Villa Maya is proud to announce its recognition by the prestigious Haute Grandeur Global Awards 2025, which celebrates excellence in the hospitality industry worldwide. We have been honored in multiple categories at both Asian and Indian levels.
• Best Fine Dining Experience in Asia
• Best Gourmet Style Cuisine in Asia
• Best Food Styling and Presentation in India
• Best Restaurant Ambience in India
Being featured in Haute Grandeur presents a powerful opportunity for Villa Maya to be showcased on a truly global platform that celebrates excellence in travel, hospitality, and unique experiences. As a brand that thrives on creativity, authenticity, and attention to detail, Villa Maya is not just a restaurant, it is a destination where heritage, sustainability, and innovation come together to tell a story on every plate.
Our presence in Haute Grandeur will allow us to highlight the subtle yet powerful elements that define Villa Maya. From the way we reinterpret age-old culinary traditions to the careful curation of local produce and eco-conscious practices, everything is driven by our core passion to serve with soul. Our plating techniques, for instance, incorporate Kerala’s timeless materials, the spice box, cane baskets, jackfruit leaves, not as decoration, but as a meaningful extension of our ethos.
This feature would help us connect with discerning travelers and connoisseurs who appreciate immersive experiences, and who seek destinations that resonate beyond the superficial. It’s not just the visibility we are looking for, it’s alignment. We want to be discovered by those who value artistry, cultural integrity, and culinary storytelling.
Haute Grandeur offers us a stage to present what sets Villa Maya apart, our creative strength, a deep-rooted respect for tradition, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence that defines who we are.
Villa Maya is the premium restaurant owned by Muthoot Pappachan Group in Trivandrum, located conveniently in the heart of the city at Injakkal, Airport Road, Trivandrum. Villa Maya is known for its distinctive and sophisticated dining experience and has redefined the fine dining with a twist within five years of inception. Villa Maya indulges in flavors from across the globe and allows our connoisseurs to soak-in an environment of elegance and tranquility – perfect for an exquisite romantic dining experience. The presentation of the food at Villa Maya is a visual treat, a mix of artistic influence, fused with distinctive creativity. The perception of Villa Maya is to blend the nostalgic past with the present, which is showcased in various aspects, while you drift through a culinary journey.
It offers indoor and outdoor banqueting venues for destination weddings, book launches, private dinners, meetings and more. In short Villa Maya is not just a restaurant but a dining destination.
Villa Maya, a lovingly restored 18th century Dutch manor that once enjoyed the attention of the royal house of Travancore. In the spirit of its noble heritage, it continues to exude timeless elegance through contemporary design and haute cuisine. Villa Maya is a treasure trove of subtle sensory delights; a theatre of the senses meticulously crafted to offer you an escape into serenity. Authentic traditional cuisines from around the world are exquisitely plated to harmonize with its classical architecture, minimal style and carefully selected art and craft pieces, creating an experience of beauty and grace.
Villa Maya have introduced sophisticated dining experiences. We believe in comfort, privacy and finesse and each of our varied dining spaces have been individually styled to suit your every mood and celebration. At Villa Maya you will discover there is no separation, only surrender to the immediacy of your senses. At Villa Maya time and space come together to recapture the noble heritage of the Travancore kingdom. The graceful blend is apparent in its discreet hospitality and elegant interiors. This lovingly restored “Arumana Ammaveedu” was once home to royal consorts of some of Travancore’s visionary kings.
The tradition of the Ammaveedu is unique to Kerala. In its past avatar these rooms resounded with laughter and tears. Art, music and dance permeated this Ammaveedu as young girls were inculcated with the finesse required of a royal consort. They learnt the art of discreet service, social graces and elegant demeanor that would complement the dignified status of their future husband, the king of Travancore.
5,000 years of Kerala’s rich culinary traditions have been seamlessly incorporated with the classic architectural beauty of this 18th century Ammaveedu. This rich legacy has been interwoven with contemporary dining and modern sensibilities of luxury and privacy to make this an experience exclusive to Villa Maya.
