Royal Island Resort
Maldives

2 Restaurants & 3 Bars

Two restaurants and three bars cover the island's food and drink. Maakanaa is the main buffet restaurant with South Asian and Continental breakfasts plus themed-night dinners. Raabondhi is an a la carte seafood and grill on the quieter south side. The Fun Pub is the nightlife venue with live bands and pool tables; Boli Bar is the 24-hour beach lounge; the Pool Bar is a swim-up.

Maakanaa

International Buffet

The main buffet restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner from a traditional wooden hall with high ceilings and ceiling fans. Breakfast 7:30–10am, lunch 12:30–2pm, dinner 7–9pm. Themed nights rotate through South Asian, Italian, seafood, and Maldivian menus.

SettingMain restaurant · Beachfront · Themed-night dinners

Our tipSeafood night is the buffet to catch

All plans

Raabondhi

Seafood & Grill

An a la carte specialty restaurant on the quieter south side of the island, backed by coconut palms. Menu leans seafood and grill with lobster, locally caught fish, and butcher cuts. Open 11am to 11pm. Meal-plan guests receive a 15% discount here.

SettingOceanfront · Quiet south side · Coconut palm backdrop

Our tipMeal-plan guests get 15% off - always worth using

Supplement

Boli Bar

Bar

The 24-hour beach bar with cabana-style lounging on a moonlit deck. Freshly pressed juices, coffee, coconut cocktails, wines, beers, and spirits. Live music on weekends. This is the resort's main social hub day and night.

SettingBeachside · Cabana-style · 24 hours

Our tipLate-night cocktails under the palms — open 24 hours

AI Drinks

Pool Bar

Pool Bar

A proper swim-up pool bar with a palm-thatched roof and submerged seating in the main pool. Beers, juices, cocktails, and light snacks. Open 10am to 6pm. Popular with families during the afternoon.

SettingSwim-up · Palm-thatched roof · Submerged seating

Our tipSubmerged seats in the afternoon sun are the move

AI Drinks

Fun Pub

Bar

The nightlife venue — an indoor bar and entertainment lounge with live bands, DJs, pool tables, and full bar service. Open 9pm until late, with themed nights and dancing on weekends. The only proper late-night venue on the island.

SettingIndoor lounge · Live bands · Pool tables

Our tipLive bands start around 10pm on weekends

AI Drinks

Dining Inclusions

A value all-inclusive property. The Premium AI plan is the most popular — all meals at Maakanaa, afternoon tea, unlimited house-brand wines/beers/spirits/cocktails/soft drinks, minibar replenished daily, sparkling wine welcome, a 15% discount at Raabondhi, and non-motorised water sports. Half Board and Full Board are cheaper alternatives.

Raabondhi carries a supplement even on Premium AI; meal-plan guests get 15% off.

Your Days on the Island

The headline is Hanifaru Bay — a 15-minute speedboat ride to the world's largest manta ray feeding aggregation (peak Aug-Sep). The house reef itself is decent with reliable turtle and reef shark sightings despite some reconstruction during the 2001 build. Land sports, kids programmes, and a 24-hour on-site clinic with resident doctor make this a strong family pick.

Family-Friendly Features

The wave breaker around the island means the beach is almost waveless — toddlers can splash in ankle-deep water and parents can actually relax. The Starfish Kids Club runs until 10pm, which means couples get a proper dinner out. The big draw for older kids is a boat trip to Hanifaru Bay to watch hundreds of manta rays feeding — it's 15 minutes away and one of the best wildlife experiences in the Maldives.

House Reef & Underwater

A decent shore-accessible house reef with reliable turtle, reef shark, and ray sightings despite partial reconstruction during the 2001 build. Coral recovery has been supported by erosion-mitigation seawall work. Be honest: this is not a top-tier Baa Atoll reef like Anantara Kihavah or Milaidhoo — but the compensating factor is the 15-minute Hanifaru Bay proximity, which no amount of house-reef quality can match during manta season.

PADI dive center on-site. Night snorkeling available. Marine life observations sourced from dive logs and guest reports.

Transfer from Malé

Royal Island sits on Horubadhoo Island in Baa Atoll, 120 km north of Malé. Two transfer options: a ~30-minute seaplane from Velana International Airport (daylight only), or a 20-minute domestic flight to Dharavandhoo plus a 20-minute speedboat.

Resort island map — Royal Island Resort Maldives

Who This Resort is For

Royal Island is one of the longest-running value plays in Baa Atoll, and its pitch hasn't changed much in 24 years: beach villas, all-inclusive meals, Hanifaru Bay on the doorstep. What keeps it competitive is the 15-minute Hanifaru Bay proximity combined with the 24-hour on-site clinic — rare in the Maldives and a genuine family differentiator. Don't come expecting overwater villas, boutique design, or 5-star finishes. Do come expecting reliable all-inclusive value and the best shot at manta rays at a 4-star price.

Royal Island Resort Maldives — FAQ