Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Maldives / Baa Atoll / Soneva Fushi
Soneva Fushi
Baa Atoll, Maldives · Soneva · Apex Luxury
Founded in 1995 by Sonu Shivdasani and Eva Malmström on the abandoned 100-acre island of Kunfunadhoo in Baa Atoll (now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve), Soneva Fushi is widely credited as the first luxury, environmentally conscious resort in the Maldives — opening when the country was known only for low-cost dive tourism. It introduced the first spa in the Maldives, the 'No News, No Shoes' barefoot philosophy, and hosts a six-seat omakase counter by Michelin-starred chef Akira Back. The resort ranks No. 28 on the World's 50 Best Hotels 2025.
- 63 rooms
- Opened 1995
- Neighborhood: Kunfunadhoo Island, Baa Atoll
About Soneva Fushi
- Soneva Fushi contained the first spa in the Maldives, opening in 1995 at a time when the concept of luxury resort wellness did not exist in the country.
- The resort operates under a 'No News, No Shoes' philosophy: guests surrender their shoes on arrival in a branded bag, and staff remove footwear on duty — a policy its founder argues measurably reduces guest anxiety and slows perceived time.
- The onsite observatory on Kunfunadhoo operates some of the darkest skies above any resort in the Indian Ocean; Soneva pioneered resort astronomy programming in the Maldives before it became an industry fixture.
- So Hands On by Akira Back is a six-seat omakase counter — one of only a handful of Michelin-starred chef collaborations in the Maldives — serving a bespoke Japanese tasting menu inside a 100-acre jungle island.
- Sonu Shivdasani and Eva Malmström bought Kunfunadhoo island in 1991 after honeymooning in the Maldives, raising development funds against significant skepticism from lenders who expected mass-market bungalow tourism; Soneva Fushi opened four years later as a direct refutation of that model.
History
Soneva Fushi opened in 1995 on the island of Kunfunadhoo in the Maldives' Baa Atoll, founded by Sonu Shivdasani and Eva Malmström Shivdasani, and is regarded as a pioneer of barefoot, sustainability-led luxury under the philosophy 'No news, no shoes.' The resort comprises 63 private villas of one to nine bedrooms set in dense jungle and along the beach, served by 'Barefoot Guardian' butlers. Soneva Fushi has long been a leader in resort sustainability, with extensive organic gardens, waste-to-wealth recycling and an observatory, and it ranks No. 28 on the World's 50 Best Hotels 2025.
The setting
The resort occupies the entire island of Kunfunadhoo in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, reached by roughly a 40-minute seaplane flight from Malé. Its villas are hidden among thick island vegetation, preserving privacy and a wild, natural character rare among Maldives resorts. 6 km from inhabited island of Maalhos.
Restaurants and bars
- Out of the Blue — Restaurant · Asian · Chef Chef Sobah
- Once Upon a Table — Restaurant · International
- So Hands On by Chef Akira — Restaurant · Japanese (omakase) · Chef Akira Koba
- Fresh in the Garden — Restaurant · International
- Manu at Soneva — Restaurant · Latin American · Chef Manu Buffara
- Flying Sauces — Restaurant · International
- The Wine Cellar — Bar
- The Cheese Room — Restaurant
- The Chocolate Room — Restaurant
- Primitive — Restaurant · Maldivian
- Carne Diem Grill by Dharshan — Restaurant · International • Italian • Seafood · Chef Dharshan Munidasa
- So Bespoke — Restaurant · Japanese • Teppanyaki · Chef Hiroshi Saiki
Experiences
- Aquaterra coral regeneration programme — Aquaterra's pioneering coral regeneration programme.
- Zip-line to lunch — Zip-line to lunch, dine amid the treetops or looking out at the deep blues of the ocean.
- The Glass Studio and Maker's Place — Turning recycled waste into art at The Glass Studio and Maker's Place.
- The Observatory stargazing with Resident Astronomer — The night sky unfolds with stories spun by the Resident Astronomer at The Observatory.
- Discovery excursions — From hidden sandbanks to stargazing above the ocean, every day invites a new way to see the islands.
- Daily yoga and breath work — Daily yoga and breath work, visiting chefs and glass-blowing lessons as seasonal moments.
Amenities
- Private island in Baa Atoll
- 63 one- to nine-bedroom villas
- Barefoot Guardian butler service
- Observatory and stargazing
- Organic gardens and waste-to-wealth recycling
- Overwater spa and outdoor cinema
- Pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Kids' club
- Tennis
- Beach
- Water sports
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN Three Keys (2026)
- Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
- World's 50 Best Hotels (2025)
- La Liste World's Best Hotels (2023)
- Travel + Leisure World's Best Hotels (2023)
Open Soneva Fushi in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
More Soneva hotels
- Soneva Jani — Medhufaru, Maldives · Apex Luxury
- Soneva Secret — Makunudhoo Atoll, Maldives · Apex Luxury
- Soneva Kiri — Koh Kood, Thailand · Apex Luxury
More hotels in Baa Atoll
- Four Seasons Private Island Maldives at Voavah — Four Seasons · Grand Luxury
- Milaidhoo Island Maldives — Independent · Grand Luxury
- Amilla Maldives — Independent · High Luxury
- Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas — Anantara · High Luxury
- Finolhu, A Seaside Collection Resort — Seaside Collection · Core Luxury
- The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort — Westin · Core Luxury
Soneva in The Maison: the brand's idea, history and every house on the atlas.