Seaside Finolhu, Baa Atoll

Described by its owners Seaside Collection as ‘a playful twist on luxury’, Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives – or Finolhu for short – is a vibrant resort in the less developed western corner of Baa atoll, a 35-minute seaplane ride from Male. Freshly reimagined in November 2020, it is the first Maldives property within Design Hotels’ portfolio.

Encircling a stunning reef-fringed lagoon, home to many nesting green turtles, Finolhu comprises an 850m overwater villa jetty on its west side, connected to the main island, and three islands on the other connected by sandbanks. Keep an eye on the horizon: the ambitious and upcoming ‘.here’ ultra-luxury villas (opening late 2025) promise sky infinity pools and next-level exclusivity. Watch this space for more details.

Finolhu has 125 villas in one and two-bedroom categories, 34 on the beach and the remainder over water. All are generously spacious with sumptuous beds, and some have private pools, offering plenty of choice for families, couples or friends travelling together. We recommend the west-facing Ocean Pool Villas for reef access and sunset views, the Lagoon Villas for those who prefer calmer lagoon waters for swimming, and the Beach Villas/Beach Pool Villas (lagoon side) for their location and beach access.

This naturally lush main island is home to many facilities including the Beach Club/Beach Bar and four impressive dining outlets. Beach Kitchen is the island’s culinary centre – buffet style with live cooking stations to suit all tastes, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner in weekly themed nights. The magnificent overwater restaurant Japanese restaurant Kanusan has its own bar with sea views, plus a separate wooden veranda where guests can dine and enjoy the sounds of the ocean. Some guests may prefer to sit in the air-conditioned interior section and dine on what is perhaps some of the best sushi in Maldives.

The highly memorable Crab Shack, located at the end of the remarkable 1km sandbank, provides the desert-island experience, built from palm trees and some wood, where diners can slip their feet into the sand while sampling fine seafood, fish and other grilled favourites like burgers (the lobster roll with white truffle fries is a must!). We suggest taking the dhoni shuttle service across the lagoon from the main jetty for lunch service and save the long walk for Friday evening (when Crab Shack hosts the legendary White Party at sunset before serving dinner), rather than in the heat of the day.

Finolhu offers the full range of meal plans from B&B through to All-Inclusive Premium. For those wanting a true dine-around experience we recommend the latter; guests on this package can also enjoy Milk Lab – a funky outlet located next to the gym and spa, offering delicious pastries, smoothies, milkshakes, juices, sandwiches and ice cream snacks.

Award-winning FEHI Spa offers a ranging menu from classic massage to specialised treatments, featuring exclusive products by NATURA BISSE. Professional yoga masters lead Aerial and Hatha Yoga in the Shala, and Sunset Yoga on the beach.

The other notable facilities include a beach-view gym with state-of-the-art equipment, tennis and padel courts, a multi-purpose court, Art Studio (for classes in pottery, jewellery-making and coconut painting), Oceaneers kids club (ages 4-11yrs) plus the brand new two-storey Teen Hut where the older kids can play table football, chill at their own bar or make music. The Golf Studio is the place the practice your swing or putting skills (reservations needed) while the water sports centre has a wide range of non-motorised and motorised equipment on offer.

There are no bikes on the island but guests can make us of the regular buggy service which runs every 15 minutes or so, or one can be ordered through your ‘Roohu’ (butler).

The term ‘Island Playground’ is defined by the Beach Club/Beach Bar area, home to a sprawling main pool with an elevated library and shisha lounge hovering above the swim-up bar, providing welcome shade. There are plenty of loungers, day beds and giant cushions dotted around the pool, and scattered across the beautiful and expansive beach area where tall palms create dappled shade. By day, guests can swim in the pool to a backdrop of gentle DJ beats, play games (there’s a giant chess set on the beach) or enjoy meeting the mermaid! From sunset, talented performers emerge to thrill the guests with live acts including juggling, aerial acrobatics and tribal fire shows. Some might read this and think it tacky, but the quality of the entertainment has a level of sophistication that you would not find at a lower grade resort. By night the Beach Bar hosts DJ sessions and is perfect for dancing and celebrating. Importantly, and impressively, the sound of the extensive entertainment provided does not pervade across the island, instead it’s muted by the lush vegetation.

The PADI dive centre – Dive Butler – is home to a highly professional team, led by Mara who besides being base leader is also a free diver and mermaid in her spare time. Ivana, the resident marine biologist, is passionate about her work and the ideal guide for snorkelling on the house reef. The best section of reef is ocean side (west) – the balcony, or drop off, is approximately 200m out, accessible from the beach on that side, or from 3 strategic points along the water villa jetty (guests in Ocean Pool Villas can directly access from their villas). The swim out is in shallow water, so not daunting, and the reef line is clearly marked with buoys and markers along the entire section. We were fortunate enough to see an eagle ray, mangrove whip-tailed stingray, a black tip reef shark and plenty of other fish including parrotfish, fusiliers, trevally, surgeon fish and unicorn fish. The reef is also home to the occasional nurse shark and green turtles can be frequently spotted in the lagoon. Snorkelling gear is complimentary.

Overall, Finolhu masterfully balances sophistication with whimsy under the expert stewardship of GM Steven Phillips, a luxury hospitality maestro who has been at the helm of several iconic luxury resorts in Maldives and beyond. Steven is ably assisted by Resort Manager, Ali, and an exceptional senior team including Executive Chef, Bernard, F&B Manager, Ali, and Bar Manager Paban (master of the Angelfish Cocktail). There is a tangible sense of enthusiasm, pride and happiness amongst the resort staff – something of a rarity these days in a destination saturated with so many resort choices. The result is a classy, chic resort with an engaging beach club vibe, and so much more besides.

Seaside Finolhu: where playful luxury meets Maldivian magic!