Best Luxury Hotels in Maldives

It’s the ultimate opulent escape, a longstanding favourite with honeymooners and the feature of many a bucket list. The Maldives – where turquoise waters meet pristine white-sand beaches and indulgence is an everyday affair – is a tropical haven scattered across the Indian Ocean. From breathtaking overwater villas to underwater restaurants and unparalleled tropical marine adventures, the islands’ resorts epitomise paradise living. Whether you’re a couple seeking that quintessential romantic holiday of a lifetime, a family wanting equal quantities of seclusion and activity, or an individual looking for somewhere to relax and rejuvenate, you’ve come to the right place. Here are our favourite 5-star and luxury hotels in the Maldives.

Kaafu Atoll, North Male Atoll

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 100 Luxurious Villas, Each Featuring a Private infinity Pool with Ocean or Lagoon Views
More Located in the North Mal Atoll, Accessible by Speedboat or Seaplane

A conch shell will be blown to herald your arrival at this five-star idyll. It boasts a Bamford Spa, activities (arts and culture workshops, a kid’s programme, kayaking, snorkelling, volleyball and tennis) and an amazing circular overwater pool with a terrace of nap pods. Guests can eat at Culinary Island, Grand Sunset Beach and Fari Marina Village, with Italian food at La Locanda, Middle Eastern fare at Arabesque, family-friendly meals at the Beach Shack and Cantonese flavours at the Summer Pavilion. The indoor areas melt into the outdoors in The Ritz-Carlton’s villas and suites, all of which are served by an Aris Meeha personal butler​. The Residence has a private outdoor pool, its own spa room and a full kitchen with a dining room and an al fresco eating area.

BOOK YOUR STAY
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

Kaafu Atoll, Reethi Rah

One&Only Reethi Rah

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 118 Villas Including Expansive Beachfront & Overwater Options With Private Pools & Dedicated Butler Service.
More Located On A Vast Private Island In The North Mal Atoll, Offering Secluded Beaches & Extensive Recreational Facilities.

The brand’s name reflects its approach to unique resort design. Here 122 thatched villas, many with their own pools and all designed by Jean Michel Gathy, are found beside the beach or suspended over the calm lagoon. One&Only Reethi Rah is found on the North Malé Atoll , with no fewer than twelve powder-like beaches just made for picnics, swims and boating ventures. It’s a deeply romantic place, yet caters for all kinds of groups, with a KidsOnly club offering dynamic activities, including rock climbing and badminton. The resort is home to the Maldives’ first PADI National Geographic dive centre and seven drinking and dining venues.

Maldives, Raa Atoll

JOALI Maldives

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 73 Private Villas & Residences Each Featuring Infinity Pools & Butler Service.
Amenities Five Diverse Dining Venues Including Japanese Teppanyaki & Italian Cuisine Alongside A Spa With Glass-Walled Treatment Rooms & A Yoga Pavilion.
More Located On Muravandhoo Island In Raa Atoll Offering A Secluded & Art-Infused Luxury Experience.

Land via seaplane and check into your private villa (one of 73) on Muravandhoo. An unspoilt idyll, the resort is committed to maintaining the local ecosystem, having banned single-use plastic and preserved 1000 trees in its build. Joali’s ESPA spa caters to adults and kids alike, and little ones have their own range of activities beyond, with junior chef classes, treasure hunts and native storytelling. You may want a romantic meal for two on your own terrace, or to arrange a BBQ on the beach. But there are also several dining venues onsite: Vandhoo, Bellinis, Saoke, Mura Bar And Lajoi.

Maldives, Male City

Baros Maldives

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 75 Villas Including Overwater & Beachside Options with a Singular Residence
Amenities Multiple Dining Venues, a Spa With Private Suites, a 24/7 Fitness Centre, Overwater Infinity Pool, Personalised Butler Service for Select Accommodations, & Luxury Speedboat Transfers
More Located on a Private Island In the North Mal Atoll, offering Proximity to a Vibrant House Reef

Having been around for 50 years, this resort has continually reinvented itself, while maintaining a reputation as one of the finest in the Maldives. Book a villa, a suite, or the Baros Residence, with designer toiletries, a deep free-standing tub, an outdoor shower with palms and plants, 24-hour butler service and a private infinity pool. There are so many places and ways to dine here; consider a romantic meal on the floating Piano Deck, aboard a dhoni at sea or in The Lighthouse. Indulge in some spa treatments, unwind in the Relaxation Sala, or take a class led by the in-house yogi.

