One&Only Reethi Rah

One&Only Reethi Rah is our favourite Maldivian resort (my wife and I are big Maldivian worshippers), we visited most of the Maldivian top resorts but there is no place that we can call home except One&Only. We were on the island 8th time in June and we are planning visit once again this year. There is no need to talk about the rooms, facilities and island - everything is on top level as it should be for this rank of resort. The big plus for this resort are people working there, well trained, educated and with good knowledge how high tourism should look like. From the airport arrival team, yacht crew, resort welcoming team, buggy service, housekeeping, hostesses, people working in the excellent restaurants and bars, there is no one error - everything is flawless. And not only that, they are not only doing their job, they really want for you to feel good. Concerning the food - other resorts also have great food but there is no resort that can match with One&Only. Newly opened Tapasake restaurant offers great Japanese flavors and is the best in Maldives. It's also lead by the No.1 Maldivian chef Jameel who is very friendly guy who loves his job and doing it perfectly. He will explain to you what he will cook, how he will prepare the meal and he will wait for your response! Even in Japan you will not have better Japanese food than here! The breakfast and the feeling that you have on breakfast is best in the World! My wife and I can sit in the main restaurant for hours drinking coffee and enjoying the site - beautiful waves splashing under the restaurant and wonderful people working there, they are all perfect! ALL THE STAFF IS FANTASTIC!!! We cannot mention all names because is too many of them, we cannot say who is better! If you are fan of cakes and sweets, there is another magician waiting for you - Lajos! There is nothing he cannot make from chocolate. He made our wedding cake here years ago and we will never forget it. Every time he makes something new and special that you will never have anywhere else. He will surprise you every time! For the anniversary cakes that he makes you don't know are they more beautiful to look or to eat. I have to wait for hours for my wife to take all the pictures from all angles until I can try the cake😀😀😀 Also, you will never have better chocolate fondant than here. Thank you Lajos for making our every stay special!!! We must also mention quality bands playing at Rah bar, they made our evenings fun and memorable! Every band is different in style but unique and incredibly entertaining. Don’t miss them if you are lucky that they are playing during your stay. Big gratitude for our hosts Yiting, Mahish and Hussain – they made every stay unforgettable! They are able to fulfill any request, real professionals. Finally, we must also send our regards to Mr. Jan Tibaldi (GM) who is keeping all this team as one and doing excellent job in continuous perfection!

We stayed at Reethi Rah a few weeks ago but I’ve only jut got around to writing this. We stayed for only 4 nights as part of a split stay so we could be close to Male for our return flight which was of a morning. To be honest, this was our 5th Maldives resort and I was a bit apprehensive, as it is the first one we have stayed without a full house reef as I love to snorkel and for me that’s what the Maldives is all about. I was also concerned that now the hotel is circa 20 years old, it may have lost some of its shine. The resorts we have stayed at previously have been in the sold 5 star or 5+ category so we have been spoilt in the past with excellent F&B. We therefore have been spoilt but have high expectations. Another consideration is the fact they are located in the North Male atoll, which, due to extensive development recently is being busy and a little spoiled. Fortunately we felt whilst not the most remote, the island is peaceful and our location on the island had uninterrupted sea views. This has to be balanced with being around 45 minute speedboat journey from Male which is a big plus. We were allocated a beach pool villa on Reethi Beach. We are normally overwater villa people, loving the lack of mosquitos and sea breezes, but this villa won us over. We adored the beach, privacy and space between villas. We barely saw another soul, although it was low season in late June. That said, I can’t ever imagine it being busy. The villa itself was beautiful, excellently laid out, maintained and had the best amenities we have come across. We wanted for nothing. We especially loved the complimentary bar snacks and replenished fruits - we have never before seen this in the Maldives as one really should at this price point - often being left with rotten fruit or having it whipped away from us after 24 hours with fruit remaining that we were look forward to enjoying! Turn down was perfect also. Mosquitoes were minimal compared to other resorts, but definitely present and we both got a few bites. The lagoon was incredible. The colours of the lagoon were good, not excellent, but we particularly loved the swimming on the softest sand we have ever come across in a lagoon. Now some of this is obviously due to the lack of coral nearby, but it was something we were not expecting and really enjoyed. The lagoon also provided us with opportunities to watch huge rays, sharks and fish gliding by us. Due to the heat, we found the sea more refreshing than our pool - although that was lovely too and actually on the ‘too warm’ side. We did not use the beach club as we enjoyed the privacy and peace our villa provided. However, this provided a more lively atmosphere and plenty of amenities for those who prefer that. The island itself is very large, and this is a definite USP. We enjoyed biking about and exploring. Breakfast was one of the best we have had in the Maldives. Of particular note was the patisserie selection and acai bowls which we loved. We loved everything though and it is complimented by an extensive coffee and tea menu, alongside some really interesting al a carte options. I should caveat this by saying we are foodies so meals are important when we are on vacation. We ate everywhere except Botanica. Our standout favourite was Fanditha serving Middle Eastern cuisine. The food, setting and service were just exquisite and a memory we will treasure forever. Tapasake is an incredible venue having recently being rebuilt. It is huge and beautifully designed. However despite having the 7 course tasting menu which included Wagu and Lobster, we were left a little underwhelmed. Maybe our expectations were too high, but we had expected Japanese food similar to that we have experienced in London and it wasn’t quite there for us, although still enjoyable. We also loved Reethi Fire, the Asian offering. I had one of the best Rendang curries I have ever had, whilst my husband declared the Nasi Goreng was the best he had ever had. We wished at that point we had more nights to dine there again as the menu was extensive and it was hard to choose. The HB dine around credit was sufficient and fair compared to other resorts we have visited. The service was outstanding at every venue. We especially appreciated the GM and F&B Manager speaking to us nearly every day. We felt the chef at Tapasake who visited our table between most courses a lovely touch too as he was clearly very passionate about the menu. So this leaves us in a predicament. We have so many other islands we want to visit and our ‘one off’ trip has left us wanting more. We would not hesitate to return.

