Milaidhoo Island

Please note: Ba'theli by the Reef will close during October 2026 for essential maintenance.

Milaidhoo Island, the luxury concept from Universal Resorts, holds its place as one of the most beguiling retreats in the Maldives.

Your stay begins the moment you step onto this leafy, beautifully tended island, where a butler greets you with a glass of Champagne and sets the tone for effortless, understated elegance.

Every villa is a delight: roomy, bright, gently curved in form and kept in immaculate order. Those on the beach side blur the line between indoors and out, with bi-fold doors opening onto the deck, a generous private pool and the sand beyond. The planting added along the water villa jetties has now filled out, softening the clean lines of the architecture and lending the walkways a lovely, natural rhythm.

While most villas remain as they were when the resort opened, the vast Ocean Residence has been reimagined as a stunning two-bedroom villa, a superb choice for families or groups wanting space and privacy in equal measure.

Dining at Milaidhoo continues to be a highlight, with variety and quality in abundance. Breakfast at Ocean is a treat each morning, and the Maldivian spread in particular is a delicious celebration of local cooking. Shoreline Grill delivers excellent seafood with your feet in the sand, plus a fun Teppanyaki Chef's Table and thoughtful tasting menus paired with fine wines in the Wine Room. The signature Ba'theli remains unmissable, serving precise, Spice Route-inspired dishes in a magical overwater setting, where nurse sharks and blacktip reef sharks drift beneath the deck as the sun goes down.

For something lighter at midday, the Compass Bar has plenty to tempt, including the excellent Impossible Chilli Tacos, which are a must for plant-based guests. Do also try Lucky's superb take on the Angelfish Cocktail, complimentary for Angelfish guests.

A gentle paddle from Milaidhoo's lovely sunrise beach brings you to the house reef, which is still in fine health. Snorkelling here is pure joy: the channels give easy access to clouds of tropical fish, plus larger visitors such as turtles and reef sharks. With no motorised water sports, the reef and its residents are left in peace.

On an island of only 50 villas, everything else is scaled to match. The charming overwater spa is small and refreshingly free of showiness, but the treatments, above all the signature massage, are exceptional. The compact gym looks out over the lagoon and is seldom busy, with everything you need to stay active.

Service is faultless from start to finish. From your attentive butler to a team who seem to sense what you need before you ask, the standards here are consistently high.

In short, there is remarkably little to criticise at Milaidhoo. It marries 5-star luxury with genuine Maldivian warmth: no glitz, just grace. Rates are befitting its premium standing, yet the quality and the soul of the place make it a strong candidate for our favourite resort, and one we would happily return to at the drop of a hat.

Milaidhoo Island is a boutique private-island resort in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve within easy reach of the celebrated Hanifaru Bay. It is reached by a 35-minute seaplane flight from Velana International Airport and first opened in November 2016. The Maldivian architect Mohamed Shafeeq designed the island, a compact 5.4 hectares of white sand and lush vegetation, built with local materials and craftsmanship to deliver natural, island-inspired comfort with a contemporary edge.

Accommodation

The resort is home to just 50 villas and residences, each with its own private pool. The 29 Water Pool Villas are set on stilts above the ocean, with private freshwater infinity pools and direct access to the reef, while the 18 Beach Pool Villas sit right on the sand among the palm trees. There are also two generous Beach Residences (490 sqm) and a single two-bedroom Ocean Residence (564 sqm), complete with an oversized private pool and endless ocean views, ideal for families or groups of up to six.

Every villa opens up 180 degrees to nature, blending indoor and outdoor living, and features an en suite bathroom with a soaking tub and separate rain shower, a private wine fridge, hanging Maldivian swings, large daybeds, sun loungers, Acqua Di Parma toiletries and a 24/7 Island Host service that covers unpacking and packing.

Children aged eight and over are welcome.

Dining

Ba'theli by the Reef

Milaidhoo's signature restaurant is the only one in the Maldives to specialise in gourmet local island cuisine, with dishes inspired by the Maldivian Spice Route. Named after the ancient wooden sailing vessels that once carried spices across the Indian Ocean, it is built to resemble three boats floating above the reef, and guests are encouraged to come barefoot.

Shoreline Grill

A beachfront grill serving superb meats alongside freshly caught local fish and seafood, simply cooked and beautifully presented. Dine barefoot on the sand in a private pavilion or indoors overlooking the show kitchen, and book the Chef's Table for a tailor-made menu. Pre-dinner wine tastings with the sommelier can also be arranged.

Ocean Restaurant

The tropical breakfast spot guests dream of, with tables on a deck overlooking the ocean while the team delivers wave after wave of treats. Breakfast and dinner are served in a casually comfortable style, with international dishes from an a la carte menu, locally sourced wherever possible.

Azure

A toes-in-the-sand beach shack for a relaxed lunchtime escape, nestled amid screw pines on the beach. Authentic island life at its simplest, with gentle sea breezes and a chilled glass of wine.

Compass Pool Bar

A relaxing spot beside the infinity pool overlooking the ocean, with light meals and a tempting drinks list of fresh juices, infused waters, wines and cocktails. After dark it becomes a laid-back lounge with aperitifs, after-dinner drinks and live entertainment.

Facilities & Activities

The overwater Serenity Spa has four treatment rooms and a yoga pavilion, offering facials, massage therapies, manicures and pedicures, plus yoga, meditation, aerial yoga and in-villa treatments. Back on land, there is a 24-hour gym with views over the lagoon.

The 5-star PADI dive centre caters to everyone from novices to experienced divers. The lively house reef offers easy snorkelling access from the beach, with a resident marine biologist, a coral restoration programme and seasonal manta ray and whale shark encounters. Guests can also join fishing trips and dolphin cruises, try non-motorised water sports, take traditional dhoni cruises or yacht cruises, and visit a nearby local island.