See Inside The Luxurious Maldivian Resort Loved By A-Listers
You can count on one hand the number of celebrities whose tick of approval comes as coveted as Beyoncé‘s. So when you hear that she is just one of many A-listers who frequent a certain resort in The Maldives, you can’t help feeling a bit curious. Our Editor, Natasha Harding, had the opportunity to see it for herself and, well, she couldn’t/wouldn’t resist. Now entering its fifth year, here’s what she thought of The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi…
In Partnership With Hilton
The list of high-profile names who have visited The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi reads like a stream of red carpet arrivals.
What Sets It Apart
The list of high-profile names who have visited The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi reads like a stream of red carpet arrivals: Beyoncé, Emily Ratajkowski, Shakira, Serena Williams – to name a few.
Located on the South Male Atoll, this is luxury on a whole other level. Four staff members are assigned to every guest, including your personal concierge for the duration of your trip—kids also get their own concierge—which shows how much focus there is on incredible service. It’s unsurprising that the resort has 80% repeat customers and 75% of visitors are families, but you wouldn’t know it.
As for the accommodation, every villa has a private pool, and if you want something even more luxe, you can opt to stay at one of the Waldorf’s Stella Maris Ocean Villas. Or, alternatively, the most exclusive guests tend to frequent the resort’s private island. At a whopping eight hectares, it’s the largest Maldivian private island and comes complete with its own dedicated culinary team, private ocean sandbank for yoga or dinners, and an overwater spa.
First Impressions
They say that first impressions are lasting, and The Waldorf certainly makes a strong one. Let me paint the scene: On landing at Male Velana airport, after quite a long flight (or two) from London, I was feeling a little worse for wear.
So when we left the arrival terminal and were escorted straight onto our own private yacht—yes, really—things started to improve quickly. Onboard, we were greeted by a full crew and complimentary Champagne to see us through the 45-minute journey to the island – an undeniably ‘pinch me’ moment.
As the yacht approached the resort, a row of staff stood at the end of the dock waving, ready to welcome us. We disembarked, and our cases were swept away to our villa while we were shown up to reception.
Shaded and cool with high ceilings, through reception you could see a giant steel sundial taking pride of place just beyond Peacock Alley. Waldorf regulars know that grand clocks are a key feature of the brand, with the first greeting guests in New York City over 125 years ago. It’s here that we met our lovely island host, Katie, who guided us through the resort on a gold buggy, before dropping us off at our villa to get settled in.
The Rooms
The sweeping deck, sizeable pool and hanging beach beds looked like something out of a James Bond film, rather than a hotel I’d ever see with my own eyes.
As soon as we opened the door to our one-bedroom overwater villa, we thought there had been a mistake. The sweeping deck, sizeable pool and hanging beach beds looked like something out of a James Bond film, rather than a hotel I’d ever see with my own eyes. To call it breathtaking is, honestly, an understatement. But it didn’t stop there.
Behind the palatial-sized doors to the villa is a long corridor that extends the entire length of the building, branching off on each side into the living area, bedroom, and enormous bathroom. There’s clearly no expense spared on the villas and their contents, with attention to detail paid throughout.
Sitting atop the coffee table is a bottle of Veuve Clicquot on ice alongside a spread of fresh fruit. In the next room, the bed is ornately decorated with a hand-decorated welcome message from staff made entirely out of palm fronts. A look down at the floor on the way to the bathroom, and the cool tiles are swapped for a glass panel that allows you to see straight through to the sealife swimming in the crystal clear waters directly below. And, for those who appreciate a quality hotel robe – but also those who usually don’t – the Waldorf’s ones are so soft, I could believe they were designer.
When asked how most guests spend their time, we were told that many opt to stay in their villas for most of their stay. And, well, I understand why.
Dining
If you think that staying at a single resort would limit your culinary options, you’re sorely mistaken. Normally I’d talk about activities you can do before going into the dining, but the food at The Waldorf is so good, it deserves mentioning earlier. Foodies are spoilt for choice with 11 restaurant offerings ranging from Michelin-starred Chef Dave Pynt and dining in the treetops to relaxed breakfast buffets and beachfront eats. Here are my personal favourites.
Tasting Table
Each morning, we made our way down to the Tasting Table – an impressive buffet with more cuisines and freshly made treats than you can count. The regular breakfast mainstays (cereal, fruit, eggs, pastries etc) were readily available, along with an extended offering ranging from fresh charcuterie and a juicing station, along with Middle Eastern, Indian and Asian counters complete with fresh curries, pickles, a noodle bar and even dim sum. Of course, free Champagne is also available at breakfast – a fact I can quickly get used to.
