KCR Winter 2025 2026 Mag V3 FINAL - Flipbook - Page 104
Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives
A Picture Perfect & Retro-Cool Island Playground
Some Maldivian resorts trade in tranquillity alone; others in slick
glamour. Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives manages the rare trick of doing
both — o昀昀ering 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 — Pure Horizon, Private
Tranquillity
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 昀椀rm favourite of mine, is Finolhu’s elegant overwater Asian
restaurant, one of the best in the Maldives, serves re昀椀ned dishes in a
sophisticated candlelit setting with the most fantastic views.
Arabian Grill o昀昀ers fragrant Middle Eastern 昀氀avours under warm
lantern light.
Milk Lab is a fun concept - here you can indulge in fantastic ice creams,
co昀昀ees 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.
Perched along the edge of the outer reef, the Ocean Pool Villa gives
guests a front-row view of Finolhu’s greatest asset: 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 昀氀oors; 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 de昀椀ne 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 and
outdoor 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.
An Island With Style and Spirit
Finolhu is unapologetically stylish. Brightly coloured pops of design —
poolside stripes, playful retro touches, tropical artwork — sit
comfortably 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 o昀昀er quiet corners and peaceful beaches, yet lively
enough that guests seeking atmosphere 昀椀nd 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; re昀椀ned in design, grounded in
nature.
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 in昀椀nite blue, and the menu is everything a beachside restaurant should be: fresh, unfussy, and built around the island’s
昀椀nest seafood. Think chilli-kissed soft-shell crab, grilled prawns, crisp
salads, coconut-rich 昀氀avours 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 o昀昀er a range of massages, scrubs, facials and restorative
rituals, and many guests 昀椀nd 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 o昀昀erings. It’s a spa with personality — playful in
style, deeply calming in e昀昀ect.
The Sandbank: Finolhu’s Cinematic Masterpiece
A UNESCO Biosphere Playground
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.
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 昀椀sh 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.
Dining: Character, Choice and an Island Icon
Finolhu’s dining scene is a vibrant extension of its personality. The
resort o昀昀ers an appealing mix of re昀椀ned and relaxed restaurants, each
with its own character and rhythm.
KENSINGTON & CHELSEA REVIEW
Whether by boat, 昀椀ns 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
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