For the billionaires of the world, private islands are an unparalleled escape offering personalised service and five-star, bespoke dining options not found at your average resort.
From the Maldives to the Caribbean and the South Pacific, these hallowed getaways cater to the world’s most elite under the ultimate in privacy and seclusion.
Whether dining on spearfished parrotfish under the stars, luxuriating in a 10,000-square-foot overwater villa, or diving under the surface of protected marine reserves, these resorts truly refine luxury.
Here’s a look at what the 1% dine on at the world’s most extraordinary private island resorts.
Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives
Based inside the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Finolhu is the ultimate island playground, offering bucket-list experiences such as snorkeling with hundreds of manta rays gliding through Hanifaru Bay. Dining is also a star at this remote private island resort. Guests can order the iconic floating breakfast in their private pool or set up a private lagoon lunch barbecue. For special occasions, private beach dinners set against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean’s waves are the ultimate in romance. The resort also features a unique beach bubble tent for a night under the stars, complete with a private beach barbecue and breakfast on the beach.
Four restaurant options include: Kanusan, offering Japanese fine dining; Beach Kitchen, serving international cuisine; Arabian Grill, specializing in North African and Mediterranean flavors; and a relaxed Crab Shack. “Guests can enjoy fresh seafood at the relaxed Crab Shack with the ultimate Maldivian barefoot chic, toes in the sand experience to witness interactive live cooking at Beach Kitchen, or indulge in the refined elegance of 5° North, our intimate overwater dining venue positioned precisely five degrees north of the equator,” shares executive chef Bernard Prim with Forbes over email.
Six Senses Kanahura
Six Senses’ newest Maldivian property is on the private island Kanuhura in the Lhaviyani Atoll. The resort comprises three private islands—two uninhabited and one main island—with 91 overwater and beachfront villas. On-site, guests can choose from six restaurants, including The Market, which serves international cuisine and a breakfast buffet, as well as Japanese, Italian, and Spanish fare options.
For a true castaway experience, guests can upgrade to a Robinson Crusoe-style picnic on the neighboring private island of Massleggihuraa. The experience includes a scenic ten-minute boat ride and a gourmet picnic basket featuring lunch, dessert and a bottle of wine. Meanwhile, Drift Restaurant on the resort’s third private island, Jehunuhura, serves local reef fish, Maldivian curries, and fresh seafood dishes.
Six Senses Laamu
Six Senses’ first Maldivian resort, Laamu, is the only property on Olhuveli Island. Water villas take center stage here, along with luxurious spa treatments offered in private nests, and divers can enjoy one of PADI’s newest eco centers. Dining experiences include omakase or teppanyaki set menus at the Japanese restaurant Zen and an Asian street market buffet on Fridays featuring live cooking stations. For an adults-only dining experience, Leaf offers a daily changing farm-to-fork four-course tasting menu.
At Longitude, the resort’s main restaurant, guests can enjoy a sprawling breakfast buffet—ask the pancake chef to create a pancake in the shape of a favorite marine creature, even the notoriously tricky lionfish. A standout feature of the resort is its ice and chocolate studio, offering 48 flavors of ice cream and sorbet, including local creations like Maldivian chocolate chili sorbet.
Turneffe Island Resort
Situated off Belize’s eastern coast, Turneffe Island Resort sits on the marine-protected Turneffe Atoll on Little Caye Bokel. With only 26 rooms and villas, guests truly have the island to themselves. One of the highlights of a stay is the Sunday evening meal, featuring three courses of traditional Belizean dishes, such as coco soup (made from coco, a local root vegetable similar to a potato) and stewed chicken with red recado paste, served alongside coconut rice and beans, crispy fried plantains and creamy potato salad. Dessert may include a coconut caramel pecan pie.
Instead of dining in the main restaurant, guests can upgrade to a private dining experience in one of the resort’s over-water palapas. The intimate experience includes a three-course meal and a bottle of house wine. “At Turneffe Island Resort, every dining experience is designed to immerse guests in the beauty and tranquility of our island retreat. Our chefs use authentic Belizean flavors and ingredients as the foundation for our culinary program, which includes highlights such as our Friday night beach barbecue and Sunday feast. Our guests also benefit heavily from our private island location with access to freshly caught seafood daily.” says Turneffe Island Resort General Manager Aly McGahey to Forbes over email.
