The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is a five-star property located in the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives. Part of Marriott International, the resort follows Westin’s global wellness philosophy built around six pillars: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well, and Play Well. This ethos is reflected throughout the island — from the brand’s signature Heavenly Beds and daily yoga sessions to nourishing dining options and a focus on rest and renewal.

The resort features spacious overwater and beachfront villas, a dedicated spa, and a range of wellness and fitness programmes. Its location also offers seasonal access to Hanifaru Bay, one of the world’s top sites for swimming with manta rays. Designed with sustainability and comfort in mind, The Westin caters to travellers looking for a quieter, more balanced Maldives experience.

*Kindly hosted as part of a press visit with Marriott Maldives.

Airport Pickup at Malé

We were greeted at Malé airport by a friendly Westin representative who met us at arrivals and guided us straight to an air-conditioned Westin van. The drive to the seaplane terminal took less than five minutes, and on arrival we were escorted upstairs to The Westin Lounge. Located on the second floor of the Trans Maldivian Airways terminal, the lounge overlooks the water runway and offers a calm, private space to relax before the flight. Inside, there’s a range of complimentary snacks, tea, coffee, and juice, with plenty of comfortable seating and large windows framing the seaplane dock below.

Seaplane Arrival to The Westin

This was our first time on a seaplane, and although I was slightly nervous given my fears of motion sickness, the flight turned out to be far smoother than expected — in fact, smoother than a regular plane. It was pretty warm as we boarded, but once we were in the air the cabin cooled down quickly. The flight from Malé to The Westin took around 50 minutes, with one brief stop at another resort en route. These seaplanes follow set routes, so shared stops are typical.

As we approached Miriandhoo Island, several staff were already on the dock waving to welcome us, which genuinely felt like a White Lotus moment, IYKYK. Our bags were taken care of straight away and delivered to the villa, while we were greeted by Teges, the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications, who I’d been in touch with before arrival. He walked us through a brief orientation of the property, offered us cool towels and a welcome drink, and introduced our personalised itinerary before showing us to our villa.

Dining at the Resort

Dining at The Westin Maldives is laid-back but varied, with three main restaurants and a sunset bar offering a solid mix of local and international dishes. Whether you’re in the mood for fresh seafood, comfort food, or plant-based options, each venue brings something different — and the settings are hard to beat. Menus cater to a range of dietary needs, and the service throughout was consistently friendly and attentive.

ISLAND KITCHEN

Island Kitchen is the main dining space and the heart of the resort, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast includes an extensive buffet with fresh fruit, pastries, hot items, juices, and live cooking stations. Lunch is à la carte, while dinner switches back to buffet style, with rotating themed nights. The space opens up to views over the main pool and the Indian Ocean, with a relaxed, open-air feel. One lunch, I ordered the Paneer Tikka Masala while my husband had the Grilled Chicken Burger — both well presented and satisfying.

THE PEARL

We had dinner at The Pearl on our first night, hosted by Teges, and it was a standout. The Pearl is the resort’s fine-dining Japanese restaurant, perched over the water with floor-to-ceiling windows and open views across the ocean. We started with Edamame Beans, and while the menu is seafood-led, the chef created a vegetarian Tofu Curry for me off-menu, which was genuinely one of the best dishes I had on the island. My husband chose the Maguro Sashimi for mains and finished with a Bitter Chocolate & Kyokucho Cheesecake, while Teges had the Baked Green Tea Cheesecake.

The setting, the food, and the service were flawless.

HAWKER

Hawker serves up vibrant South East Asian street food in a casual beachside setting, with live cooking stations and an open-air kitchen that’s perfect for lunch or a laid-back dinner. One afternoon, I had the Homemade Vegetable Popiah — a light, fresh spring roll dish — while my husband went for the Tom Yam Seafood Fried Rice, rich with Thai flavours. On our final night, we joined the BBQ Grill Night, where chefs cooked a variety of meats and seafood over open flames right on the sand, complemented by a buffet of sides, salads and deserts. Dining barefoot under the stars, with the waves just metres away, was one of the standout experiences of our stay.

FLOATING BREAKFAST

On our last morning, the team surprised us with a floating breakfast arranged by the head chef of Island Kitchen and the F&B director, who we’d met at dinner the night before. Served in the comfort of our private pool, it was an Arabic-style spread with falafel, fruit, Arabic bread, hummus, coffee, and juice — exactly what we’d mentioned we loved. It was a thoughtful final touch and a great way to end the stay.

