Milaidhoo Island Resort

Our story begins over 5,000 years ago when The Maldives became a key port of call for traders sailing from Indonesia and India to Arabia with cargoes of cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, cloves, ginger and pepper. The Maldivians bartered coconuts, sun-dried fish, cordage, cowrie shells and sails woven from coconut fibre for spice, rice, ceramics and silks. Locally-made cargo boats, called ba’theli in the local language, sailed throughout the archipelago with these goods, spreading knowledge about different lands, their customs and cuisine. At Ba’theli, the story continues as our chefs create dishes of finesse based on the epicurean delights of the old Spice Routes using only the finest ingredients, blending herbs and spices to enhance natural flavours.

Guests dine on the ‘deck’ of the restaurant where, underneath starry night skies, the team of chefs deliver an island influenced menu of locally inspired and sourced dishes. There’s also indoor seating in air-conditioned comfort where you can watch the sea-life below through glass floors. Expect to find seafood and traditional local flavours intelligently reinterpreted for the 21st century. Open for dinner daily from 19.00 to 22.30. Ba’theli Lounge is open from sunset until late.

This beachfront grill is where you’ll find superb meats and freshly caught local fish and seafood, simply cooked and beautifully presented. You can dine barefoot on the sand in a private beachfront pavilion, or inside the grill for a fantastic view of the show kitchens. We think several visits will be required including at least one evening at our chef’s “teppanyaki” table where our chef will ask what you feel like eating and cook accordingly. Or why not arrange a pre-dinner wine tasting session in our wine room with our sommelier one evening? This is where you’ll find barefoot informality at its best. Easy, simple, no fuss. Open for dinner daily from 19.00 until 22.30.

If you’ve ever wanted your own private chef to cook for you, here’s your chance. At our chef’s table, our team of chefs are ready to cook up a perfect dinner, just the way you want it, right before your eyes at our teppanyaki-style table. For inspiration, we offer a choice of set menus, as well as an a la carte menu to pick and choose from. Open for dinner daily from 19.00 until 22.30. Can be opened for lunch on request.

It’s time to pop a cork or two. Whether you choose to stop off here before dinner, or leave this as a post-postprandial treat or perhaps an afternoon eye-opener is up to you. Chill out in the superb cool temperatures of our Wine Room with a flight of wines and canapes, or ask our sommelier to organise a specialist wine tasting for you. Open for private bookings.

Here’s the tropical breakfast you’ve always dreamed of: sitting on the deck by the ocean as our team delivers wave after wave of treats to your table. For lunch and dinner the style remains casually comfortable with international dishes perfectly presented from our a la carte menu. Here, the key words are fresh, flavourful and friendly. Open for breakfast 07.00 – 10.30), lunch (12.00 – 18.00) and dinner (19.00 – 22.30).

Here’s the place to chill out and fall in love with our infinity pool that overlooks the ocean. When hunger calls, we’re right here with a tempting drinks list of the freshest of fresh juices, infused waters, cocktails and light meals, such as gourmet pizzas from our wood-fired oven; bento boxes; fresh salads; sandwiches etc. The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down; find yourself a sun lounger and watch the area transform into a laid-back chillout lounge. Open from 09.00 until late night with light meals available between 12.00 and 18.00 every day.

To us, in villa dining means creating a magical experience for you on the privacy of the deck of your villa. On the menu you’ll find a carefully curated selection of dishes designed to please. If you’re craving something different, simply let our chefs know what you fancy and it will be our pleasure to make it for you. Open 24-hours.

At Milaidhoo we offer meaningful and memorable experiences. As part of that, The Milaidhoo Gourmet Plan is a dine-around meal plan offering outstanding dining and drinks throughout the stay.

Enjoy your daily breakfast at leisure and follow it with an indulgent set menu lunch at Ocean restaurant. You can also enjoy an a la carte light meal selection at Compass Pool Bar. Then smoothly move on to an a la carte dinner in either Ocean or The Shoreline Grill. You’ll also be invited to enjoy dinner at our signature restaurant, Ba’theli once every four days.

To ensure you never go thirsty, all day long in our restaurants and bars you’re welcome to enjoy international and premium brands of spirits, beers and cocktails from our selection as well as fresh juices, soft drinks, mineral water, teas, coffees, milkshakes and smoothies and a premium selection of wines, hand-picked by our sommelier.

The jewel of the UNESCO biosphere reserve is undoubtedly Hanifaru Bay, the place where – in season – the world’s largest groupings of manta rays can be seen. This is also the place for whale shark spotting. Snorkelling with these peaceful ocean giants is an unmissable experience.

The season runs from June to November each year and sightings depend on many factors such as tide times, moon phases and currents. We plan to run three trips a week to Hanifaru Bay (weather permitting) and can also offer private excursions for just the two of you accompanied by our marine biologist.

This ocean country stocked with plentiful fish calls to anyone with the soul of a fisherman. Our big game fishing boat can take you out to the high seas looking for wahoo, sailfish, swordfish, giant trevally or marlin for our catch and release programme.

With the UNESCO biosphere reserve and the world-famous Hanifaru Bay on our doorstep, this is a great opportunity for you to learn more about the incredible wildlife in the area from our two resident marine biologists. Here you may discover what makes whale sharks tick, why manta rays dance, what makes dolphins smile and help with identification and conservation practices.

Take a trip to a local island and see what life is really like in a Maldivian village or sail away to your own private deserted sandbank where a feast awaits. Cruise with dolphins at sunset with champagne and canapes on board one of our luxury craft or just set sail under the starry night skies and be at one with the universe.

Water babies will love our collection of non-motorised watersports, which include kayaks (complimentary for our guests) as well as transparent kayaks, windsurfers, catamarans, stand up paddle boards (SUPs) and Zayaks. Snorkelling equipment, which can be used free of charge during your stay, can be borrowed from here.

While the beauty of the Maldives is breath-taking, what you’ll find below the surface is even more moving. Our experienced diving team have the keys to the best dive sites in the atoll and welcome everyone, from novices making their first dive to experts logging their 1000th dive.

At Milaidhoo we have a five star PADI dive centre that offers house reef diving, boat diving, private diving, night diving, fluo night dives, Manta Ray diving and nitrox.

PADI Five Star Dive Resorts are committed to providing quality diver training and continuing education programmes that include dive experiences and environmental awareness.

This is where you’ll feel a million miles from everyday life. You’ll discover inspiring moments that enrich your life and excite your spirit of adventure. Don’t just go fishing: instead join a Maldivian fisherman and learn how it’s done here. Don’t just go on an excursion; instead let a local take you by the hand and guide you through our culture and history. Don’t just do a cooking class; accept chef’s invitation to pick some local herbs with him and create a new dish together. Don’t just drink cocktails; join our sommelier or bar tender for a tasting class and see if you can concoct something good enough to make it onto the drinks menu.

And breathe . . . blissful relaxation for your body and soul takes place in four over-water treatment suites which offer inspiring views of sky and ocean. Explore our holistic treatment menu which incorporates the powers of botanicals combined with entrancing healing traditions from Africa, using local herbs and plants. Here you’ll feel the benefits of our organic and natural spa therapies offered by Elemis, TheraNaka and Coola.