Four Seasons Maldives Voavah
The Four Season operates three properties in the Maldives: Landaa Giraavaru on a private island in the Baa Atoll, Kuda Huraa on Huraa Island, and Voavah, an ultra-exclusive private island retreat. Unlike the other two properties, Voavah is reserved for a single party during their stay. With rates starting at $40,000 per night and a two-night minimum stay, the resort accommodates up to 22 guests across three bungalows.
Though meals are not included, dining experiences are fully customizable. Guests can enjoy hand-caught sashimi on a private yacht, a Bedouin-style beach fête, or themed dining events such as a Maldivian Fisherman’s Feast. Exclusive setups include candlelit dinners inside sand-carved tables, floating dining experiences, or treetop dining. Take a boat to Landaa to enjoy any of the restaurants, including the Blu Beach Club’s Lobster Rendezvous on Tuesdays, featuring a four-course menu starring fresh Maldivian lobster.
Lovango Resort & Beach Club
Located in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Lovango Resort & Beach Club is a private island retreat offering a passport-free escape for American travelers. The boutique, family-owned resort provides access to two beaches, a vibrant beach club scene, and the secluded Crescent Beach.
As for dining, most ingredients are sourced locally and grown on the property and popular dishes include local yellowtail snapper agua chile, Caribbean lobster paillard and fresh-caught fish. One standout experience is the Sunday Taste of the Caribbean dinner, featuring traditional island favorites such as johnnycakes, peel-and-eat shrimp, conch and crispy guinea hen. “At Little Gem Resorts, we describe ourselves as ‘warm, welcoming and playful,” says executive chef Kyle Mcknight. “We balance these key attributes at the Lovango Resort with the fact that we operate on a private island to a clientele with high expectations. Our menus change frequently, and we offer fresh seafood specials daily.”
Park Hyatt Maldives Hadaa
One of Maldives’ most remote private island resorts is Park Hyatt Hadahaa, which offers an unparalleled luxury retreat. The resort’s premier accommodation, one of the finest overwater villas in the Maldives, spans nearly 10,000 square feet and boasts a 52-foot-long infinity pool. This three-bedroom retreat includes private outdoor movie nights, bespoke stargazing, beach pool villa access, butler service and a complimentary premium minibar. Another highlight is the BBQ terrace with a sunken dining room.
Dining options range from a sumptuous breakfast buffet to casual poolside dining. Dining options range from a sumptuous breakfast buffet to casual poolside dining. Guests can enjoy upscale Maldivian wood-fired cuisine at The Grill or savor sushi at Koi, the overwater Japanese restaurant. For an elevated dining experience, the Chef’s Garden Treehouse—perched 15 feet above the ground—offers a unique plant-based dining experience where guests can handpick organic vegetables from the on-site garden. The Chef’s Garden is also available for private cooking classes.
InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef
Located at the northernmost point of the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland, Australia, InterContinental Hayman Island Resort is a gateway to the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. The 182-room resort underwent a $135 million renovation before reopening under InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) management in 2019.
Guests can choose from five restaurants and bars, as well as bespoke private dining experiences. “Dining at InterContinental Hayman Island Great Barrier Reef is an immersive experience celebrating the region’s finest ingredients from fresh seafood to local produce. Our restaurants utilize locally-sourced ingredients to create unique, flavorful dishes inspired by the island’s natural beauty,” says executive chef Anthony Kramer.
Restaurant options include Pacific, the resort’s signature brasserie-style restaurant and bar featuring Australian spirits, as well as Amici, a Mediterranean dining destination. Poolside Pan-Asian fare is available at Bam Bam, while casual options include Bar 50 and Grove Boutique & Café. For private dining, guests can indulge in a romantic Hayman Cabana experience under the stars, a four-course beachfront dinner, gourmet picnics on a neighboring island, or a sommelier-guided wine tasting in the resort’s exclusive on-island cellar.
Wakaya Private Island Resort & Spa
A favorite among celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, and The Rolling Stones, Wakaya Private Island Resort & Spa is an ultra-exclusive private island retreat in Fiji. With just ten luxury beachfront villas, the resort offers a level of seclusion that is unmatched. For $330,000 per week, travelers can buy out the entire island for up to 31 guests, ensuring an entirely private escape.
Dining experiences at Wakaya are bespoke and spectacular, featuring bamboo, fire-cooked meals on the beach, traditional Fijian lovo (an underground oven-cooked feast) with local deer, farm-foraged dinners, and private cooking classes. Fresh seafood is caught daily, and the resort serves premium free-range organic poultry. Local Executive Sous Chef Maikeli specializes in island-inspired cuisine, with signature dishes such as Fijian kokoda (ceviche in coconut cream), grilled Spanish mackerel with passionfruit sauce, sticky rice, and slow-roasted pork belly infused with island spices.