Maldives, Raa Atoll

The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 115 Villas each with Private Plunge Pools & Open-Air Bathrooms
Amenities All-Day Restaurant, Beachfront Barbecue Spot, Traditional Maldivian Venue, Poolside Cafe, Casual Bar With Games & Adults-Only Overwater Bar
More Located on Huruvalhi Island In The Raa Atoll, Accessible By Seaplane From Mal

Choose from either overwater or beach villas at The Standard. There are 115 in total, with mood lighting and infinity pools, each providing easy access to the protected house reef, for some scuba, snorkel and sailing action. The hotel’s spa has a hammam, a cypress steam room, a meditation studio and aerial yoga classes. And the four eateries include the overwater Maldivian restaurant, Guduguda. The Standard has an inflatable water park, a kids club and a programme of entertainment, such as traditional Maldivian Boduberu, beach movie nights and karaoke.

BOOK YOUR STAY
The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives

Thaa Atoll, Maalifushi

COMO Maalifushi, The Maldives

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 65 Accommodations Including Land & Over-Water Suites & Villas with Private Pools & Direct Ocean access
Amenities Dining Options include an all-Day Restaurant, Poolside Lounge Bar & Over-Water Japanese-inspired Venue
More Located in the Remote Thaa atoll Surrounded by Uninhabited Islands & Rich Marine Life

Searching for somewhere especially remote? The Thaa Atoll will provide that luxury castaway feel. Take the beautiful 60-minute seaplane journey to the resort (which is a highlight in itself), where you can check into your suite, villa or water bungalow, with up to two bedrooms. Eat the freshest sushi and sashimi at Tai, dine anytime of day at Madi, and enjoy the family-friendly atmosphere at Thila. Menus are based around COMO Shambhala Cuisine, a healthy cooking concept, with gourmet meals available in the privacy of your own accommodation. And guests can take advantage of the wellness options at the resort’s COMO Shambhala Retreat.

BOOK YOUR STAY
COMO Maalifushi, The Maldives

Maldives, Raa Atoll

Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 80 Villas Including Beach & Overwater Options with Many Featuring Private Pools & Spacious Decks
Amenities Dining Options Span Multiple Cuisines across Five Restaurants with Additional Bars Offering Varied Settings
More Located on a Private Island In The Raa Atoll of the Maldives Accessible By Seaplane

This minimalist Maldivian paradise features 80 freestanding villas, offering a mix of luxurious beachfront and overwater accommodations, each with its own private pool. The resort’s dining options are impressive, including an overwater Mediterranean restaurant, a beachside churrascaria, and a vibrant teppanyaki grill. The resort’s unique spa is set in air-conditioned treehouses above a grove of palm trees, providing a variety of tropical treatments, from ritual Thai massages to red coral facials. For those seeking adventure, the resort offers a range of activities such as diving, kayaking, and windsurfing, all enhanced by the stunning Indian Ocean backdrop.

BOOK YOUR STAY
Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa

Kaafu Atoll, North Male Atoll

Patina Maldives, Fari Islands

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 110 accommodations Comprising Beach & Water Pool Villas with Private Pools & Marina-adjacent Studios
Amenities Features Multiple Dining Venues, Comprehensive Spa Services, 24-Hour Fitness Centre, indoor & Outdoor Pools, & Complimentary Children's Club
More Located within the Fari Islands offering access to a Marina Village with additional amenities

Interactive sculptures and curated artworks accent the spaces in this deeply stylish and contemporary beach resort. Guests are accommodated in 90 Beach and Water Pool Villas each with between one and three bedrooms, or 20 Fari Studios. Patina offers 12 dining concepts (including a beach club, an Aegean kitchen on the sands, a tuk-tuk serving gelato and a Japanese-Nordic fusion restaurant. There’s also a Footprints Kids Club, a dive school by Dive Butler International and a watersports centre. And a calendar of events presents the likes of artisanal craft workshops, holistic healing sessions, modern art exhibitions and themed feasts.

