Anantara Veli Maldives Resort

Rooms

The resort's 67 bungalows have traditional Maldivian-style thatched roofs and overlook the Indian Ocean or the lagoon. Most are set overwater and each bungalow has a sun terrace, while some also have a pool. Inside, vaulted ceilings and a light, modern decor make the rooms feel comfortable and welcoming, and they are well-equipped with a TV, Wi-Fi, minibar and tea/coffee facilities.

Location

Anantara Veli sits in the South Malé Atoll, conveniently located just 35 minutes by speedboat from Malé International Airport. Its soft, white-sand beach overlooks a lagoon with crystal-clear water. There are local islands nearby, which means that there are some views of buildings in the distance, but these are small islands and they certainly don't impinge on your views.

The resort is connected to Anantara Dhigu (a sister property set on a nearby island) by a short boat ride of less than a minute, and this opens up a host of additional facilities for guests. Please note that Dhigu accepts families, so isn’t an adults-only resort.

Food and drink

Dining at Anantara Veli is one of the key highlights of a stay here. There are four dining options at the resort and another four at its sister property, Anantara Dhigu.

The crème de la crème at Veli is Baan Huraa, a Thai restaurant serving some of the finest Thai cuisine in the Maldives. Set over the lagoon, it serves lunch and dinner.

The main restaurant, 73 Degrees, is set on the oceanfront. It serves buffet breakfasts with a huge range of choice, and a mix of themed buffet dinners in the evening.

The resort's Japanese restaurant, Origami, serves sushi, sashimi, and teppanyaki, while the Dhoni pool bar serves snacks, sandwiches and pizzas until early evening.

At Anantara Dhigu we highly recommend Sea.Fire.Salt. Set on the water’s edge, it lives up to its name and serves 14 different types of salt with food. Dishes are mainly based around freshly caught seafood as well as a selection of prime meat cuts.

Terrazzo, also at Dhigu, is open for dinner and serves Italian cuisine. Fushi Café offers buffet breakfasts and themed buffet dinners, while Aqua (a pool bar) serves poolside snacks until early evening.

Additionally, the resort’s 'dining by design' option allows you to arrange private dining on the beach or at a private island.

Please note that children are allowed in the restaurants at both Anantara Dhigu and Anantara Veli. The only dining option which is adults-only is the Dhoni bar. Also, Origami and 'dining by design' are not included in half-board or full-board plans, and meals taken on this basis are charged separately. At Sea.Fire.Salt, Terrazzo and Baan Huraa, some items are not included on meal plans and will incur a supplement.

Families

Anantara Veli is an adults-only resort although families staying at Anantara Dhigu are allowed to use the restaurants on Veli.

Local excursions

The resort offers a variety of trips for those looking to get out onto the water, from island picnics to dolphin-watching trips and sunset or full moon cruises. A variety of snorkelling trips are available, including night snorkelling or, from August to December, going in search of manta rays. You can also visit a nearby local island for tea.

Diving

The PADI dive school can take you on dive trips to over 20 nearby reefs. Courses are also available for beginners and those wishing to build upon their existing qualifications.

Spa Facilities

The resort's spa has five thatched treatment rooms offering Ayurvedic-inspired treatments. There's a steam room and sauna, as well as hot and cold plunge pools in the garden.