The Brando
One of the world’s most sustainable luxury resorts, The Brando, is the brainchild of Marlon Brando and is located on the breathtaking Tetiaroa Atoll in French Polynesia. The resort holds the distinction of being the world’s first platinum-certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) resort. Its dedication to privacy has attracted high-profile guests, including Leonardo DiCaprio, the Obamas, and Beyoncé.
The most luxurious dining experience on the island is a multi-course meal inspired by the destinations featured in Marlon Brando’s Mutiny on the Bounty at the Les Mutinés restaurant. This showstopping feast includes table side plating, lobster grilled over coals, and a treasure chest overflowing with decadent desserts. The resort also offers a set-menu teppanyaki restaurant. At Bob’s Bar and Beachcomber Café, guests can order Brando’s favorites, such as his signature smashburger and The Real Bounty, a rich coconut ice cream served in a coconut bowl and drizzled with chocolate.
Ambergris Cay
Nestled in the southeast corner of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Ambergris Cay is an exclusive, all-inclusive private island resort located on the world’s second-largest barrier reef. The island offers abundant nature experiences, including encounters with iguanas, native birds, flamingos, and seasonal whale watching. Spanning 1,100 acres, the resort features 17 beachfront bungalows—expanded from its original 10—and nine villas, the largest of which boasts six bedrooms. High-end liquor is included in the experience, and the dining is five-star, with à la carte menus span Middle Eastern, Asian, and Caribbean cuisines. Guests are encouraged to share their favorite dishes with the chef, who may craft a custom meal.
A highlight of the resort is its floating bar, where guests can take a boat ride to enjoy custom-crafted cocktails or a cold beer while enjoying ocean views. Signature dishes range from tuna tartare to fresh lobster, served in one of the resort’s two signature restaurants. “Our award-winning culinary team takes that seriously to design dishes that pull in global flavors while incorporating local fresh fish to offer a selection of signature plates. Every detail of the dish and the setting in which the breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack is enjoyed are meticulously crafted to provide an unforgettable meal,” says Guillaume Aublet, general manager.
Pine Cay
This 800-acre private island resort in Turks & Caicos is a Relais & Châteaux property offering an all-inclusive luxury experience. Its white-sand beaches are bordered by crystal-clear cerulean waters teeming with marine life, including nurse sharks, sand dollars, and upside-down jellyfish. The island’s culinary scene focuses on fresh seafood, with local conch prominently featured. At Pine Cay’s restaurants, guests can enjoy international flavors at Pine Cay’s restaurants, where the staff hails from around the world. Themed dining nights include Caribbean Night, Asian Night, Pizza Days, and Rotisserie Sundays,
“We pride ourselves on delivering a complete and refined dining experience, offering three options for appetizers, entrées, and desserts during lunch and dinner,” says executive chef Philippe Aubron. “We have perfected our portion sizes to balance indulgence and satisfaction. I find daily inspiration in ‘Rose,’ and with my team, creativity flows effortlessly.” Chef Aubron’s signature dishes include a rich lobster bouillabaisse served with homemade focaccia and the crispy Mike’s Grouper Fingers, an ideal beachside treat.
VOMO
Nestled in Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands, VOMO offers a secluded luxury experience. Nestled in Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands, VOMO offers a secluded luxury experience for discerning travelers. The most exclusive accommodation, the Reef House, spans 10,000 square feet and features five bedrooms, a private infinity pool, a butler, and a full kitchen where the resort’s chef can prepare custom meals. With only around 30 villas, the resort ensures privacy and exclusivity.
Dining at VOMO is all-inclusive, with a rotating menu of 300 weekly dishes sourced from the resort’s farm and local producers. For an adults-only experience, The Rocks offers an international Asian-inspired selection, including sushi. For the ultimate indulgent picnic, guests can book the resort’s private island, Vomo Lailai, where sun loungers, towels, and a gourmet seafood picnic—including salads, cold cuts, fruits, and desserts—are provided.
Pelorus
One of Australia’s must exclusive properties, Pelorus, costs $12,000 per night for two guests. It’s a private lodge with five suites on a private island for the ultimate in isolation and seclusion. Guests reach Pelorus Island by private helicopter or yacht. Dining is fully customized to guests’ tastes, with menus curated using hyperlocal ingredients. Meals are served family-style with large platters of fresh, seasonal cuisine. The property also boasts a teppanyaki grill for a personalized, interactive dining experience.