BOOK YOUR STAY
Patina Maldives, Fari Islands

Maldives, Raa Atoll

Heritance Aarah

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 150 Villas & Suites Including Beach Villas, Ocean Villas, Family Villas, Pool Villas, Ocean Suites With Private Pools & An Ocean Residence With Infinity Lap Pool
Amenities Dining Options Include Multiple Restaurants & Bars, Overwater Medi Spa, Fully Equipped Gym, Two Outdoor Pools, Kids Club, Personalised Butler Service, Complimentary Airport Lounge Access With Seaplane Transfers & a Tennis Court
More Located in the Raa Atoll of the Maldives, accessible Via a 40-Minute Seaplane Flight from Male

Home to the Maldives’ first-ever Medi-spa, this retreat is in the Raa Atoll. Choose from 150 villas, some over-water, duplexes, others on the beach and those best suited to family groups. Depending on the category, you can benefit from butler service and a private pool, with those in ocean suites able to dine at an overwater restaurant and exclusive bar. There are five further restaurants, providing buffets, grilled seafood, Sri Lankan fine dining and a chef’s table, plus several bars with views to die for. Plus there are two swimming pools, a playground, a kids club, futsal fields, tennis courts and watersports.

Haa Alif Atoll, Dhidhdhoo

JA Manafaru Maldives

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 84 Villas Including Beach & Overwater Options Each With Private Pools
Amenities Dining Venues Range From Global Cuisine to Asian Fusion & a Unique Underground Wine Cellar with Spa Treatments Yoga Sessions Multiple Pools Kids' Club & Water Sports
More Located on a Private Island at the Northern Tip of the Maldives offering Pristine Beaches & Vibrant Marine Life

Occupying a private island in the Haa Alifu Atoll this award-winning resort offers beach and overwater villas, as well as private residences – all categories have their own pools. There are also three main pools, including one designed for children. Ayurvedic treatments are offered at the Calm Spa sanctuary and the watersports centre provides opportunities to explore the surrounding reef. Guests can take meals (including a refined afternoon tea) and drinks at seven venues, one of which provides wine and food pairings in the Maldives’ deepest subterranean wine cave, made from lava stone.

Maldives, Raa Atoll

Raaya by Atmosphere

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 167 Villas Including Beach & Water Options with Private Pools & a Signature Residence
Amenities Eight Dining Venues offer Diverse Cuisine, Overwater Spa, Fitness Centre, Outdoor Pool, Butler Service, Kids Club, Mini Golf, & Paddle Tennis
More Located on a Private Island In Raa Atoll Accessible by Complimentary Seaplane Transfers

Raaya by Atmosphere is situated on a lush private island in Raa Atoll. The resort draws inspiration from the natural surroundings and the open ocean, offering guests a sense of adventure. It features 187 beach and ocean villas with stunning ocean views. The resort experience is intertwined with the story of Seb, a shipwrecked artist who made the island his home. Seb’s story adds a unique touch to the resort, showcasing his art studio, ship, and watch towers converted into dining and star-gazing venues. In the evening, guests can enjoy live entertainment, traditional Boduberu performances, and cultural events. The resort offers various exciting activities such as diving, water sports, and excursions on the open ocean. Additionally, there are plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures, including archery, kids’ play areas, mini golf, and paddle tennis. Guests can also indulge in delicious food and pampering spa treatments at Maai Spa. Overall, the resort promises an unforgettable and immersive experience in a beautiful and adventurous setting.

Shaviyani Atoll, Shaviyani Atoll

Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort

Hotel
(5 stars)
At a glance
Rooms 120 Villas Featuring Private Pools & Dedicated Villa Hosts
Amenities Multiple Restaurants & Bars, Spa, Fitness Centre, 200m Infinity Pool, Kids' Club
More Located in the Shaviyani Atoll with one of the Maldives' Largest Lagoons & Unique Underwater Art Installations

Perched on a huge lagoon, beside the jungle and the ocean, this all-villa resort is on Sirru Fen Fushi island, in the Shaviyani Atoll. Stay on the beach, hidden in the mangroves, over-water or in a luxury tented residence nestled in the jungle. Each makes use of local materials, with local design and ranges from one to three bedrooms. Play tennis, beach volleyball and water sports, take a Maldivian cooking class, paint at the onsite art studio and swim in what is the longest swimming pool in the Indian Ocean. Other amenities include the Willow Stream Spa, four restaurants, a kids club and a teen games room.

BOOK YOUR STAY
Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort




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