Some Maldivian resorts trade in tranquillity alone; others in slick glamour. Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives manages the rare trick of doing both — offering soul-soothing villa privacy and turquoise lagoons alongside retro-inspired design, lively beach-club energy and one of the most beautiful sandbanks in the country.
Finolhu sits in the UNESCO-protected Baa Atoll, where the water glows electric-blue, coral reefs thrive and the horizon seems larger than anywhere else in the Maldives. The resort stretches across lush tropical greenery and picture-perfect white sand, and while it is stylish and playful in spirit, it never slips into the overly designed or impersonal. Instead, everything feels sun-warmed, relaxed and distinctly barefoot.
Our Villa: Ocean Pool Villa
Perched along the edge of the outer reef, the Ocean Pool Villa gives guests a front-row view of one of Finolhu’s greatest assets: its vast, empty horizon. From the moment the villa door swings open, the landscape takes over. Floor-to-ceiling glass frames the ocean like an ever-changing canvas; sunlight ripples across wooden floors; and outside, a private pool seems to spill directly into the lagoon.
The deck is a sanctuary in its own right — wide, sun-drenched and perfectly positioned for the long, slow days that define Maldivian living. Morning swims begin from the villa’s private steps; lazy afternoons unfold between cushioned loungers, the large pool and the sea; and evenings arrive with the quiet hush of the water and the blush of sunset somewhere beyond the reef. I really appreciated the good amount of shade so you can sit comfortably outside even in the midday sun and during heavy showers..
Inside, the villa is a study in coastal calm: pale woods, clean lines, high ceilings and soft neutral textures that echo the surrounding sands. The bathroom is spacious, featuring a freestanding tub and indoor andoutdoor shower areas — ideal after snorkelling or a late swim. But the true luxury of the Ocean Pool Villa is space — emotional space, visual space, the kind of uninterrupted expanse that slows the entire nervous system. The views are fantastic too and you, like us, might even see pods of dolphin glide by.
They have larger ocean villas and beach villas too – all also beautifully designed.
An Island With Style and Spirit
Finolhu is unapologetically stylish. Brightly coloured pops of design — poolside stripes, playful retro touches, tropical artwork — sitcomfortably alongside natural thatch, white sand and sapphire lagoon. It is a resort for those who love a little personality in their paradise.
Despite its photo-ready vibrancy, Finolhu remains relaxing. The island is large enough to offer quiet corners and peaceful beaches, yet lively enough that guests seeking atmosphere find it at the Beach Club, the bars, or during one of Finolhu’s signature music-soaked sunset sessions. And if you are travelling with teens – the resort has the most amazing Teen Zone facilities guaranteed to keep them happily occupied regardless of the length of your stay. It’s an island of dualities — serene in the mornings, spirited by night; refined in design, grounded in nature. There’s also something for golf lovers too.
The Sandbank: Finolhu’s Cinematic Masterpiece
Finolhu’s sandbank is legendary — a long, dreamy curve of white sand reaching far into the lagoon, one of the most photographed stretches of shoreline in the Maldives. Guests wander it barefoot in the early morning light, when the sea is glassy and the only footprints are their own. At high noon, the sand gleams almost silver. And at sunset, the entire stretch becomes a pathway of molten gold. It is no exaggeration to say that the sandbank alone is worth travelling for.
Dining: Character, Choice and an Island Icon
Finolhu’s dining scene is a vibrant extension of its personality. The resort offers an appealing mix of refined and relaxed restaurants, each with its own character and rhythm.
Beach Kitchen, open from morning to night, is breezy and welcoming — perfect for sunrise breakfasts that stretch long into the morning. There’s also Beach Club too.
Kanusan, a firm favourite of mine, is Finolhu’s elegant overwater Asian restaurant, one of the best in the Maldives, serves refined dishes in a sophisticated candlelit setting with the most fantastic views.
Arabian Grill offers fragrant Middle Eastern flavours under warm lantern light.
Milk Lab is a fun concept – here you can indulge in fantastic ice creams, coffees and all manner of pretty desserts.
But the heart of Finolhu’s culinary reputation — the experience guests speak about long after they’ve left — is the iconic Crab Shack.
Crab Shack — A World-Renowned Beachside Gem
Finolhu’s Crab Shack has achieved a near-mythic status in the Maldives — and with good reason. Set at the far end of the island’s spectacular sandbank, it is reached either by a barefoot wander along gleaming white sand or by a short dhoni ride across turquoise shallows. The journey alone feels cinematic.
The Shack itself is rustic in the most elegant sense — a weathered timber pavilion with a thatched roof, open to the sea breeze and set directly on the sand. It is casual yet impossibly chic, like stumbling across a stylish secret known only to those who wander a little further.
Tables look out onto infinite blue, and the menu is everything a beachside restaurant should be: fresh, unfussy, and built around the island’s finest seafood. Think chilli-kissed soft-shell crab, grilled prawns, crisp salads, coconut-rich flavours and the Shack’s signature crab dishes. Paired with chilled rosé or a cold beer, it feels like the most natural thing in the world. The last time I visited was years ago and their signature crab curry is just as amazing as I’d remembered.
The Crab Shack has earned global acclaim — recognised as one of the best beachside restaurants in the world, widely praised for its atmosphere, simplicity and sense of place. It is the kind of spot where lunch easily becomes an afternoon of sunlight, salt air and quiet joy.
Spa Time — Retro Soul, Real Serenity
Finolhu’s spa blends mid-century glamour with pure island tranquillity. Treatment huts evoke vintage beach cabanas, each rendered in soft pastels and natural materials, while the interiors are serene, cocooning and warm.
Therapists offer a range of massages, scrubs, facials and restorative rituals, and many guests find themselves returning more than once — partly for the treatments, partly for the spa’s atmosphere. After a massage, resting on loungers overlooking the lagoon becomes almost meditative. Yoga, movement sessions and wellness activities complete the island’s holistic offerings. It’s a spa with personality — playful in style, deeply calming in effect.
A UNESCO Biosphere Playground
As part of the Baa Atoll, Finolhu sits in one of the Maldives’ richest marine environments. Snorkelling in the lagoon reveals brilliant coral gardens and swirling fish schools; deeper excursions discover thriving reefs; and seasonal manta ray gatherings in nearby Hanifaru Bay make for some of the region’s most breathtaking wildlife encounters. Whether by boat, fins or snorkel, the underwater world around Finolhu feels wonderfully alive.
Service: Warm, Relaxed and Casually Luxe
Finolhu’s service matches the island’s personality — polished but not formal, attentive yet easygoing. Staff learn names naturally, anticipate preferences, and tailor experiences with a calm, confident warmth.
Private dinners, floating breakfasts in your villa pool, surprise touches for celebrations, sandbank picnics — everything is arranged with the sense that nothing is too much trouble.
Finolhu is a Maldivian resort with a beating heart — stylish, colourful, sun-drenched and steeped in barefoot glamour. It offers a version of island life that feels youthful yet sophisticated, playful yet soothing, luxurious yet always connected to nature. It’s a resort for dreamers, wanderers, design-lovers, families with teens and anyone who wants their Maldives escape served with both serenity and soul. Once you visit, you’ll want to return.
Visit: www.finolhu.com
By Lisa Curtiss
