Hotel Review: Soneva Jani, The Maldives
After six nights spread across COMO Cocoa Island and Soneva Fushi, our third and final stop in the Maldives was the incredible Soneva Jani; sister hotel to Soneva Fushi, Jani is perhaps the younger and trendier sister, attracting a more contemporary (and very international) crowd. Built in 2016, with half of the hotel only completed in 2019, the hotel still feels shiny and new, with its main attraction being its incredible water villas positioned over the lagoon. Having seen countless images of Soneva Jani online and in magazines (the resort has won countless accolades), I was incredibly excited to experience the hotel for myself. Did we save the best till last? Read on for my full review.
First impressions: 5/5
After a 1.5 hour speedboat transfer from Soneva Fushi, we finally arrived at sister hotel Soneva Jani. From a distance, the resort looks like a two-legged octopus, sprawled among the turquoise waters of the lagoon, with two spectacular jetties snaking into the distance in either direction, connected centrally by Medhufaru island. Along with the hotel’s General Manager Eddie, our barefoot guardian Ashab was waiting to greet us with a fresh coconut and smile as soon as we stepped off the boat: from there, it was straight onto a buggy to explore the resort. The North Jetty, also known as Chapter One, was built in 2016, and houses the largest villas on the island: impressive, palatial pads that can sleep families and groups of up to 10 designed in Soneva’s signature Crusoe-chic style. From there, we wound down the jetty and among the island jungle where hundreds of crabs scuttle along the shaded paths; it’s quite a maze to navigate, but luckily, it’s very clearly signposted.
After passing by the Island Spa, the gardens, the water sports centre, and more, we reached the South Jetty, also known as Chapter Two, where our water villa was located, and which is mostly populated by one-bedroom residences for couples. Quiet and privacy is very much guaranteed here: unlike other resorts in the Maldives where villas sit side by side on the jetty, almost straddling one another, there’s plenty of space at Soneva Jani, thanks to the jetty snaking round on itself, allowing each villa to feel entirely separate from its neighbours. Each one-bedroom residence is the size of a small palace, and could easily fit a large family. Inside, the rustic-chic interiors are mostly neutral, with dashes of blue and purple tones referencing the water below: you’ll find a dining area and fully stocked kitchen with homemade treats inside the fridge (chocolates, cold brew, kombucha and ice cream sandwiches - all vegan and refined-sugar free, although you would never know as they are deliciously moreish). Through to the bedroom, where there’s a super-king size bed, complete with its own open-air skylight so you can quite literally wake up to a view of the clouds above you, and floor to ceiling doors leading onto the huge private deck. A generous bathroom, separate dressing room, several different showers, and a sunken outdoor bathtub are all additional features. The wraparound deck itself had at least five different sofa areas to sprawl on, sun loungers, and an infinity pool long enough to do laps in. And the best feature of all? Our water slide, leading directly from our upper deck straight into the ocean. We could have easily spent the entirety of our stay inside our villa and had more than enough space to spread out, but of course, there’s so much else to see at the resort, so after unpacking, we headed out to explore the island...
To do: 5/5
There are clear similarities between both Soneva resorts, and similar to Fushi, there are an overwhelming number of things to do at Soneva Jani: to explore the island, each guest is given an e-bike so you can easily whizz from one jetty to another. From snorkelling expeditions where you’re taken into open water on a small boat, to dolphin spotting at sunset, and even planting corals with the resident marine biologist, there’s a never-ending list of unique experiences to try. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can even walk across a sandbank to North Island, one of the uninhabited neighbouring islands to the resort - the hotel can even arrange a picnic for you to take with you.
On the island, there are padel and tennis courts to enjoy (as well as outdoor and indoor gyms), and once you’ve exhausted yourself, you can head to the spa, Soneva Soul, which spans two different complexes: an overwater centre on the North Jetty, and the newer Island Spa, which snakes among the treetops, with incredible views over the island. Head here for a pampering treatment in one of their open-air treatment rooms, or to spend time at the yoga and meditation pavilions. Meanwhile, leave the little ones at The Den, an incredible two-storey haven for children to explore (and the largest kid’s club in the Maldives) where they can zip line and splash to their heart’s content.
Of course, each of the villas at Soneva Jani also comes with its own private pool and water slide to make full use of; and if you’re looking for some beach time, each of the jetties is home to its own stretch of sand (North and South Beach, respectively) where you can watch the sunset while sprawled on a sun lounger.
