Velassaru Maldives has opened Sora, a new overwater Japanese restaurant with a dedicated teppanyaki counter, robata grill and sushi and sashimi bar.

Positioned above the lagoon, Sora takes its name from the Japanese word for “sky” and offers diners uninterrupted ocean views from both the indoor open-plan dining area and the outdoor deck.

The restaurant features a central black-marble teppanyaki area where guests can watch chefs preparing dishes to order. To one side sits a robata grill, while the opposite counter houses a sushi and sashimi station.

The interior design incorporates natural elements such as a thatched roof, rattan-strip ceilings and stone-patterned floors, paired with blonde wood furniture and folding doors that open to let in sea breezes and colourful Maldivian sunsets.

Sora’s menu is a fusion of traditional Japanese and Nikkei cuisine with vibrant Peruvian influences. Guests can choose from freshly made sushi and sashimi, signature sushi rolls, octopus nigiri and a selection of reef fish prepared using Japanese techniques.

Izakaya small plates include Korean Wagyu tartare, kimchi tofu miso soup and charred corn with coconut and chilli. Elsewhere, the hot menu features steaming ramen bowls, crispy tempura, freshly prepared soba noodles and a number of teppanyaki and robata dishes, including scallops in soy butter, miso-glazed eryngi mushrooms and bacon-wrapped asparagus skewers.

The restaurant also offers a weekly omakase experience, where chefs craft a multi-course tasting menu using seasonal and local ingredients such as crab, tuna and Maldivian reef fish, paired with traditional flavours like sake and miso.

The opening of Sora is led by Cluster Executive Chef Pedro Pecego, who joined Velassaru in July 2025. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Pedro began his career as a sushi apprentice in 1997 and trained at École Ducasse before expanding his culinary experience across Brazil, France, Portugal, Zanzibar and the Middle East. His background spans classical French cuisine, Mediterranean flavours and extensive work in Japanese kitchens.