Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa

This was our fourth annual visit to Le Meridien Maldives, and the resort and staff continue to meet and exceed our high expectations. From small touches like personalised artwork on our tables to a surprise chef’s tasting dinner on the beach at Riviera (thank you, Chef Arvind and manager Rishab for arranging!), we were thoroughly spoiled during our 11-night stay. We love reconnecting with our many friends on the staff and meeting new friends. The food in each of the restaurants is always excellent and varied. Our days typically start with cappuccino, a beetroot smoothie and a healthy bite to eat at Waves Cafe (poached egg on sourdough avocado toast, fresh fruit with yoghurt and mueslix or an indulgent crab and lobster eggs Benedict one morning). These morning treats are served with a smile by Ari, Neng, Madhi or Kyra. We generally have lunch (and several dinners) at Riviera so we can enjoy Chef Arvind and team’s Mediterranean-influenced creations such as Pil Pil Gambas, Grilled Pulpo (octopus), flatbreads with delicious toppings, croquetas, Manti (Turkish beef ravioli), sea bass, black cod, lamb chops and the freshest salads, all served in a beautiful beachside location. We can while away several hours there, enjoying the food and chatting with Rishab and his friendly, efficient team (Evi, Ari, Xavi, Uuchu, Madhi, Neng, Bertha, Ali Baba and Kyra). We also enjoyed the lively twice-weekly pool party barbecue lunches, hosted by Rupesh and DJ Baby Santika, and several dinners at Velaa, which does wonderful pizzas at lunchtime, Caesar salad, perfectly cooked steaks, rack of lamb and hearty grilled fare expertly crafted by Chef Pradeep. We are always warmly welcomed by Srijana, Lita and Yashoda. At Turquoise, we satisfied our craving for Indian food during their Indian night and also enjoyed the Maldivian night, trying some zingy local specialties. Turquoise Manager Aapaa always looks after us so well and is a devoted Arsenal fan, happy to chat about the latest in English and European football. Tabemasu (managed by Puspa and her amazing team) is an elegant setting for a banquet of sushi, sashimi, beautiful rolls and other Japanese specialties — the crab salad is a must-have. The Teppanyaki dinner, which we have at least once per visit, is dramatic and entertaining, a feast both eyes and mouth. The bar staff also kept us well hydrated (!) and managed to convert my husband to enjoy Aperol Spritz and several variations, which he previously never liked. (Thanks, Uuchu from La Vie bar!) I’ve mentioned the delectable salads served at all of the restaurants, and it’s worth noting that these super-fresh lettuce leaves are sustainably grown right on the island, thanks to Le Meridien’s own pesticide-free hydroponic farm and growing system, one of the largest in the Maldives. I recommend taking one of the scheduled tours of The Greenhouse, which produces salad crops and herbs that are far superior to the salads served on other islands (and we’ve sampled a few). There’s no comparison, and I wonder why more islands don’t adopt this system too because salad crops and herbs don’t tend to travel well in a tropical climate. To work off all these indulgences, we were put through our paces by the ever-energetic Hari in the gym and also played Padel tennis for the first time. The gym is very well equipped for a resort gym and overlooks the reef and Indian Ocean, so you can watch the reef sharks splashing around to catch breakfast or a pod of dolphins frolicking beyond the reef. We treated ourselves to a very spoiling couples massage with Asi and Rinchen at sunset, which was divine, organised by Raj. Our overwater pool villa is our home from home: clean, comfortable and mid-century stylish rather than palatial. Our various bookings and requests were efficiently handled by Ali from the front-office team. Above all, what sets Le Meridien Maldives apart is its staff (“associates”), most of whom have been there for several years or since opening in 2021. They are so generous, kind-hearted and genuinely willing to create memorable experiences. Please maintain the fun, friendly spirit of the resort and the excellence! We hope to return next year. Read less

We had a fantastic stay at this holiday resort and can"t praise it highly enough. This resort is beautiful , well organised and incredibly relaxing but what truly made our holiday was the amazing staff Right from senior management Abhisek to the rest of the team. A huge thank you to kitchen staff Suraj,the waitresses Arena, Puri and Upsy who went above and beyond every day.The food was excellent and they were happy to accommodate any special requests with a smile. They made dining a highlight of our stay. We would also like to give special recognition to the gym staff ,particularly Hari and Aayushi . They were welcoming, professional and very encouraging in this modern well equipped gym. Overall the level of service across the resort was outstanding . The only criticism(though nothing to do with the hotel) was presence of sand flies and hence would recommend plenty of insect repellant. Read less

We had an incredible time, and it’s all thanks to the wonderful team here. We really enjoyed the variety of delicious food and drinks, the cleanliness and comfort of our villa, the water activities, or just strolling around the island.The views and the resort itself are stunning, but the kindness of the staff made us feel truly at home. From the moment we arrived until the second we left, a warm smile welcomed us at every step. It’s rare to find a team that is so consistently kind and attentive, making us feel like more than just guests. Special thanks to Erma, Symon, Mauch, Soma, Upsy and Puri! You don't just provide a service; you create an experience. We noticed all the little things, and they made a world of difference! Read less

We had an absolutely amazing stay at Le Méridien Maldives - our first time in the Maldives, and it truly exceeded all expectations. From the moment we arrived, the staff were exceptional and made us feel incredibly welcome. We stayed in an overwater villa which was perfect in every way, and the team had even arranged special touches in our room to celebrate our anniversary, which was such a thoughtful surprise. There was a fantastic choice of food with a wide range of cuisines, plus great bars to relax in and beautiful beach areas to unwind. Getting around the resort was effortless, with buggies always available and everything organised through a WhatsApp group where staff responded instantly — such a brilliant and efficient system. Unfortunately, my wife had a fall during the trip, but the response was immediate and reassuring. The lifeguard and staff took excellent care of her, and we’re especially grateful to Dr Usman and Juman for their kindness and professionalism. The snorkelling was a real highlight. The resort has an incredible house reef, easily accessible from the West Jetty overwater villas. Free snorkelling equipment is provided, and it was amazing to see so much sea life right on our doorstep. We also visited the spa, which was incredibly relaxing - having a massage while looking out at the sea life below made the experience even more special. A big thank you as well to our photographer (sadly can’t remember the name) who took some fantastic photos for us and worked very efficiently. Special thanks to the amazing staff who really made our stay unforgettable: * Upsy and Erma at Turquoise * Symon, who took photos of us at the bar and made excellent drinks * Raj, our relationship manager, who always checked in on us and made sure we felt at home * Abishek, who was incredibly friendly and encouraged us to go snorkelling An unforgettable experience from start to finish. We can’t wait to return. Read less