Ritz-Carlton Maldives
Fari Islands
Like the recently opened Patina Maldives, the Ritz-Carlton forms part of a triptych of resorts on Fari Islands, a man made archipelago on the North Malé Atoll, which when complete will also include a new property from Capella Hotels & Resorts.
Spread over a trio of islands, this 100-villa property was the last project for architect Kerry Hill, who set a new design standard for the Maldives with a concept that takes its cues from the ‘notion of completeness’ with lots of circular shapes and sensuous curves.
These can be found throughout, from the resort’s magnificent ring-shaped spa to the glorious overwater villas. Here, dressed in an understated palette of neutral materials and natural, tactile textures, the space seamlessly flows from the inside to the outside, where a curved deck and pool merge into the sparkling sea beyond.
The resort itself is intimate in size with the majority of the restaurants located on Culinary Island. This includes IWAU, an outdoor Japanese restaurant; Summer Pavilion, which serves tapas-style modern Chinese fare in a lantern-inspired space perched over the velvety lagoon; and La Locanda, which serves breakfast by morning and transforms into a Southern Italian restaurant for lunch and dinner.
The Beach Shack, at the very end of the third island, is pure beachside bliss, where a crowd-pleasing menu of dishes from refreshing salads to burgers can be enjoyed against the lazy lap of the crystalline waters, as paddle boarders drift past in the distance.
As for its green credentials, the resort’s sustainability programme includes an efficient approach to gastronomy, and design elements that include sustainably sourced timber, solar panels, as well as a dedicated plant that provides the resort’s still and sparkling water.
BOOK IT: One-bedroom Ocean Pool Villa starts £1,308, including breakfast. ritzcarlton.com