Northolme was the first Hilton I ever stayed in, and it was a great one to start with. It sits on the northwest coast of Mahé, in the hills above Beau Vallon Bay, with more than 50 villas spread through tropical greenery, granite boulders and birdsong. Even with that many villas, it never felt like a big hotel complex. The villas are tucked into the landscape, the ocean shows up around every corner, and the busy beach at Beau Vallon is only a short drive away.
In this review of Hilton Northolme Seychelles, I’ll cover the villa types, the restaurants, what there is to do, and who Northolme suits and who it doesn’t. I’ll be straight about that last part, because this is a wonderful place for some trips and the wrong fit for others.
Disclosure: I visited Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa while working on a photography production for the property. This review is based on my own stay, and all opinions are my own.
The Short Version
Northolme is best for: couples, honeymooners and anyone who wants a quiet, private stay with great views and good food.
It’s not the best fit if: you want entertainment, nightlife or a social scene, you’re travelling solo and want to meet people, or you’re travelling with younger children (the resort welcomes guests aged 13 and older).
Is Hilton Seychelles Northolme Worth It?
What I liked most is that it feels connected to where it is. It doesn’t feel like a hotel that could be anywhere in the world. You hear birds in the trees, you smell the cannonball trees along the paths, and the water changes shades of turquoise through the day.
The atmosphere is calm. There are no pool parties, no daily entertainment programme and no loud music. There are occasional live music evenings, but most of the time the day is about spending time with your partner, the water, a slow meal or time in your villa. If that sounds like heaven, you’ll love it. If it sounds boring, it probably will be, and that’s fine. It just means Northolme isn’t for that kind of trip.
The villa category you pick makes a real difference to the experience, so it’s worth comparing options before you book!
Which Villa Should You Book?
Instead of hotel rooms in one building, Northolme has individual villas with balconies or terraces, surrounded by vegetation and looking out over the Indian Ocean or the landscape. For this Hilton Seychelles Northolme review, I need to point out that not every villa has a private pool, and views differ between categories.
King Sunset Villa
I stayed in a beautiful King Sunset Villa. It’s a good choice if you want the resort’s atmosphere without paying for a pool villa. The villa is surrounded by greenery, and depending on its position, you may look through the vegetation towards the ocean or get a wider view of the coastline. Even when the view isn’t panoramic, the birdsong and the plants give it its own character.
There’s no private pool, so I’d pick this if you plan to use the main infinity pool, explore the resort and eat out rather than spend whole days at your villa.
Ocean-View Villas
If waking up to the Indian Ocean matters most to you, look at the ocean-view categories. Positions and privacy vary, so compare the photos and descriptions carefully instead of assuming every villa has the same outlook. If the view matters more to you than a pool, this is where I’d put my budget.
Signature Grand Ocean Pool Villa
If you’re celebrating something, a honeymoon, anniversary or birthday, this is the category I’d look at. Your own pool and ocean view mean you can start the morning slowly and take a dip whenever you like, and it’s a natural setting for a private dinner or a floating breakfast.
Two Bedroom Oceanfront Pool Villa
This is the one that makes people stop mid-sentence. The pool is the star: long and private, right on the ocean, and you can have it all to yourself. Around it you get the most spacious villa at Northolme, with two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a big living area, a private kitchen and even a small fitness corner. It feels more like a house on the water than a hotel room.
It’s ideal for two couples travelling together, or a family with teens (the resort’s age minimum is 13). Everyone gets their own space, and the best part of the day happens at the villa, not at a restaurant table. If you’re having a big birthday or anniversary with friends, this is the one to look at.
My tip: Don’t automatically book the most expensive villa. If you’ll be out exploring Mahé most days, a villa without a pool is probably enough. If you want long, lazy stretches at your villa, the upgrade makes sense.
A Nice Touch on Arrival and Departure Day
One thing I really liked: the resort has a lounge that guests can use on the day they arrive, before check-in, and on the day they leave, after check-out. I took advantage of the shower and some snacks before I headed to the airport on my last day. Flights to Seychelles don’t always line up with hotel check-in times, so being able to freshen up after a long journey, or before a late flight home, is a genuinely thoughtful thing.
Restaurants at Northolme
Mahé Restaurant
Mahé is the signature restaurant and the main breakfast spot, with panoramic ocean views. Breakfast felt unhurried, and it was easy to ease into the day over a second coffee. Champagne was available during my breakfast experience, which was a nice touch. It also serves dinner, with a focus on Seychellois Creole flavours, local ingredients and seafood.
Ocean View Bar
The relaxed option for lighter food: salads, burgers, flatbreads and locally caught fish, plus drinks and a view over the bay. It’s good for a snack after swimming or lunch between activities.
Tip: Get the Poke Bowl – my favorite dish to order for lunch!
The Lower Deck
This gin bar, set above the water, was one of my favourite spots. Come around sunset, when the light changes over the ocean. There’s a good selection of gins and cocktails, and the team can tailor a drink to your taste. I’d come here before dinner at least once.
Wave
Wave is the Mediterranean-inspired dinner restaurant, with seafood, pasta, risotto, paella and grilled dishes. During my stay, there were themed evenings, including an Italian night and a Creole evening with music. The Creole night was the highlight because it brought in more of the local culture. Ask which evenings are scheduled for your dates, as the programme can change.
Private Dining
For celebrations (or just because you feel like it), the resort can arrange private dining at your villa and special settings overlooking the ocean. Floating breakfasts are available for villas with private pools. These aren’t usually included in the room rate, so ask about availability and cost ahead of time.
