Niyama Private Islands Maldives Introduces New Director of Food & Beverage Steven D’Souza and Executive Chef Pradeep Kumar

Niyama Private Islands Maldives ups the ante with its new culinary dream team, Director of Food & Beverage Steven D’Souza and Executive Chef Pradeep Kumar. They take the helm at an exciting time for the award-winning resort, as its guest experience is reimagined in every way.

Change is in the air at Niyama Private Islands Maldives, with its total refurbishment and sensual “This is Niyama” evolution. Its F&B offering is more tantalising than ever, with sensory new dining experiences over and under water and in the treetops.

Leading the evolution is Director of Food & Beverage Steven D’Souza, a Minor Hotels veteran specialised in private island luxe and the anything but ordinary.

Steven began his career in the Middle East, playground of the elite. He joined Minor Hotels in 2011 at trailblazing Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, the setting of the Maldives’ first underwater wine cellar as well as an iconic overwater sky lounge.

Steven first stepped onto Niyama’s shores in 2014, helming Tribal – where immersive dining on fiery Latin-African fusion unfolds by torchlight. From there, his journey took him across the oceans, from the Caribbean with Mandarin Oriental and Belmond to Thailand with Anantara.

In 2019, Steven returned to Niyama to oversee its collection of 10 avant-garde restaurants and bars. And now, after consulting on several of the region’s most exciting pre-openings, including The Nautilus and Finolhu, he returns once again to his home away from home, this time with a renewed vision to reimagine and elevate the entire Niyama culinary experience.

New Executive Chef Pradeep Kumar is also a Minor Hotels veteran. After several postings with Marriott and Fairmont, he joined Minor Hotels in 2015 for the pre- opening of Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara in Qatar. Quickly moving up the ranks there, with his versatility and dedication to excellence, in 2021 he transferred to Minor Hotels’ Tivoli collection, Souq Waqif, overseeing the launch of Qatar’s first Georgian restaurant, Time Out Doha’s favourite Indian restaurant, and its multi-award- winning shisha lounge. Now, as Executive Chef at Niyama, he brings a world of sophisticated flavours and experiences to the resort, presented with unrivalled panache.

“Steven and Pradeep are a dream team, and I cannot be more thrilled for them to take the lead on reimagining our culinary offering”, says General Manager of Niyama Private Islands Maldives Hafidh Al Busaidy. “Our guests can look forward to new settings, new flavours and new sensations, all designed to intrigue, indulge and free the spirit”.

For reservations, call +960 676 22 22 or email reservations@niyama.com