SUNSET BAR

Located just above Island Kitchen, the Sunset Bar is a relaxed spot for evening drinks, with sweeping views over the resort and the ocean. It’s the best place to catch golden hour, with a menu of cocktails and mocktails and a casual vibe. Just next door is a small library and games area with a pool table and foosball, ideal for passing the time before or after dinner.

Villa Options

The resort offers a range of villas, all designed with space, privacy, and comfort in mind. Each features the brand’s signature Westin Heavenly Bed, outdoor showers, large bathrooms stocked with Westin White Tea Aloe bath amenities — including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion, and soap — and direct access to either the beach or ocean.

Deluxe One Bedroom Beach Villa with Pool Access

These villas are tucked into the island’s greenery with direct beach access and a private pool. Ours had a shaded outdoor deck, sun loungers, and an indoor-outdoor bathroom with a soaking tub and double vanity. The bedroom was spacious and bright, with high ceilings and thoughtful touches like a minibar, champagne on arrival, and a large TV. The bed was easily the comfiest we’ve ever slept in. The pool area felt secluded, with just a short sandy path leading to the beach.

Overwater Villas with Pool Access

The overwater villas sit above the turquoise lagoon, offering uninterrupted ocean views and steps straight into the sea. Inside, the layout is almost identical to the beach villas, but the appeal here is the expansive deck and the water access. Perfect for snorkelling or just relaxing with the horizon in front of you. Glass panels in the floor let you watch fish swimming below, and the sense of privacy is excellent despite the open setting.

Heavenly Two Bedroom Beach Residence with Pool Access

This is the resort’s most exclusive beachfront villa — a standalone, two-bedroom residence with its own private entrance and direct beach access. Inside, there are two spacious ensuite bedrooms, a large indoor living area, and a dining space ideal for families or groups. Outside, the residence features a generously sized private pool, sun loungers, and shaded seating areas, all surrounded by tropical greenery for complete privacy. At 500 square metres, it’s the largest villa on the island, designed to feel like a private home within the resort.

Entertainment & Activities

There’s more to do on the island than first meets the eye. The resort offers daily yoga sessions — including sunrise yoga by the water — a dive centre for scuba and snorkelling excursions, and a kids’ club with daily programming. There’s a tennis court, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, and a range of guided activities including reef snorkelling and body scrub making sessions.

On our final afternoon, around 30 guests gathered on the beach for island-style games hosted by the resort staff. We paired up for a series of light-hearted competitions, starting with balancing a lime on a spoon held in our mouths, followed by a balloon race — running to our partners with an inflated balloon wedged between our legs. It was loud, silly, and a lot of fun.

Spa Facilities

The Heavenly Spa is one of the resort’s highlights, set above the ocean with uninterrupted 360-degree views. We had a 30-minute massage in the signature couples’ suite — a glass-walled room with the sea visible on two sides. The treatment was excellent, delivered by experienced, attentive therapists. The suite also includes a large spa bath, though sadly we didn’t use it. From the muted interiors to the calming scent of essential oils, everything about the space is designed for complete relaxation. We could have happily stayed there all day.

Nearby Highlights

One of the main draws of staying in the Baa Atoll is access to Hanifaru Bay, a UNESCO Marine Protected Area known for seasonal manta ray gatherings. The Westin’s dive centre arranged our trip, which took around 50 minutes by boat. The boat was modern and well-equipped, with guides on hand throughout. We were given masks, snorkels, fins, and life jackets, then entered the water in small guided groups. We only spotted a couple of mantas during our snorkel, but we also saw dolphins on the way and the colour of the water in the bay was unreal. The currents were strong and swimming wasn’t easy, but it was absolutely worth it for the experience.

Summary

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is a well-designed, easygoing island with a strong focus on wellness, comfort, and exceptional service. It’s ideal for couples, families, or anyone seeking a quieter Maldives experience without sacrificing quality. The food is consistently excellent, the staff go out of their way to personalise every stay, and the island is compact and easy to explore. Thoughtful and relaxed, the resort radiates genuine warmth, creating a welcoming, home-from-home environment where you can truly unwind.

RELATED POSTS

Featured