Things to Do at Hilton Northolme Seychelles
You can happily do very little here, but there’s enough to fill a few days if you want to mix rest with a bit of activity. As part of this Hilton Seychelles Northolme review, here are the main ones I tried:
The Infinity Pool
The main infinity pool looks out over the bay, with loungers set up to take in the coastline and greenery. There’s a refreshment point nearby, so you don’t have to go far for a drink.
The Beaches
Northolme has a few small coves, and these are best treated as a bonus. How much beach you get depends on the tide. The one larger beach looked untouched, felt more like a proper beach, and was my favourite place to be in the water. The sea was clear and turquoise and no waves at all – pure bliss!
A note on privacy for this Hilton Seychelles Northolme review: from what I understood, visitors who come to the resort for a meal can use the beach too, so I wouldn’t call it private. It’s quiet, but not exclusive. For a long walk on wide sand, spend an afternoon at Beau Vallon.
Kayaking and Snorkelling
Kayaking and snorkelling are available, and Hilton advertises complimentary equipment. I kayaked in the lagoon, which was a great way to see the coastline from the water. Ask the team on arrival about the best spots and times for snorkelling, since visibility depends on conditions.
The Gardens
You don’t need to leave the resort to enjoy nature. Northolme has its own garden trail, the Tropical Treasures Garden, with QR codes along the way. Scan one and you can read about the plant or tree in front of you, with a focus on species native to Seychelles. They even have a male Coco de Mer, the famous palm known for its huge double-lobed seed.
My highlight was the cannonball tree. It’s a rare sight in Seychelles and a real piece of the resort’s history. Look out for the Takamaka tree and the birdlife too. It’s an easy way to spend a slow hour between the pool and lunch.
The Spa
The eforea Spa is calm and quiet, with individual treatment rooms, a couples’ room and an outdoor shower surrounded by palms. Tea and refreshments are served afterwards. If you want a couples’ treatment or a specific time, book ahead.
The Fitness Centre
There’s a gym with ocean views if you like to keep up your routine while travelling.
Location and Getting Around
Northolme is in Glacis, on the northwest coast of Mahé, a short drive from Beau Vallon and from Victoria, the island’s capital. It feels removed from the busier parts of the island, but you can head out when you want a change of scenery.
Moving Around the Resort
The resort is built on a hillside, so getting between your villa, the restaurants and the beach means walking up and down paths. The resort has buggies, which are handy if you’d rather not walk or if walking is difficult for you.
Beau Vallon
Beau Vallon is one of Mahé’s best-known beaches, with a long sandy shoreline, restaurants and casual food stalls. It’s livelier than Northolme and worth an afternoon or evening.
Victoria
There’s a complimentary shuttle to Victoria, but check the current timetable and whether you need to reserve. The roads around the resort aren’t very walkable, so plan to use the shuttle, a taxi, or a rental car rather than walk.
Who Is Northolme Best For?
It’s a great fit for:
- Couples and honeymooners – Private villas, ocean views, sunset cocktails and private dining make it an easy choice for a romantic trip.
- Celebrations – For an anniversary, birthday or engagement, a pool villa makes the accommodation part of the occasion.
- Travellers who want peace and privacy – The resort is quiet and the villas are spread out.
- Food and wellness lovers – Good restaurants, the spa and slow days between pool, beach and meals.
It might not be the right fit if:
- You want entertainment or a social scene – There’s no party atmosphere or daily programme. For some people that’s the whole appeal, and for others it will feel too quiet.
- You’re travelling solo – It’s built around couples and privacy, so it may feel a bit quiet if you’re hoping to meet people.
- You’re travelling with younger children – Guests must be 13 or older, and the resort is set up for calm rather than family activities. Teens are welcome, and the larger villas can work for them, but it’s not a family resort.
- You want to step onto a long public beach or walk to restaurants every evening – You’ll need transport to get anywhere beyond the resort.
What Does It Cost?
Northolme is a luxury resort, and rates vary a lot with travel dates, villa category, occupancy and meal plan. Rather than quote a number that will be out of date quickly, I’d suggest checking your exact dates directly.
When you compare prices, look at the total cost of the stay, not just the nightly rate. Think about whether you like other meals are included, whether you want a private pool, and how much you’ll spend on drinks, dining and transport.
Check current rates and availability at Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa
Planning Your Trip: Money and Insurance
Two things I sort out before any trip like this.
Money. I use Wise when I travel. You can spend in local currency with a card and see the exchange rate before you pay, which is handy for taxis, meals outside the resort and the food stalls at Beau Vallon. Get a Wise card
Insurance: Consider travel with SafetyWing. Seychelles is a long way from most places, so I want medical cover in place before I go. Plans differ, so check what’s covered for your dates and trip type, including cancellation, before you buy. Check SafetyWing cover
Final Verdict of Hilton Seychelles Northolme Review: Would I Stay Again?
Definitely! What I remember most is the atmosphere: the lush jungle-like vegetation, the birdsong, the granite coastline and all the shades of turquoise. I loved the ocean view at breakfast, kayaking in the lagoon, the bigger beach and ending the day with a drink at The Lower Deck.
Northolme is best for people who value privacy, nature and a quieter kind of luxury, and who are happy to leave the nightlife at home. Choose the right villa for you, plan a few meals and sunset drinks around the resort, and leave yourself time to do very little.
Check prices and availability at Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa
I hope you enjoyed my Hilton Northolme Seychelles review and explore Mahé to its fullest!
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