The staff anticipate guests' wishes and strive to exceed their expectations in every way; we felt like part of the family. One story among many. We were the only ones on the beach, and the lifeguard walked up and down attentively, keeping an eye on us. I was in the water and saw my wife looking for something in the sand. Razeef noticed this and asked if he could help. We told him that the lens of my sunglasses had fallen out because the screw holding it in place had come loose. The screw was about 1 mm wide and 3 mm long, barely visible to the naked eye, and since the other one was still in place, we said we had lost it. But Razeef searched through the sand and within a minute or two, he smiled and showed us the screw. Within another minute, he screwed it back into my sunglasses with his fingernail, and I was able to use them again. He was happy and went back to watching the game!

We stayed at One&Only Reethi Rah with our two children and honestly, it was one of the best holidays we’ve ever had. From start to finish, everything felt seamless and thoughtful, but never overdone. The island is stunning—white sand, clear turquoise water, and so much space that it never felt crowded. Our villa was perfect for us as a family. Spacious, very private, beautifully designed, and super comfortable. The kids loved having their own little area and of course, the private pool was a huge hit. The beach was just steps away, so we were in and out of the water all day. What really made the stay stand out was the service. Everyone was incredibly kind—not just polite, but genuinely warm. Our butler was amazing and made sure everything was easy for us, from restaurant bookings to bikes for the kids. The kids’ club was also fantastic. I wasn’t sure how much time they’d want to spend there, but they actually asked to go back every day. The staff clearly enjoy what they do and really connect with the children. It gave us a chance to relax too—we had time to enjoy a spa treatment, some quiet meals, and even just sit by the ocean and breathe. The food was another highlight. Every meal was fresh, delicious, and beautifully presented, but also relaxed—nothing felt too formal. There was a great variety, and the chefs were more than happy to accommodate anything our kids wanted. They even remembered our favorite dishes by the second day. Overall, it was a dream holiday. Beautiful setting, world-class service, and everything done in a way that felt effortless and personal. We made so many memories as a family and can’t wait to return someday.

What a beautiful place! It’s like you are in a painting! From the minute you step out the airport you will make memories to last forever. The staff are so helpful and friendly and will go beyond to make your holiday special. Once you arrive in the island you will see true beauty. Everything about the island is amazing, the beaches the sand the trees the food. Photos don’t do it justice. I thought my children might not enjoy it and get bored but I highly recommend to take them with you. They will love it. Plus the staff in kids only club will keep them entertained and wanting to go back the next day. Once again I can’t emphasise how good and friendly the staff are and they make the holiday even better! If you’re not sure whether you should book, just book it because you won’t regret it! The bank might get a hit but you will have memories for life and no regrets