South African chef Grant Logan oversees the kitchen, offering five-course menus that might include oysters, caviar, line-caught coral trout sashimi, charcoal-grilled rock lobster, handmade wood-fired pizza with luxury toppings, hand-cut truffle fries, and dark chocolate mousse. Local fishermen deliver fresh seafood each morning, while breakfast includes barista-crafted coffee, tropical fresh-pressed juice, and selections from a well-stocked, sommelier-curated cellar and bar.
Jumeriah Thanda Island
Jumeriah Thanda Island is an ultra-exclusive private retreat featuring a five-suite residence located off the east coast of Tanzania. As part of its Chef Residency program, guests can request a Jumeirah chef from Dubai to Mallorca as their holiday chef. Most recently, Chef Kevin Roehrig from Jumeirah Mina Al Salam crafted a menu blending Dubai’s Cala Vista influences with Tanzanian flavors and locally sourced ingredients. Dining at Jumeirah Thanda Island highlights freshly caught seafood, shellfish, tropical fruits, handmade ice cream, and coconut milk. Expect dishes such as carpaccio, seafood curries, and freshly caught lobsters.
“Tanzanian cuisine is built on bold, sun-kissed flavors, and I like to highlight vibrant ingredients in each dish. Fresh seafood, fragrant spices, and seasonal produce take center stage, elevated with techniques that let each ingredient shine. The result is a menu that feels both deeply rooted in its surroundings and refined in execution—a true reflection of the island’s beauty on the plate,” says executive chef Kevin Roehrig. His signature dishes include Nikkei-style local kingfish tataki, grilled seafood with tomato chili vierge sauce, rock lobster carpaccio with yuzu passion fruit sauce, and pineapple coconut cake with rum syrup.
JW Marriott Kaafu Atoll Island Resort
Just 15 minutes away by speedboat from the international airport, JW Marriott’s second Maldives resort, JW Marriott Kaafu Atoll Island Resort, features 80 pool villas, including 48 overwater accommodations. Each villa has a dedicated butler, and the resort’s culinary offerings span 20 countries. Thanks to a deep-sea channel adjacent to the resort, dolphins often visit the atoll twice daily, and snorkeling encounters may include nurse sharks, stingrays, and larger marine life.
Guests will find diverse dining options: international cuisine at Veyo, premium steaks at Athiri, Indian specialties at Riva, garden-sourced sustainable fare at PURE, and Japanese-Peruvian fusion at Nikkei. Signature dishes include caviar with royal garnish, Maldivian grilled lobster with garlic herbs and yuzu kosho butter, Wagyu M9 short rib galbi, Maldives special mud crab with kopee fathu and red onion salad in lime coconut sauce, Maldivian chili, and curry leaves, followed by a luxurious royal paella with carabinero and saffron. “At JW Marriott Kaafu Atoll Island Resort, every dish is a story—one that speaks of artistry, heritage, and the finest ingredients sourced from land and sea,” says executive chef Jae Yong Cha to Forbes over email. “Our philosophy is simple: to craft extraordinary dishes that connect our guests to the soul of the island. From ocean-fresh seafood and sustainably sourced local flavors from the JW Garden to the bold, delicate interplay of Indian Ocean and Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei cuisine, we elevate every bite into an unforgettable moment.”
Kokomo Private Island
Located in the pristine Kadavu Islands, Kokomo Private Island Fiji is a family-run resort spanning 140 acres. The resort features 21 infinity pool villas and five hilltop Grand Residences, offering access to one of the most unspoiled reefs in the world. A 45-minute scenic flight from Nadi International Airport transports guests to this eco-conscious paradise, where all meals are included.
Dining at Kokomo celebrates sustainably sourced and homegrown ingredients, with three restaurants offering a fusion of Mediterranean, Asian, and Fijian cuisine. Unique dishes include locally caught mud crabs and whole baked fish, fresh pastas and risottos, aged cuts of meat, grilled prawns, poke bowls, chilled soups, ceviche, skewers, gourmet burgers, and more. Menus rotate seasonally to reflect the freshest ingredients available. This eco-conscious resort includes a 5.5-acre organic farm and hydroponics garden, free-range chickens and Italian cross-bred beehives. Its Dock to Dish fishing program ensures that seafood is caught to order.
Orpheus Island Lodge
Nestled within a 1,400-acre certified national park and accessible only by helicopter or seaplane, Orpheus Island Lodge is an exclusive escape where only 28 guests can stay at a time. The resort features 14 rooms, suites, and villas spread along seven miles of pristine Coral Sea coastline. Notably, Chris Hemsworth celebrated his birthday here. Dining is all-inclusive, with menus that change daily based on locally sourced ingredients, emphasizing fresh seafood.
