant’s primary dramaturgy, emphasizing restraint, depth and a curated atmosphere. Culinary technique mirrors the spatial approach: methods like braising, smoking and slow reductions favor layered, deep flavors over immediacy. The overall effect is a composed, quietly luxurious dining room whose design and cuisine both reward close attention.
Best For
Set inside the Waldorf Astoria on Ithaafushi Island, Li Long suits intimate evening occasions where architecture and cuisine are part of the experience. The restaurant’s inward focus and measured, technique-driven dishes make it especially fitting for date nights and special-occasion dinners that thrive on contemplation rather than resort spectacle. Guests seeking a refined, small-group evening will find the pacing and menu—anchored by time-intensive preparations and signature items like Peking Duck—aligned with a sit-down dinner that unfolds across multiple courses.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the restaurant’s strengths by choosing dishes that showcase slow technique and depth of flavor: the signature Peking Duck and other time-intensive preparations are natural choices. Share plates to experience the layered braising, smoking and reductions described in the menu framing, and balance richer items like cumin lamb chops with lighter, clarifying flavors if available. Ask servers about seasonal or long-prepared specialties—menu descriptions emphasize intentional sourcing and technique—so you can plan a paced, communal dinner that reflects the restaurant’s Shanghainese references.
Venue details
Ambiance
Gorgeous gilded interiors with warm natural palette, brass detailing, eclectic textiles, and stunning overwater ocean views creating an effortlessly upscale and inviting atmosphere.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
View
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Quiet
- Service Style
- Formal
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- Peking Duck
- Cumin Lamb Chops
- Mapo Tofu
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Glow, Notable alternative
- Tangled, Notable alternative
- Terra, Notable alternative
- The Rock, Notable alternative
- Yasmeen, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How Li Long compares in the Maldives
Choose Li Long when the priority is a planned dinner with recognition behind it: the 2026 Forbes Recommended signal gives it a clearer quality marker than peers where public detail is thinner. Glow and Tangled may be better cross-shops if the goal is a different resort mood, but without confirmed price or format details, neither is a safer value call on paper.
Terra and The Rock are the more obvious alternatives for diners comparing ambience-led Maldives meals. Pick Li Long if service polish and a dinner-only structure matter more than chasing the more dramatic setting. Pick Yasmeen if the group wants another Maldives restaurant to compare before committing to one celebration booking.
Booking difficulty is marked hard, so Li Long is not the backup plan. If the date is fixed, hold a second option among Glow, Tangled, Terra, The Rock, or Yasmeen rather than waiting until the resort schedule is locked.
Explore Maldives
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Li Long guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Li Long
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Li Long | Maldives | 2026 Forbes Recommended |
| Glow | South Malé Atoll | No published awards |
| Tangled | South Malé Atoll | No published awards |
| Terra | South Malé Atoll | 2026 Michelin 1 Star2025 Michelin Plate |
| The Rock | South Malé Atoll | No published awards |
| Yasmeen | South Malé Atoll | No published awards |
.png?width=1200&quality=80)
How Li Long Maldives compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a first-timer know about Li Long?
Start with the basics: Li Long is in Maldives, open every night from 6:30–10 PM, has a smart casual dress code, carries a Forbes Recommended 2026 mention. Check cuisine, menu format, pricing, seating details directly before booking.
What are alternatives to Li Long in Maldives?
Other named options to compare include Glow, Tangled, Terra, The Rock, Yasmeen. Compare current hours, menus, any planning requirements directly before choosing between them and Li Long.
What should I wear to Li Long?
The dress code at Li Long is smart casual. Since listed hours run from 6:30–10 PM every day, dress for a polished evening meal in Maldives.
Is Li Long good for a special occasion?
Li Long may suit a planned evening meal because it has nightly evening hours, a smart casual dress code, Forbes Recommended 2026 recognition. For any occasion-specific needs, confirm current menu, pricing, planning details directly with the venue.
Can I eat at the bar at Li Long?
If bar seating is important, contact Li Long directly. Plan around the listed hours from 6:30–10 PM.