Food and drink: 4/5
Much like Soneva Jani’s sister resort, there are an incredible number of dining concepts on the island that guests will be utterly spoilt for choice. From dining under the stars while the resident astronomer guides you through the constellations, to eating around a fire pit on the beach, each of the restaurants at the resort combine delicious cuisine with unique experiences, meaning that every meal here will be incredibly memorable.
The Gathering is perhaps the closest thing to a central hub at the resort: this three-storied building on the North Jetty encompasses at least five different dining concepts and is reminiscent of a huge, whitewashed treehouse, complete with sunken sofas, hammocks suspended above the water, and booths to curl up and watch the sunset from. Home to the hotel’s main bar and Down to Earth, the relaxed, all-day restaurant, you can find home comforts such as curries and pizzas any time of day - it’s also where breakfast is served every morning: graze from the impressive buffet of pastries and local foods, or order whatever cooked dishes you fancy - I started my days here with freshly made paratha and chicken curry.
One of our most memorable meals was at Overseas, an overwater restaurant adjoining The Gathering by acclaimed Swedish chef Mathias Dahlgren. Curl up in one of the cosy candlelit booths above the water, for an incredibly atmospheric meal. The menu is a curated selection of mainly vegetarian and pescetarian sharing plates, such as deliciously fresh tuna tataki, paprika sweetcorn ribs, and a tropical fruit crumble. Every single dish we enjoyed here was fantastic, and the unique atmosphere above the water cemented this as probably our favourite meal eaten at the resort.
The Crab Shack was another favourite: this laidback all-day beach restaurant on the South Beach serves up fresh crab and seafood options, and you can expect generous dishes served underneath the swaying palm trees. We ate one of the best ceviche dishes we’d ever tried here, plus crispy calamari and fresh seabass steamed in ginger.
On our final evening at the resort, we ate at Director’s Cut, the restaurant that accompanies the hotel’s overwater cinema. This was probably the meal I was most looking forward to, but sadly it didn’t quite live up to expectations and was the only blip in an otherwise flawless stay. Guests can dine on fresh Japanese food while enjoying weekly screenings on the huge cinema screen suspended above the water - you’re given headphones so you can watch the film, and as the sun begins to set, the atmosphere turns rather magical. However, we found the service at this particular restaurant less attentive, and as a result, the team forgot about our order and we ended up waiting almost an hour for sushi dishes to arrive, which was disappointing. This experience stuck out all the more because of the flawless service we’d experienced in all of the other restaurants across the resort, and the fact that we hadn’t experienced a single disappointing meal until this point of the trip.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for something to nibble throughout the day, the hotel’s incredible 24/7 chocolate, ice cream, and cheese and charcuterie parlours are complimentary for all guests to graze at. You’ll find one of these stations at each end of the resort, where there’s a never-ending spread of homemade chocolates and ice creams (mostly refined sugar and dairy free) with all of the toppings and flavours that you could possibly imagine.
Comfort and service: 5/5
Much like Soneva Fushi, the attention to detail at Soneva Jani is unparalleled, and from the moment you step off the boat to the second you depart the resort, you’ll feel well looked after. Despite the vastness of the resort and the multitude of things to do, the resort runs like a slick operation, so that even when the hotel is at full capacity, the team never seems strained and each guest feels personally looked after. Your barefoot guardian is always only a Whatsapp message away, and will curate an itinerary of experiences for you that are truly unique, while smiling team members will approach you for a chat throughout the entirety of the resort, and you’ll get to know many of them by name.
I’m convinced that Soneva Jani is one of the most forward-thinking and unique resorts in the Maldives, and it’s no wonder that it has received multiple accolades in the past, including ‘Best Hotel in the World’. The incredible residences are kitted out with luxe interiors and little touches that you would never have expected (personalised pillow menus and homemade treats), and afford each guest plenty of space and privacy to spread out - this coupled with the incredible dining experiences on the island and stunning location make for a truly unique experience. Much like Soneva Fushi, it’s reassuring to know that a commitment to sustainability informs every decision and experience at the hotel - and if you wanted to see this for yourself, you can even check out the hotel’s Eco-centre in person. I’m returning from this trip feeling incredibly refreshed and convinced that I’ll never again stay in a hotel that is quite as magical as this one.
This was a press stay - all opinions are my own.
