Hotel Snapshot
In the Maldives, you’re not exactly in the market for anything below par. Hospitality here tends to fall into two categories: run-of-the-mill luxury and ultra-luxury. At JOALI Maldives, you can expect the latter.
The experience begins the moment you land in Malé, greeted by an attendant holding a sign with your name—an unmistakable signal that you’ve entered a different tier of travel. Guests are escorted to a private JOALI lounge, where cool towels scented with florals, cucumber-infused water, and freshly prepared bites quietly reset your body after the journey. By the time the seaplane lifts off, you’re already easing into island time.
From the air, the Maldives reveals itself in surreal shades of blue, with sandbars slicing into the ocean, tiny islands floating like mirages. As the plane touches down on water, you finally understand the cinematic arrivals made famous by The White Lotus: drums beating, staff smiling in perfect sync, coconuts in hand beneath a manta-ray-shaped wooden pavilion. Every detail is choreographed, but never stiff.
You’re soon introduced to your private jadugaar—JOALI’s version of a personal assistant—who handles everything from pillow preferences to dinner rides by buggy. Ours, Dilya, embodied what makes this place unforgettable: intuitive, warm, and effortlessly present. The kind of hospitality that feels deeply human, not performative.
Design & Character
JOALI Maldives feels less like a resort and more like a living gallery. Art is embedded throughout the island. Sand pathways wind past sculptural installations, from Porky Hefer’s floating Manta Treehouse to Benedetta Mori Ubaldini’s heron-like wire forms and Nacho Carbonell’s organic, tree-bound seating structures. Each piece invites pause, curiosity, and conversation. The island’s design philosophy celebrates creativity without excess: thoughtful, tactile, and deeply connected to place.
The Rooms
The villas at JOALI Maldives feel pulled from a dream version of island living. Accommodations range from expansive beachfront residences—ideal for families or groups—to overwater villas that redefine barefoot luxury.
We had the pleasure of testing the water villas, which, in particular, are pure island opulence. High A-frame ceilings create a sense of grandeur, while carved dark woods balance soft creams, sandy neutrals, and subtle pops of peach and teal. A separate living area includes a fully stocked bar, espresso machine, and tea service, while the canopy king bed faces the ocean through sliding glass doors.
Turn-down service is precise and comforting: slippers placed just so, sheets smoothed, lights dimmed. In the bathroom, green Norwegian marble wraps the vanity and shower, paired with a freestanding soaking tub and a rare luxury: a fully equipped beauty vanity complete with hair tools beyond a classic blow dryer.
Each villa comes with engraved bamboo signage, island cruiser bikes, a private plunge pool, direct ocean access, and an outdoor rain shower—a detail that makes you pause mid-rinse and think, yes, this is real.
The Food & Drink
Dining at JOALI never grows repetitive. Our first night at Saoke, the overwater Japanese restaurant designed by Noriyoshi Muramatsu, set the tone. Hundreds of sake bottles line the walls; sushi chefs work at the center bar; moonlight reflects off the sea beyond. Guests choose their own chopsticks and sake glasses, a subtle ritual that heightens the experience. Nikkei-inspired dishes include black miso cod, Maldivian lobster, A5 wagyu, which arrive plated to perfection.
Lunches unfold poolside with elevated classics like a fried-egg-topped club sandwich or tuna poke. Afternoons call for La Joie, the ice cream parlor, where coconut cream reigns supreme. Breakfast at Vandhoo is very possibly the star of the show: fresh pastries, rotating live stations, house-made nut butters, smoothies, and eggs prepared exactly how you like them.
Then there’s Tuh’u, the island’s Levantine restaurant and its culinary soul. Named after one of the world’s oldest recorded recipes—a lamb-and-beet stew referenced in Mesopotamian scriptures dating back to 3000 BC—Tuh’u is built around the act of gathering. Flavors from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey unfold through generous mezze meant for sharing, encouraging guests to linger, talk, and slow down.
It’s rare for island dining to feel this varied and intentional. At JOALI, there’s simply not enough time to try it all.
The Amenities
JOALI’s amenities are inseparable from its environment. Days move fluidly between snorkeling, scuba diving, and watersports in bath-warm waters. One morning, marine biologist Lau guided us through the coral nursery, offering insight into the fragile ecosystems beneath the surface.
Art remains central. Guests can follow a self-guided art trail or create their own pieces at the on-island art studio. I joined a ceramics session with resident artist Liza—a hotel amenity I didn’t know I needed, but won’t forget.
Shopaholics should consider packing on the lighter side, as you’ll want to pop into Maison de Joali, their tropical boutique. That just means a beaded handbag from the resort’s Aquazzura collaboration might have to come home with you, along with a Lily & Rose bikini finished with ruffled straps and gold-plated seashell embroidery. Consider it a souvenir.
Spa & Wellness
Being on an island is therapy enough, but JOALI Maldives takes well-being far beyond the obvious. At the spa center, JOALI BEING Cure, the experience nods to the brand’s wellness-forward sister property, guided by four pillars: mind, skin, microbiome, and energy.
The 120-minute Hammam Journey is the standout, blending ancient cleansing traditions with modern luxury. Moroccan black soap softens the skin, warm water rituals reset the body, and the entire experience unfolds on a heated marble slab in a space that feels undeniably regal.
Movement is equally intentional. High-tech gyms host functional training, mat Pilates, and cardio-focused classes led by certified coach Ahmed Nabil, while outdoor tennis and padel courts turn fitness into play. Lessons with resident padel coach Shamaam Shaheen feel more like joyful instruction than formal training, proving that at JOALI, even breaking a sweat is meant to feel good.
Fast Facts
Location: Muravandhoo Island, Maldives
Rating: 5-Star
Room count: 73 villas
Pricing: Rates range from $3,000 to over $5,000+ USD per night, depending on seasonality.
Dining: Saoke: Overwater Japanese-Nikkei restaurant highlighting sushi, robata-grilled seafood, and premium wagyu / Tuh’u: Levantine cuisine inspired by ancient Middle Eastern recipes, designed for sharing and lingering / Bellinis: Mediterranean dining with an Italian focus, featuring handmade pastas and a strong wine program / Vandhoo: Southeast Asian and Indian cuisine, plus the resort’s expansive, destination-worthy breakfast / La Joie: Artisanal ice cream and sweet treats for midday (or post-dinner) indulgence
Amenities: Private jadugaar (personal assistant), overwater and beachfront villas with plunge pools, curated art installations throughout the island, marine biology program and coral nursery, watersports and diving, tennis and padel courts, high-tech fitness center, ceramics and art studio, luxury boutique shopping, and a full-service spa inspired by JOALI BEING.
Our favorite thing about the hotel: It’s the people, especially the jadugaars, who give JOALI its soul. Their warmth grounds the art, dining, and design in something deeply human, ensuring the experience never feels staged. A special shoutout to Isra, the property manager, for turning our jet-lagged first night into a welcome worth remembering, along with Dilya, Lau, Valencia, Shamaam, and countless others who made each day feel effortlessly joyful.
Airport: Velana International Airport (Malé). Accessed via a 45-minute scenic seaplane transfer arranged by the hotel.
Muravandhoo Island, Maldives