THE PLACE
The bustling commercial city of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala nestles among the gentle foothills between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. In Enjakkal, one of the oldest sections of the city, where vibrant cultural traditions have been carved into heritage landmarks, lies this noble city’s pioneering gourmet restaurant ‘Villa Maya’.
Villa Maya is an experience. One that gently awakens the senses. It is a lush city haven that embraces you with its rich legacy of elegance, style and fine cuisineIts legacy of quintessential hospitality imbued with graciousness, is reminiscent of its heritage as the 18th century Arumana Ammaveedu. Once the distinguished home to the royal consorts of some of the greatest Travancore kings, this handsome and dignified heritage building has been revived and lovingly restored as an elegant, contemporary restaurant. Villa Maya has lost nothing in transition. Inspired by Travancore’s noble heritage and committed to preserving this legacy, every detail of the restoration process was carefully designed. The finest of traditions and craftsmanship are discernible in the purity of its architecture and its simple yet elegant decor. Comfort, privacy and finesse are subtly combined to make each of its varied dining experiences unique for every conceivable occasion.
GARDEN AND GROUND FLOOR
PULLU MEDU
The Lawn is an outdoor venue for private events. This elegant starlit setting has all the prerequisites to ensure that every special occasion is celebrated and shared with finesse and style.
KAAPI LOUNGE
The Coffee Lounge located in the lobby, offers a relaxed, cosy ambience where quiet reflection, reading a book or working discreetly from your laptop can be enjoyed with a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
THE PEACOCK HALL
The hallmark of this dining space is a large carved wooden peacock. Contemporary furniture and handcrafted heirlooms add a touch of sophistication and make this an ideal place for business lunches and intimate celebrations.
APSARA HALL
The Apsara Orchid Hall is designed and laid out along similar lines as the Peacock Hall on the Ground Floor. This formal, beautifully proportioned dining room with high ceilings and polished wood embodies Travancore’s graceful heritage.
TAAMARA THOTTAM
The Lotus Court is a lush outdoor garden area that provides alfresco dining amidst private pavilions. Reflective ponds with lotus blossoms and tropical foliage add a touch of serenity to this unique dining experience.
EAST & WEST CHAMBERS
These brightly lit smaller chambers that flank the Peacock Hall on both floors are the epitome of grace and style. They provide a private space for larger groups of up to 15 guests.
EAST ONE & WEST ONE
These two rooms align with the East & West Chambers on the ground floor. These tastefully styled spaces are ideal for celebrating those rare and special moments with family and close friends.
FIRST FLOOR
MAYALAYAM
The Bedstead verandah, located in the shaded landing of the first floor, is an airy, cozy, whimsical space in the heart of Villa Maya. It has two large, cushioned bedsteads with sliding retractable wood trays. This room overlooks the lush courtyard. As the sun goes down and dusk sets in, Mayalayam is bathed in a soft, inviting orange glow.
SECOND FLOOR
THATTINPURAM
The Attic Hall situated on the topmost floor is created exclusively for private banquets, intimate family events, formal corporate dinners and live performances. Wooden flooring and audio-visual facilities make this an exclusive dining and event venue.
THE STORY
Villa Maya’s story goes back many years to a time when Arumana Ammaveedu held a prestigious place in the hearts of the kings of Travancore. Its tryst with royalty delves far beyond its 18th century avatar as a Dutch manor, dating back probably to the time when Maharajah Karthika Thirunal Dharma Raja shifted his capital from Padmanabhapuram to Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) taking along with him his four wives one of whom belonged to the Arumana Ammaveedu.
The famous Arumana Ammaveedu was one of four Ammaveedu’s to rise to prominence towards the end of the 18th century. Ammaveedus were the residences of the consorts of the Maharajahs of Travancore in Trivandrum. The royal consorts were given the title Panapillai Amma and were entitled to certain royal privileges except the fortune of inheriting the throne.
