Dhonveli Hotel
A real island stay on Foakaidhoo, from $33 a night.
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A local-island guesthouse on Foakaidhoo
Sunset Food is a guest house on Foakaidhoo, a local island around 241 km from Malé in the Maldives. Rooms start at $33 per night, making it one of the more affordable bases for exploring this part of the atolls. The property has a restaurant, a garden, outdoor dining and barbecue space, free WiFi, and a fitness centre. Bicycle rental and a shuttle service are also available. Activities such as snorkelling, canoeing, and fishing can be arranged through the guest house.
The honest verdict
A straightforward, low-cost guest house on a local Maldivian island, with a restaurant on site and easy access to island activities via arranged excursions.
Best for
- Budget-conscious travellers
- Independent explorers on local islands
- Guests wanting home-cooked halal and Asian food
- Cycling and outdoor activity fans
Maybe not ideal for
- Those wanting an all-inclusive resort experience
- Travellers seeking alcohol on site
- Anyone unwilling to take a domestic flight and speedboat to reach Foakaidhoo
What a stay costs
Indicative room-only estimate from the lowest nightly rate — excludes airport transfers, taxes and seasonal price changes. Many Maldives properties also require a minimum stay. Check live rates for your dates.
Garden and outdoor space
The guest house has a garden with outdoor furniture, a dedicated dining area, and BBQ facilities. It is a practical setup for an evening meal outside — useful when the restaurant is busy or you want to cook your own catch.
The restaurant
On-site dining covers continental, vegetarian, halal, and Asian options, with buffet service and breakfast to go. The range is wider than many local island guest houses, which tend to keep menus short.
Room design and balcony
The Deluxe Double Room has a private balcony with a garden view. Inside: air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, soundproofing, a coffee machine, and a private bathroom. Two single beds can be arranged as needed.
Getting active on the island
Bicycle rental and badminton equipment are available at the property. Hiking and cycling routes run around Foakaidhoo itself — a compact local island where exploring by bike is the obvious way to get around.
Rooms & suites
Deluxe Double Room
sleeps 2 · 2 twin beds
- Balcony
- Garden view
- Air conditioning
- Private bathroom
- Flat-screen TV
Inside Dhonveli Hotel
Amenities at Dhonveli Hotel
Most popular facilities
- Free Wifi
- Room service
- Restaurant
- Fitness center
- Non-smoking rooms
- Breakfast
Great for your stay
- Restaurant
- Private bathroom
- Balcony
- Air conditioning
- Pet friendly
- View
- Free Wifi
- BBQ facilities
Bathroom
- Towels
- Bidet
- Towels/Sheets (extra fee)
- Bath or shower
- Private bathroom
- Toilet
- Hairdryer
- Shower
Bedroom
- Wardrobe or closet
View
- Garden view
- View
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Outdoor furniture
- Outdoor dining area
- Barbecue
- BBQ facilities Additional charge
- Balcony
- Garden
Getting there
Dhonveli Hotel lies on Foakaidhoo in Shaviyani Atoll, about 241 km north of Malé (MLE). The journey is a short domestic flight to the nearest regional airport, then a speedboat across the lagoon to the island.
Expect roughly $150–400 per person round trip for the domestic flight + speedboat, arranged by the property. Confirm the fare when booking.
On the map
The island of Foakaidhoo is part of Shaviyani Atoll. Shaviyani Atoll lies in the north of the Maldives, a chain of coral islands ringed by house reefs and turquoise lagoons.
Maldives tours & activities
Excursions you can book for a Maldives stay — manta & whale-shark snorkelling, sandbank picnics, diving and sunset cruises. Availability varies by island; filter by your dates and location on GetYourGuide.
Sunset Food has 11 reviews on Google with a score of 4.3/5. Specific review themes were not available for this property, but the rating suggests a generally positive reception among the small number of guests who have reviewed it so far.
Good to know
Frequently asked
How do I get to Sunset Food from Malé?
The journey involves a domestic flight followed by a speedboat transfer. Foakaidhoo is approximately 241 km from Malé, so factor in travel time and any domestic flight schedule when planning your arrival.
Does the guest house arrange the airport transfer?
A shuttle service is listed among the property's facilities. It is worth confirming transfer arrangements directly with the guest house before you travel, as domestic flight and speedboat logistics vary.
What room types are available?
There is one room category: the Deluxe Double Room, which has two single beds, a balcony with a garden view, air conditioning, a coffee machine, and a private bathroom. Rates start from $33 per night.
Is there a restaurant on site?
Yes. The guest house has a restaurant serving continental, vegetarian, halal, and Asian food, with buffet options and breakfast to go. This is one of the more varied menus for a local island guest house.
What meal plans are available?
Breakfast is available, including a to-go option. The restaurant covers multiple dietary styles — continental, vegetarian, halal, and Asian. Confirm exact meal plan inclusions with the property when booking.
Is there a beach nearby?
Beach access is listed in the activities section, consistent with Foakaidhoo being a local island with a public beach. As a guest house on a local island, there is no private resort beach.
Can I go snorkelling or diving?
Snorkelling can be arranged through the guest house. Canoeing and fishing trips are also available via local operators. There is no on-site dive centre listed in the property's facilities.
Is parking available?
Free private parking is available at the guest house, which is useful if you are arriving by vehicle on the island.
Is the property family-friendly?
The guest house has outdoor space, a picnic area, bicycle rental, and badminton equipment, which suits active families. The current room has two single beds. Confirm suitability for children directly with the property.
Is alcohol available at this property?
Foakaidhoo is a local Maldivian island, and alcohol is not served at local island guest houses under Maldivian law. The restaurant menu is halal.
When is the best time to visit Foakaidhoo?
The dry season in the Maldives broadly runs from November to April, with lower humidity and calmer seas. This is generally the most comfortable period for travel, though the property does not specify any seasonal restrictions.
How do I book a room?
Rooms start from $33 per night. Bookings can be made through the guest house directly or via standard accommodation platforms. It is worth booking ahead, as the property appears small with limited room inventory.