There are no words to describe the Anantara Kihavah hotel in the Maldives, but I am going to try in this review
Having been to this hotel three times, it never gets old. The breathtaking views and the impeccable service which they offer makes this hotel one of the best in the world. This is part of the reason why we cannot resist coming back here year after year.
As you descent the sea plane, which you have to take to get to the hotel, you are immediately made to feel like a king. You are greeted with fresh cold lavender scented towels and a man playing drums welcomes you as he leads you from the sea towards the hotel. Here the staff greet you with delightful smiles and hand you over the coconut with the name of the hotel engraved on it. When you are jet lagged and dressed in your comfy airplane sweatpants, the special welcome takes you particularly by surprise. You do not expect to suddenly find yourself in a real life paradise, feeling like you are the ruler of a kingdom.
After this you get on a buggy and your butler takes you to your private villa.
The villas in Anantara Kihavah are everything you would expect from the Maldives and more. The water villas have an infinity pool, the bed overlooking the crystal clear waters of the ocean, an outdoor shower, and a glass floor in the bath and the toilet which lets you see the fish. You can stay here all day if you want some privacy. The butler will be able to tend to all of your needs.
The beach villas are for those who do not like the water. However they are also a palace inside. They offer a personal spa-like bathroom and a huge bath in the middle of the room and an outside shower, as well as your own pool and a direct access to the beach.
Tip: if you are adversely against small lizards and creatures, I would recommend not staying in the beach villa as there are quite a lot of these here!
There are 5 restaurants in the hotel, and all of them offer the highest quality delicious food.
Fire is the sushi restaurant, offering sushi for lunch and dinner. It is worth visiting at least once. The sushi dishes are not only interesting and delicious, but they are made right in front of you. The first year of our visit I even got to partake and learn how to make sushi myself! There is also a Benihana-style chef. He never fails to entertain everyone on the table as he bounces the egg and throws it into his hat.
Spice is a relatively new restaurant, offering Indian food. We visited this restaurant twice because we could not get enough of the butter chicken and the romantic ambiance that this restaurant offers.
Then you have Plates and Manzaru. Plates is buffet-style restaurant, which is also where you have breakfast. For dinner it turns into an all-you-can-eat buffet, with different cuisines offered every night. Manzaru is a sophisticated Italian restaurant, which acts as the real life definition for dinner under the stars. As you enjoy your fresh pasta and the Italian wine, it is difficult not to fall in love with the place.
Located under the water, Anantara Kihavah also has the Underwater Restaurant. This restaurants is one of the things that make this hotel so special. Even people from different hotels tend to come here just to dine in the Underwater restaurant. It is a truly spectacular experience dining while watching the fascinating marine life as if it were on TV. Except this time it’s real.
You may be wondering what there is to do here. Let me tell you that to make the most out of your holiday, all you need to do is relax. If you are someone who does not enjoy sunbathing and relaxing by the beach, do not worry! There are still plenty of activities the hotel offers. You can go snorkelling, play tennis or table tennis, practice your boxing skills, go dolphin watching, visit the spa and many more. Even if you run out of things to do, you will always have your next dinner reservation to look forward to!
It is also worth mentioning the butlers, which is what makes the stay here so special. The impeccable way the butlers treat you with respect struck me every time. They cater to every single one of your needs, reply to all your messages, solve every problem you may have. And if you don’t like to cycle, they will take you anywhere in their buggy. All you have to do is ask.
To sum up, I think my review of this Maldives hotel speaks for itself. This little island becomes your home every time you visit. This is due to the welcome nature of the staff, the amazing paradisiac views, and the delicious food, which make all your problems suddenly vanish into thin air. Thank you, Anantara Kihavah, for the last three years, I hope to see you again soon!