The male members of Ammaveedu families were called Thampi and the women were called Thankachi. The literal translation means brother and sister respectively. This indicated their position as relatives of the Royal House of Travancore. Marriage did not entitle consorts or their descendants with inheritance to the throne.
The royal family of Travancore was strictly matrilineal, meaning that the throne was inherited by the descendants of the king’s sister, and not by the king’s son or daughter.
Arumana Ammaveedu has an interesting tale to tell. Like all Ammaveedus it started off with humble beginnings gaining stature through marriage into the royal families of Travancore. The Thankachis of Arumana Ammaveedu were the consorts to many kings, starting from Dharmaraja, Bala Rama Varma and Visakam Tirunal Rama Varma.
It is said that the consort of Bala Rama Varma played an important role during the British rule. When Travancore revolted against the British it was under the leadership of Velu Thampi who had secured palace secrets and confidential information from Arumana Amma, the then wife of Maharaja Bala Rama Varma.
Visakam Thirunal was a very learned and scholarly king. During his reign he introduced a number of reforms in education, the police department and the judiciary. In 1859 at the age of 22 he defied his uncle and married the woman he loved, Srimathi Lakshmi Pillai Kochamma of Arumana Ammaveedu. She was privately educated in English and became the first lady of the Travancore nobility to have an English education.
Later his son, Sree Narayanan Thampi, founded Travancore’s first bus service. In 1910, he registered the company Commercial Transport Corporation which ran a transport service from Trivandrum to Nagercoil and from Trivandrum to Kollam.
The original Ammaveedu was an ettukettu, a traditional Kerala house with two courtyards. Parts of it were demolished and replaced by European architecture during the time of Maharaja Visakam Tirunal. In its renaissance as Villa Maya its fabled past continues to linger in its classical architecture, traditional cuisine and sophisticated style, mindful of its illustrious legacy.
THE CUISINE
Hundreds of years old, and deeply rooted in the history, geography and culture of the land, the cuisine of Kerala is a legacy that dates back to the era of the spice trade. Centuries ago, the ancient seaports of Kerala were suffused with the aromas of pepper, ginger, cumin, garlic and cardamom. Shiploads of spices set sail across the Arabian Sea, heading east and west to distant lands from this prosperous trading hub. While Kerala contributed unique and exotic flavors to global cuisine, this cultural crossover similarly enriched its own ancient culinary traditions.
This varied and vibrant culinary history is the inspiration behind our delectable menu of authentic dishes from Kerala and countries like Greece, Italy and Morocco that historically traded with it. Each carefully selected dish is handpicked for its classic authenticity and resonance with the tastes of modern Kerala. Every serving is transformed into a sublime experience of flavors, textures and aromas, the result, a seamless blend of tradition with contemporary culinary aesthetics.
Trivandrum has been at the Centre of the spice trade for over three millennia and has contributed unique and exotic flavors to global cuisine. Trivandrum’s culinary history inspired us to combine traditional cuisine with contemporary style. The menu presents a wide repertoire of cuisine from the countries that historically traded with Kerala. The menu is a gastronomical journey through Kerala, India, Morocco and Italy. Each dish has been carefully handpicked for its cultural heritage, authenticity and resonance with the tastes of Kerala and is presented in a multisensory delight of exciting flavors, textures and aromas. Each dining experience at Villa Maya will enlighten youwith knowledge about the history of the dish and the creative element of the presentation involved which tingles nostalgic memories of the bygone era. Our Chefs are not just Chefs, but artist who would add life and flavor to your entire culinary journey while dining at Villa Maya.
Address: VILLA MAYA, AIRPORT ROAD, INJAKKAL, TRIVANDRUM – 695008
KERALA, INDIA
Contact details: 0471 2578901/02/03/04/05
Website: www.villamaya.in
