The Chocolate & Ice-Cream Rooms
A handful of Maldives resorts run a dedicated room or counter given over entirely to chocolate and ice cream — distinct from a dessert course at dinner, this is a standalone venue guests can drop into well outside normal mealtimes. It reads as a small indulgence rather than a headline reason to book an island, but it's become a genuine differentiator at the resorts that do it well, and a detail families with kids tend to notice fast.
Soneva runs the most consistent version of it: Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva Secret each run a Chocolate, Cheese and Ice Cream Room (Soneva Secret's own materials list it as the Cheese, Chocolate and Ice Cream Room) open around the clock — the same idea and format repeated across all three islands, and an unusual pairing of cheese alongside the sweets that's become something of a Soneva signature.
Elsewhere the format looks different. Joali Maldives runs La Joie, an all-day artisanal chocolate and ice cream store with 30 flavours of homemade ice cream rather than a round-the-clock room. Six Senses Laamu's Ice counter goes even further on variety — 58 ice cream, sorbet and plant-based flavours plus house-made chocolate — and is listed among the resort's complimentary extras alongside its jungle cinema and group yoga.
Where it’s distinctive
Soneva Fushi
Baa Atoll · seaplane, 30 minutes
Chocolate, Cheese and Ice Cream Rooms are open around the clock.
Soneva Secret
Makunudhoo Atoll · seaplane, 55 minutes
The Cheese, Chocolate and Ice Cream Rooms are open around the clock.
Before you book
Which Maldives resorts have a dedicated chocolate or ice cream room?
Five that we track have a real one, not just ice cream on a restaurant menu: Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva Secret each run a Chocolate, Cheese and Ice Cream Room (Soneva Secret lists it as the Cheese, Chocolate and Ice Cream Room) open around the clock. Joali Maldives has La Joie, an all-day chocolate and ice cream store with 30 homemade flavours. Six Senses Laamu has Ice, a counter serving 58 ice cream, sorbet and plant-based flavours plus house-made chocolate. See the roster below for the detail on each.
What's the difference between Soneva's Ice Cream Rooms and Joali's La Joie?
Soneva's three properties share one format — a room open around the clock, pairing cheese with chocolate and ice cream, the same across Fushi, Jani and Secret. Joali Maldives's La Joie is a different concept: an all-day artisanal store rather than a round-the-clock room, built around 30 homemade ice cream flavours. Six Senses Laamu's Ice sits closer to a large-format counter, best known for its 58-flavour range and house-made chocolate.
Do I need to book ahead, or is it walk-in?
Nothing in what these resorts publish points to a reservation system for any of these — Soneva's rooms are described as open around the clock and Joali's La Joie as an all-day store, both consistent with a walk-in amenity rather than a bookable sitting. If timing matters for your stay, ask us and we'll confirm current hours before you travel.
Is the chocolate and ice cream room complimentary?
Only Six Senses Laamu explicitly confirms this — its Ice counter is listed among the resort's complimentary activities. Soneva and Joali don't publish whether a charge applies to their rooms or store, so we check exact inclusions for the resort you're considering before you book.
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