A Guide to the Best Swim-Up Bars in the Maldives

Quench your thirst without ever needing to leave the cool waters of your luxury Maldives retreat. 

It’s easy to spend the majority of your Maldives escape in temperate waters, and swim-up bars – located in numerous luxury resorts across this gorgeous archipelago – can offer a truly memorable experience during your holiday. In case you aren’t familiar, swim-up bars are situated in, or alongside, the pool and allow guests to relax in the water while enjoying a refreshing array of drinks, basking in breathtaking views, socialising with new people and snuggling up to loved ones.  

Read on to learn all about our three favourite swim-up bars in the Maldives. 

Sip Sip at Six Senses Laamu 

The dazzling Sip Sip at Six Senses Laamu is a stress-melting oasis. This attractive sunken bar and restaurant emerges from the hotel’s impressive free-form pool and features an array of underwater seating. Here, you can order various refreshing drinks, including wines, beers, freshly squeezed fruit juices and cocktails, which come perfectly paired with amuse-bouche from jungle-wood grills and locally-inspired desserts. The attractively landscaped pool also features comfortable sunken lounge islands, where you can stay dry in relative privacy while still enclosed by sprawling, crisp blue water. These lounges provide a perfect escape for those looking to unwind and enjoy views of the stunning Indian Ocean after a day of activities. 

Sip Sip’s ample poolside-adjacent seating likewise provides an exceptional view of the ocean and allows more room to move as you tuck into the restaurant’s specialty cuisine – gourmet gluten, sugar and soy-free meals ripe with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Sip Sip kicks it up a notch in the evenings, with live music and DJ sets during the week. Whether you want to relax or party, this is the place to be. 

Pool Bar at InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort 

The beautiful Pool Bar at InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is the epitome of paradise, combining class with casual relaxation. Here, you can unwind and soak up the sun while enjoying a refreshing drink and spellbinding views across the Indian Ocean. The bar – located alongside the resort’s stunning infinity pool – offers a laid-back environment, and, if you’d prefer to stay dry, provides a variety of comfortable seating options, from sun loungers to cosy couches. 

This appealing swim-up bar features a range of drinks, including fresh juices, smoothies, beers, wines, spirits and a selection of creative cocktails, like the signature Shades of Sea, home to a mix of white rum, coconut liqueur, fresh lime juice, Midori, blue curacao and Sprite. If the extensive drinks list seems overwhelming, friendly staff are on hand to offer recommendations and ensure guests have a comfortable and enjoyable experience. 

Tonic Bar & Pool at The Standard 

The trendy Tonic Bar & Pool at The Standard is the place to be if you want all the perks of a swim-up bar but none of the negatives of alcohol. This adults-only, wellness-focused swim-up bar is a booze-free zone, instead offering an assortment of exquisite health drinks and a relaxing atmosphere with phenomenal views. The drinks menu features a variety of elixir mocktails, smoothies and teas designed to boost nutrition, utilise fresh, local ingredients, calm your nerves and increase your vitality. Try a delicious Huruvalhi Happiness – a calming hibiscus tea-based drink with tonic, mangosteen extract and strawberries – or opt for Green Magic, highlighting ginger and cinnamon. After indulging in some not-so-naughty mocktails, head indoors for a soothing spa treatment, leaving you feeling amazing, inside and out.  

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Looking for more Maldives inspiration? Check out 8 Unique Experiences in the Maldives.