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Soneva Jani
Medhufaru, Maldives · Soneva · Apex Luxury
Opened October 2016 in the Noonu Atoll, Soneva Jani holds the world's first overwater observatory — a deck where a telescope rises through the floor surrounded by four dining tables whose screens display the live telescope feed — and the first overwater silent cinema in the Maldives. Every overwater villa has a retractable roof above the master bed that slides back at the touch of a button, and most include a curved water slide from the upper deck into the lagoon. The resort's 5.6-km private lagoon is large enough to contain more than 7,000 Olympic swimming pools.
- 51 rooms
- Opened 2016
- Neighborhood: Manadhoo
- Interiors: Soneva in-house
About Soneva Jani
- Soneva Jani's So Starstruck is the world's first overwater astronomical observatory: a sophisticated telescope rises through the floor of a purpose-built deck, and four dining tables are equipped with screens showing the live telescope image — guests can eat dinner while tracking Jupiter.
- Every overwater villa has a retractable bedroom roof operated by a single button; the roof retracts fully to expose the entire master sleeping area to the open night sky — a feature that went viral on social media and is widely credited with launching the 'stargazing villa' trend in the Maldives.
- The resort's 5.6-km lagoon encompasses five islands with a total density of fewer than 55 villas — one of the lowest villa-to-lagoon ratios of any resort in the Maldives.
- Medhufaru, the main island of Soneva Jani, is the largest tourist island in the Maldives at roughly 150 acres, yet holds only a handful of villas on its shoreline.
History
Soneva's second Maldives resort, opened October 2016 in the previously uninhabited Noonu Atoll. Famous for its overwater villas with retractable roofs for stargazing and water slides into the lagoon.
The setting
Medhufaru Island, Noonu Atoll, 40-minute seaplane from Malé.
Restaurants and bars
- So Imaginative — Restaurant · Tasting menu
- By the Bar — Restaurant · International
- Out of the Blue (multi-restaurant cluster) — Café · Multi-concept (Japanese, Tex-Mex, ice cream)
Experiences
- Tennis with Jonas Björkman — Tennis sessions with tennis legend Jonas Björkman, December 17 – January 03.
- Culinary residency with Niclas Jönsson — Culinary residency with acclaimed chef Niclas Jönsson, October 22 – November 06.
- Culinary residency with Chantelle Nicholson — Culinary residency with chef Chantelle Nicholson, October 26 – November 06.
- Culinary residency with Jamie Lee — Culinary residency with Fiskebar's Jamie Lee, December 14 – December 26.
- Astronomy with Dr Lars Lindberg Christensen — New perspectives on the universe with Dr Lars Lindberg Christensen, October 30 – November 07.
- Personalised treatments with visiting osteopath Hortensia Corredoira — Personalised treatments with visiting osteopath Hortensia Corredoira, October 15 – November 01.
Amenities
- Observatory (largest in Indian Ocean)
- Cinema Paradiso (overwater outdoor cinema)
- Spa
- Water slides
- Children's Den
- Pool
- Private pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Kids' club
- Tennis
- Beach
- Water sports
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
- Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
- La Liste World's Best Hotels (2023)
Open Soneva Jani in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
More Soneva hotels
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- Soneva Secret — Makunudhoo Atoll, Maldives · Apex Luxury
- Soneva Kiri — Koh Kood, Thailand · Apex Luxury
Soneva in The Maison: the brand's idea, history and every house on the atlas.