As part of the first-ever Fari Islands Festival, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands unveils an extraordinary culinary collaboration with globally renowned WAGYUMAFIA at IWAU—offered exclusively through Marriott Bonvoy Moments.
This September, the Fari Islands Archipelago in the North Malé Atoll will host the inaugural Fari Islands Festival—a celebration of music, art, gastronomy, wellness, and nature from September 19 to 22, 2025. The festival brings together globally celebrated creatives and thought leaders—from acclaimed Canadian poet and illustrator Rupi Kaur to the Amarta, a James Turrell installation. Complementing this artistic and cultural convergence is the guest residency of WAGYUMAFIA, the Tokyo-born culinary collective that has reimagined the potential of Japanese wagyu through innovation and exclusivity, at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands.
Amidst the vibrant celebrations, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives presents a rare opportunity for two couples to savor a one-night-only dining experience by WAGYUMAFIA on September 20, hosted under the stars at the resort’s signature Japanese restaurant, IWAU. Founded by self-taught chef Hisato Hamada, WAGYUMAFIA is revered for its precision, storytelling, and bold reinterpretation of tradition. Known for its exclusive, invite-only dining experiences, the brand commands a global following and will bring its extraordinary approach to wagyu cuisine to the Maldives for the very first time.
At IWAU—which translates to “celebrate” in Japanese—guests are invited to dine in an open-air setting where the art of Japanese cooking is elevated through technique, seasonality, and elegant simplicity. The restaurant’s serene, design-forward environment offers a fitting stage for the WAGYUMAFIA team’s artistry.
This immersive culinary journey is offered as part of an exclusive Marriott Bonvoy Moments, available to Marriott Bonvoy members. The experience includes a three-night stay in an Ocean Pool Villa at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands from September 19 to 22, 2025, return luxury speedboat transfers from Velana International Airport, and daily breakfast at La Locanda. Guests will also enjoy curated lunches and dinners across the resort’s distinguished dining venues, as well as a private dinner for two at Fari Marina Fiesta. Full access to the Fari Islands Festival is included, priority reservations for festival activities,
exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities with featured talent, and a night hosted by award-winning mixologists from 50 Best Bars, Danico and Nutmeg & Clove, at Fari Beach Club. The highlight of the stay is the reservation for two at the exclusive WAGYUMAFIA dinner at IWAU on the evening of September 20.
This exceptional collaboration between The Ritz-Carlton Maldives and WAGYUMAFIA exemplifies the spirit of the Fari Islands Festival—uniting world-class artistry, culture, and culinary mastery in one unforgettable setting. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in this unique celebration of creativity and luxury, creating memories that will endure long after the final toast.
Members can now bid for an exclusive WAGYUMAFIA dinner, access to the Fari Islands Festival, and a three-night stay at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands until August 21, 2025 through Marriott Bonvoy Moments.
Guests seeking to immerse themselves in the vibrant spirit of the Fari Islands Festival are invited to reserve the exclusive Fari Islands Package. This thoughtfully curated experience includes three-day access to the Fari Islands Festival, an elegant villa stay at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, round-trip luxury shared speedboat transfers, and daily lunch and dinner at the resort’s distinguished signature restaurants. Additionally, guests will enjoy two specially hosted dinners at select venues within Fari Marina Village on September 19 and 21, as well as two bespoke Fari Islands Festival experiences from a handpicked collection.
For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com/Maldives and for real-time updates follow the resort on Instagram and Facebook.
