Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas Hotel Review

Within minutes of checking into Anantara Kihavah, in the Maldives’ Baa Atoll, my husband and I were underwater. While it’s usually the Indian Ocean’s signature shade of turquoise-blue that lures visitors into the deep, this time, we were in search of something yellow.

The resort’s house reef—that’s Maldives speak for the snorkeling and diving spot guests find just a short swim from their villas—is known as the Yellow Wall for its vibrant yellow and gold coral. These colonies of submerged sunshine stretch for about 82 striking feet below the surface, attracting almost 300 species of fish, plus sea turtles, sharks, and rays.

“Our reef is one of the wonders of Anantara Kihavah. It is home to 291 fish species and 132 types of coral, creating an underwater world alive with beauty,” Matheen Faiz, the resort’s assistant marketing and communications manager, told Travel + Leisure. “The Yellow Wall, with its myriad of golden corals and thriving marine life, always leaves our guests in a state of awe, and I love being able to share it with them.”

The Baa Atoll’s exceptional biodiversity earned it a rare UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation in 2011, and getting in the water to explore it up close is highly advised. For the less aquatically inclined, however, Anantara Kihavah offers ways to see it without getting wet that are almost equally as incredible.

There’s Sea, the underwater restaurant and wine cellar where the caviar tasting menu comes with a live sealife spectacular, and Spice, where a turtle might do laps beside your dockside table. Then there are the thoughtful, transparent touches throughout the overwater villas and spa, including glass-bottom bathtubs and cutouts beneath every massage table. Regardless of what you’re doing, your attention is drawn back to the water—and that’s exactly how it should be.

The Rooms

Upon entering my overwater villa, I beelined for the bathroom—not for the reason you might be thinking, but to check out the view. (Once you’ve spent some time at resorts in the Maldives, I swear this starts to make sense.) What I found was the perfect Maldives trifecta: a sunken bathtub, overlooking an infinity pool, overlooking the ocean. At the time, I didn’t know that even the tub had a glass bottom, looking directly into the blue water, because a kind butler had already run a bubble bath topped with flower petals in anticipation of my arrival. 

I’m a firm believer that the bathroom is what makes or breaks a luxury hotel room, and Anantara Kihavah nailed it on land and sea. We spent the first half of our visit in one of the beachfront pool villas—all of which were renovated in 2025—and, although it didn’t have the view, the brand-new bathroom there somehow managed to be even more impressive, with its open-air courtyard, indoor and outdoor showers, lounge area, water features, and bathtub built for two.

Overall, the resort has 80 villas and residences, including beachfront and overwater options ranging from one to four bedrooms, all with private pools and plush outdoor lounge setups.

Food and Drink 

Every dining outlet at Anantara Kihavah is an experience. Sea, the underwater restaurant—and world’s first underwater wine cellar—is adults only for dinner most days of the week, but I’ve never felt like more of a kid, in spite of the sophisticated “Caviar Indulgence” menu and fine wines. Between early sea turtle spotting, shark visits, and endless schools of tropical fish, I simply could not contain my excitement and remain seated for my meal. Just when we thought the underwater show couldn’t get better, a scuba diver swam by with a sign greeting us by name. That’s just the type of romantic surprise the staff at Kihavah loves to arrange. 

Spice, the ideal overwater sunset spot, serves flavorful Asian dishes using fresh local seafood. Just when we were least expecting it, a sea turtle swam by, making our meal that much sweeter. At Fire, true to its name, lively chefs serve Maldivian lobster and more teppanyaki style—sparing no acrobatic tricks or roaring flames. Sky serves cocktails and tapas from an overwater observatory with a side of incredible stargazing.

The Spa 

The overwater spa at Anantara Kihavah is the type of spa you’ll want to spend time in before and after your treatment—in fact, my husband and I returned twice. Instead of being closed away in a locker room, the saunas, refreshments, and hot and cold plunge pools sit on an outdoor deck where you can continue meditating to the sounds of the ocean. 

Dedicated to holistic healing, the spa draws visiting practitioners who specialize in Ayurvedic medicine, Japanese Shiatsu bodywork, chakra energy balancing, and more. In addition to massages, facials, and body treatments, guests can opt into individualized wellness journeys (including one specifically for women), couples’ treatments, and sleep therapies. There are also deep soaking tubs with a view that can be used for floral milk, coconut peppermint, or magnesium bath rituals. I loved opening my eyes while face down during a massage and watching for fish through the cutout in the floor. 

Accessibility

Every guest at Anantara Kihavah is assigned a private butler, who works to tailor the experience and make accessing the island as comfortable as possible. “There is not much we cannot do in Kihavah,” Faiz said, “as we adopt an ‘anything, anywhere’ type of service attitude, going above and beyond to create unforgettable journeys for our guests.” Most of the resort’s restaurants are wheelchair accessible. However, visiting a private island resort by seaplane can present unique challenges, and it is best to contact the resort before booking to discuss individual needs.

How to Book

Nightly rates at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas start from $1,600 per night for two adults with the “Best of Maldives” package, which includes a stay in an overwater pool villa, daily breakfast and dinner, an invitation to dine on the four-course caviar menu at Sea, and 27 percent taxes and service charges.