Quick Facts

Class:

Location:

Transfer Type:
Transfer Duration:

Island Size:

Total no. Villas:

Highlights:

★★★★★

Lhaviyani Atoll

Speedboat
35 minutes

Medium

90

• Underwater restaurant
• Exceptional food

• Adults only
• Excellent AI package

Reviewed by Florian - September 2025

About Hurawalhi Maldives

The defining feature of Hurawalhi is its 5.8 Undersea Restaurant. This is not just another Maldivian restaurant, it’s the largest all-glass underwater restaurant in the world. Sitting 5.8 meters below the surface, diners are surrounded by a abundance of marine life. Many people choose Hurawalhi specifically for this unique experience, making it one of the most beautiful underwater restaurants in the Maldives.

With its size, Hurawalhi feels much larger than tiny boutique islands like Kudadoo (its sister property, you can read our Kudadoo review here), yet it never feels crowded. The resort balances intimacy with activity: it offers plenty of sports facilities, a lively house reef, and multiple dining outlets, while still maintaining a tranquil adults-only setting.

Transfers & Arrival

Let’s start this review of Hurawalhi Maldives with the arrival experience.

On landing in Malé, we were met by Hurawalhi’s ground team, who assisted us with the transfer to the seaplane terminal. Unlike some resorts with dedicated lounges, Hurawalhi shares the Coral Lounge. It’s a decent space with air-conditioning, comfortable seating, fast Wi-Fi, and light snacks, perfectly fine for a short wait, but not the elevated private lounge experience that resorts like Velaa or Four Seasons provide.

The 45-minute seaplane ride over the atolls is spectacular, offering panoramic views of sandbanks, lagoons, and reefs. After landing at a nearby platform, it’s just a 5-minute speedboat transfer to the island. This final hop is quick and convenient.

On arrival, the welcome was friendly but not overwhelming. Unlike resorts such as Kudadoo or Anantara Kihavah, where a large team lines up to greet you, Hurawalhi’s arrival felt more understated. Still, the welcome drink was excellent, refreshing and delicious. Our butler, Anas, immediately took charge, escorting us to our villa and giving a concise introduction to the resort.

Our villa: Ocean Pool Villa (no.235)

We stayed in an Ocean Pool Villa (235). Inside, the décor is minimalist. The furnishings are functional but lack the wow factor you expect in the Maldives. The color palette feels a little cold, and the bathroom tiles look dated, almost like something from a mid-range hotel rather than a luxury resort.

That said, the outdoor area makes up for it. The deck is spacious, with a large private pool and sweeping views of the lagoon. Our villa directly faced Dream Island, a sandbank just off Hurawalhi, creating postcard-perfect scenery. The reef was also easily accessible from the deck for snorkeling. We’ll get back later in this review of Hurawalhi about the snorkeling experience.

A detail we really appreciated: the villa came with a chilled half bottle of Taittinger champagne on arrival. It’s rare to see this level of quality champagne in a resort at Hurawalhi’s price point, and it immediately elevated the welcome experience.

Other villas we visited

Hurawalhi offers a variety of villa categories, each with its own appeal:

Sunset Beach Pool Villa (115): Similar interior design, but with direct beach access. The outdoor setting is lovely, making it ideal for guests who prefer sand underfoot rather than being overwater.

Ocean Villa: it is the entry-level category. Essentially the same as our Ocean Pool Villa but without the pool. A good budget-conscious choice, though the absence of a pool makes the outdoor area feel less exciting.

Romantic Ocean Villa (202): An upgrade of the Ocean Villa, with a jacuzzi on the terrace. It lacks a pool but makes up for it with its romantic touches, especially at sunset.

Across the categories, the interiors remain consistent. The real differences lie in whether you want direct lagoon access, a private pool, or beach access.

This is maybe the weakest point of our review of Hurawalhi Island Resort. Indeed, the villas are not GREAT. They are “ok”, they do the job, but nothing spectacular like you could see among the best overwater villas in the Maldives.

Hurawalhi Island: pretty, but not the prettiest

Let’s continue this review of Hurawalhi with the island beauty.

The island itself is charming, but not one of the Maldives’ most visually stunning. The beaches are clean, but in front of the main beach area, seaweed is noticeable, which slightly spoils the turquoise effect you expect in the Maldives.

Inside the island, the vegetation is lush, with a healthy spread of palm trees and tropical plants. The pathways are pleasant, and the island’s compact size makes it easy to walk around. Still, when comparing Hurawalhi to the very best Maldivian islands, such as Park Hyatt Hadahaa, Anantara Kihavah, or Huvafen Fushi, Hurawalhi’s natural beauty falls short. We’d rate it 5/10 for island beauty.

This may seems a bit harsh, but we are extremely picky when it comes to island beauty. There are so many picture-perfect islands that increases a lot our level of expectations when judging an island beauty.

The restaurants at Hurawalhi: you’ll enjoy the food!

