Halloween Under the Stars: A Tropical Celebration in the Maldives

While most of the world was walking through chilly streets lined with pumpkins and autumn leaves, the Maldives were glowing under a very different kind of light.

Here, Halloween arrived barefoot — carried by the breeze, lit by torches, and filled with the smell of grilled seafood drifting across the beach.

As the sun disappeared behind the ocean, the sand turned gold and the palm trees flickered with orange and purple lights. Guests began to gather around long buffet tables set right on the beach.

It wasn’t a night for fear, but for laughter, flavors, and music — the kind of night that only these islands can offer.

Buffets Beneath the Palms

Across the atolls, resorts prepared their own tropical versions of Halloween.

Instead of spooky decorations and haunted houses, there were open-air barbecues, glowing lanterns, and dessert tables bursting with color.

The beach became the dining room, the stars the ceiling, and the sound of the sea the background music.

Chefs moved between the flames and the buffet counters, plating grilled fish, meats, and vegetables. The smell of chili, lime, and butter filled the night air.

Guests walked barefoot on the sand, balancing plates in one hand and cameras in the other.

Children ran around in improvised costumes — pirates, fairies, and small ghosts made of white fabric that fluttered in the wind.

There was nothing formal about it, and that’s what made it perfect.

Halloween here wasn’t about fear; it was about being together. About eating, laughing, and feeling the island’s warmth instead of autumn’s chill.

Sweet Corners and Playful Details

The dessert stations were small worlds of imagination.

Pumpkin cheesecakes were shaped like little suns.

Meringue ghosts smiled from the trays.

Chocolate fountains bubbled next to coconuts carved like pumpkins.

Some guests laughed while taking pictures before even trying a bite.

Behind all that fun was the steady rhythm of teamwork.

Every dish was the result of hours of quiet preparation — of people who care about how guests feel when they arrive at the buffet.

There’s something beautiful in that: in watching food become joy.

The Chef’s Perspective

Executive Chef Cristian Marino, who has spent the last years designing culinary experiences across the Maldives, sees celebrations like this as a reflection of what food truly means.

“It’s not just about the recipes,” he says, “but about what they make people feel. Even if the theme comes from another culture, what matters is that moment when people connect — through food, through laughter, through play.”

Marino has never been a huge fan of Halloween itself, but he enjoys what it represents in a place like this.

It’s not about ghosts or darkness — it’s about creativity and connection.

And perhaps that’s what makes it special: the chance to play, to smile, and to turn an ordinary evening into something that feels timeless.

A Celebration of Light

As the music started, guests moved closer to the beach to dance.

Torches flickered, the sky turned darker, and the waves sparkled under the moonlight.

Some stayed to enjoy dessert; others played games or simply watched from the sand.

For a few hours, it didn’t matter where anyone came from — everyone belonged to the same island night.

When the last lanterns went out, the beach returned to silence.

Only the smell of charcoal and coconut lingered in the air — and a sense that Halloween, even without pumpkins and cold, can still bring people together.

Written about the culinary vision of Chef Cristian Marino,

Italian Executive Chef and Consultant currently based in the Maldives.

ChefCristianMarino.com