“Every guest has their own idea about what the perfect dining experience looks like, and it’s my job to bring that to life,” say executive chef Josh Childs over email. “With our location, many of our guests appreciate the simplicity of some freshly caught seafood grilled over an open flame, while others are after a multi-course tasting menu that celebrates local flavours. The emphasis is always on tailoring the menu to the guest’s tastes. It’s about intuition, attention to detail, and creating something that feels effortless but unforgettable.”
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
A pinnacle of luxury in the Maldives, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort features 77 villas, each accompanied by the signature St. Regis Butler Service. The resort’s crown jewel is the John Jacob Astor Estate—the largest overwater villa in the Maldives—spanning 16,500 square feet with a sprawling 300-foot infinity pool. This three-bedroom retreat starts at approximately $25,000 per night with a four-night minimum stay. The resort also offers The Norma, a lavish Azimut Flybridge 66 yacht available for private charters.
Culinary experiences at the resort include Japanese-style kaiseki cuisine at T•Pan, where signature dishes range from shioyaki abalone with nurikuro and kinome to live scallop with uni cream sauce and Hokkaido snow beef—The St. Regis Maldives is the only resort in the Maldives to serve this rare Japanese delicacy. Wine enthusiasts will marvel at Decanter, the underground wine cellar that houses over 7,000 bottles from 650 labels spanning 23 countries. Some of its most prized selections include 1795 Barbeito Madeira Terrantez ($22,000 per bottle) and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti ($47,500 per bottle). Guests can also enjoy The Whale Bar, known for its Champagne sabering ritual and a Maldivian take on the St. Regis Bloody Mary, served tableside inside a seashell glass.
Cayo Levantado Resort
Find Cayo Levantado Resort off the Samaná coast of the Dominican Republic. This luxury all-inclusive private island resort off the coast of the stunning Samaná region of the Dominican Republic features 218 spacious rooms and villas. This tropical paradise is accessible by boat and is a prime spot for witnessing the annual humpback whale migration.
The resort emphasizes wellness, offering reiki, sound and ice baths, yoga, and art workshops. Culinary offerings span Dominican, Japanese-Peruvian fusion, and international cuisine across five restaurants and bars, where Caribbean flavors blend with global influences. One of its standout dining experiences is Santa Yuca, which is dedicated to preserving and reviving traditional Spanish, Mexican, and South American dishes. Guests can also participate in a cassava workshop to learn about the island’s indigenous culinary traditions.
Moskito Island
The ultra-luxurious Moskito Island in the British Virgin Islands is a 125-acre paradise offering “house charters” for up to 20 guests. Designed for communal luxury living, the island features three beaches, botanical gardens, multiple swimming pools, and several bars. The most opulent accommodation is Cape Stout, a seven-building estate with a main infinity pool that mirrors the surrounding cliffs. Rates start at $25,000 per night, and the estate includes a 42-foot private captained yacht.
“At The Village, Moskito, I curate exclusive dining experiences designed to captivate the world’s most distinguished and discerning palates,” says Chef Mac Beauchamp. “For those who seek the extraordinary, each meal is more than a dish—it is a journey. A harmonious fusion of delicate flavors, masterful techniques, and an unwavering dedication to luxury.” Chef Beauchamp’s signature dishes include tuna tostadas, Wagyu short ribs, and Isan crispy rice salad with pork. Guests can also indulge in Anegada lobster ravioli, honey-glazed chicken lollipops, tandoori chicken, and lobster salad sandwiches.
Four Seasons Resort & Residences Caye Chapel
Four Seasons is set to make its first private island debut in the Americas with the opening of Four Seasons Resort & Residences Caye Chapel in early 2026. Located off the coast of Belize, this 280-acre island is being transformed into a luxurious private island club community, featuring a resort, residences, and a championship golf course.
For $4.5 million, travelers can purchase a private home on the island, while the resort itself will feature a 104-room hotel, including 18 overwater bungalows. Dining plans include waterfront sustainable sushi and omakase, a seafood-focused eatery, chef-driven poolside fare and cabana service, rotating guest chef-in-residence experiences, and an island club bar boasting an exceptional wine and spirits program.
This story was originally published on forbes.com and all figures are in USD.
Look back on the week that was with hand-picked articles from Australia and around the world. Sign up to the Forbes Australia newsletter here or become a member here.