Let’s continue this review of Hurawalhi Island Resort Maldives with one of its key strength: the food!

Dining at Hurawalhi is a real strength, thanks to its dine-around policy for Half Board and Full Board guests.

But let’s start with the most important and exciting one: 5.8 Undersea Restaurant. This is really the star of the resort. The setting is magical, and the cuisine is of Michelin-star quality. It’s the ultimate must-do if you visit Hurawalhi.

Canneli (Main Restaurant): The breakfast buffet is extensive and high quality, with international and Maldivian options. Lunch is à la carte, and dinner features themed buffets. Food quality was consistently good.

Kashibo: An Asian-inspired overwater restaurant with an elegant yet relaxed vibe. The dishes were vibrant and flavorful. The fish life around the restaurant was also very nice. You’ll very likely spot many sharks and rays while enjoying your dinner if you are sitting on the edge (which we recommend).

JFK (Junk Food Kitchen): A fun casual option for burgers, wraps, and comfort food. Decent, but not as impressive as the other outlets.

Overall, the culinary offering exceeded our expectations, especially for a resort in this price range.

The Service: as great as the very best resorts!

The service at Hurawalhi was one of the best parts of our stay. From waiters to gardeners, everyone greeted us with genuine warmth. Our butler, Anas, deserves special mention. He was quick to respond on WhatsApp, always available, and deeply knowledgeable about the resort and excursions.

Housekeeping was seamless. Our villa was always cleaned at the right times, and turndown service was discreet. The only limitation is that after 9 pm, buggies don’t drive on the wooden overwater jetties to avoid noise, so you’ll need to walk if staying in an overwater villa.

Snorkeling at Hurawalhi Island Resort

Let’s continue this review of Hurawalhi Maldives with the house reef.

Snorkeling here is excellent for fish life, though not for coral health. While the reef has suffered some bleaching, the abundance of marine life is remarkable. We saw:

• Numerous blacktip reef sharks

• Green turtles and hawksbill turtles

• Large schools of fusiliers and jacks

• Stingrays and eagle rays

The best snorkeling spots are near the main beach jetty and along the Dream Island side. The calm current makes it beginner-friendly, while still rewarding for experienced snorkelers.

The Main Pool area

The main pool, located next to Canneli and JFK, is spacious and overlooks the ocean. Plenty of loungers and daybeds make it a comfortable space to relax. It’s not a signature pool like those at Waldorf Astoria or Joali Being, but it’s a pleasant social hub.

The All-Inclusive Package

Hurawalhi offers a very competitive all-inclusive option, making it one of the best all-inclusive and adults-only resorts in the Maldives.

Highlights include:

• Unlimited alcoholic beverages and soft drinks

• Snacks at Coco Bar until 10 pm

• Daily minibar restocking

• Half a bottle of champagne per stay

• A sunset dolphin cruise

• Complimentary kayaks and windsurfing

• A guided snorkeling trip and windsurfing lesson

• Free group yoga classes

For couples who plan to indulge in drinks and activities, this package offers fantastic value and we would definitely recommend it.

The Spa & Gym

The overwater spa is in one of the island’s prettiest spots, offering spectacular lagoon views. We did not get the chance to experience a massage in the overwater treatment rooms, but the rooms are spacious and calming, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

The gym is modern, with Life Fitness equipment and a stunning view of the beach. It’s bright, airy, and better than average for Maldivian resorts in this price bracket.

The Overall Experience

Hurawalhi is a fantastic choice for couples and honeymooners. Despite having 90 villas, the adults-only policy keeps the island tranquil. Even at 80% occupancy, we felt like the resort was only half full.

The wide range of sports and leisure facilities is impressive: a games room with billiards, table tennis, darts, and air hockey (all indoors with AC), plus tennis, badminton, and padel courts. You’ll never get bored, even on rainy days.

Value for Money

Hurawalhi delivers outstanding value for money and that’s why our review is so positive. While the villas could use a style refresh, the combination of dining, service, snorkeling, and adults-only tranquility makes the resort an excellent choice in its category.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Adults-only: peaceful and romantic

• Outstanding food, especially 5.8 Undersea

• Excellent butler service

• Great snorkeling for marine life

• Good value all-inclusive package

• Plenty of sports and activities

• Spacious outdoor areas in villas

Cons

• Interior design of villas feels dated

• Bathrooms lack luxury feel

• Island has visible seaweed in some areas

• No complimentary use of non-motorised water equipments unless on All-inclusive

Conclusion of our review of Hurawalhi Island Resort: a GREAT resort with unbeatable value for money

Our review of Hurawalhi Island Resort confirms why it’s one of the most popular luxury escapes for couples. With the iconic 5.8 Undersea Restaurant, strong service, and excellent snorkeling, Hurawalhi stands out. The villas themselves are not the most luxurious, but the overall experience is superb, especially for couples and honeymooners looking for romance, peace, and great value.

Contact us for more information or to book your stay with the most competitive rates.

Hurawalhi Resort Tour