Of course, free Champagne is also available at breakfast – a fact I quickly learnt to accept.
Nava
For lunch next to the pool and beach, head to Nava [pictured right] for a light bite to see you through to dinner. The woodfire oven means their pizzas come widely recommended, along with the fresh poké bowls and an impressive drinks list with plenty of mocktails (and cocktails) to choose from.
Amber
Start your evening right by enjoying the sunset at the aptly-named waterfront bar, Amber, with beach huts and a decking area that enjoy an uninterrupted view of the horizon. Order from the cocktail list and, if you’re lucky, you might even spy a turtle swimming out to sea.
Terra
Nestled among the treetops, Terra is one of the most memorable (and Instagrammable) dining experiences in The Maldives. As you wander through the meandering walkway, set metres above the ground, you’re taken to your semi-private table set in one (of only seven) orb-like nests.
After the amuse-bouche, Terra offers an eight-course menu that changes year-round, with each course small but impeccably crafted with flavours combined in unexpected yet glorious ways.
The Ledge by Dave Pynt
Our favourite meal of the whole trip was at The Ledge, which was run by Dave Pynt, the Australian Chef-Owner of Burnt Ends, a one-Michelin-starred modern barbecue restaurant.
We opted for the Signature Menu, which came recommended for first-timers, as it ticks off all of the restuarant’s best hits. Highlights include the beef marmalade, grissini and ikura, followed by the Blackmores Australian beef also supplied to his Michelin star resto in Singapore
Our favourite meal of the whole trip was at The Ledge, which was run by Dave Pynt, the Australian Chef-Owner of Burnt Ends, a one-Michelin-starred modern barbecue restaurant.
Li Long
If you love Modern Chinese cuisine, Li Long needs to be on your list. The restaurant’s design, inspired by Shanghainese noble residences, still feels relatively relaxed. As for menu highlights, the Peking Duck is one of their signature dishes, however, we opted instead for the dim sum and weren’t disappointed – the crystal har kao and xiao log bao were incredible.
Zuma
If the name Zuma sounds familiar, it’s for a reason. Originally opening in London’s Knightsbridge some 20 years ago, the institution has now expanded around the world, with many staff members training in the Dubai branch.
As you make your way through the trippy illuminated tunnel, the restaurant opens out into a sleek and inviting hub. Zuma has a decidedly related, cool and youthful feel to it, offering an elevated spin on the traditional Izakaya style of informal eating and drinking. Book in for dinner, or make your way there for a vibey atmosphere and digestifs.
Things To Do
When you’re not busy enjoying your villa or feasting at one of the impressive restaurants, there’s plenty to do during the day.
Water sports are huge, with a plethora of motorised and non-motorised options to choose from such as kitesurfing, wakeboarding, surfing, kayaking, jetpack rides and more.
If you fancy seeing beyond the resort, book an excursion to see some of the surrounding natural beauty, such as whale sharks and dolphins.
Having said that, you really don’t need to leave the resort to keep busy and active. My personal highlight was playing on the (newly covered) padel tennis court – an incredible facility alongside the regular tennis court – that your concierge can book you into.
For those seeking to lower their adrenaline, rather than raise it, you can’t go wrong with a trip to the spa. I tried the 60 minute aroma massage in one of the overwater treatment rooms and, by the end, was so relaxed I walked out in a sort of daydream-like haze.
If you’re looking to rest and restore your muscles, the Aqua Wellness Centre offers a Hydro Therapy circuit you can complete in an hour before steaming off in the sauna.
For those with kids, there are plenty of options including multiple kids clubs covering toddlers through to teens. Plus, with their own concierge, their day-to-day can be tailored to their unique interests.
Lastly, while you likely don’t go to the Maldives to shop, if you find yourself on the lookout for a stylish keepsake, the on-island boutique has you covered. With rails filled with beloved fashion brands including Cult Gaia and Zimmermann, and accessories from Aquazzura, the temptation to add to cart was all too real for this writer.
The Verdict
If you want a holiday that’s going to spoil you so much that nothing else will be able to compare thereafter, this is the place to visit. Throughout the stay, our needs were anticipated before we even had them in a way that made us feel like another of the resort’s A-list guests.
Getting There
The 40-45 minute yacht ride from Velana International Airport is smooth and indulgent. The hotel arranges the private yacht transfer for you, meaning you don’t need to lift a fingers (exactly what you want after a long journey). One of the lasting touches was that, on our return to the airport, our yacht attendant took our cases through security for us, and up to the check in desk – another example of how the Waldorf goes above and beyond.
How To Book
For more information on rates and availability, visit waldorfastoriamaldives.com.
