Where: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, South Ari Atoll, Maldives

Ithaa Undersea Restaurant is the OG of underwater restaurants in the world, as the first underwater dining experiences in the world, Ithaa has set the benchmark for underwater restaurants. Located in the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Ithaa sits five meters beneath the Indian Ocean.

The turquoise waters of the Maldives provide the perfect backdrop at this classic underwater restaurant. The entrance is via a short flight of stairs, as you arrive you will be greeted to a dramatic clear tunnel with 180 degree panoramic views of the vibrant coral reefs and marine life such as reef fish, reef sharks and turtles. 

With just 14 seats per service, frankly, there is no bad seat at this underwater restaurant, however the small size means it can be notoriously difficult to get a booking so it is advised to plan in advance. The ever evolving tasting menu features contemporary European dishes with a Maldivian twist, with signature dishes like Maldivian lobster and Wagyu beef. The champagne breakfast also come highly recommended.

Where: Lindesnes, Norway 

Under holds the title for being Europe’s first underwater restaurant. Located along Norway’s dramatic coastline in Lindesnes, it is set in quite a remote area. As one of the most unique dining destination experience, getting here is part of the journey, about 4 and a half hours drive from Oslo or 3 hours from Kristiansand Airport, the route winds through coastal roads and rugged scenery, setting the tone long before you arrive.

Designed by renowned Norwegian firm Snøhetta, Under is a bold architectural statement, a massive concrete structure that appears to be half-submerged in the North Sea, about 5 meters below the surface. Inside, the large acrylic panoramic window (11 meters wide and 3.4 meters tall) offers an ever changing view of the marine environment of the North Atlantic.

Under quickly earned a Michelin star after opening, as Chef Nicolai Ellitsgaard leads the kitchen, creating seasonal tasting menus. The dining experience typically features an 18-20 course tasting menu that can last 3-4 hours.

Beyond being a restaurant, Under also functions as a marine research center. The building’s exterior is designed to become an artificial reef over time.

Where: Hurawalhi Island Resort, Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives

5.8 Undersea Restaurant at the Hurawalhi Island Resort in the Maldives (as the name suggests) sits 5.8 meters below the sea level. Holding the title for the world’s largest all-glass underwater restaurant, it stretches an impressive 32 feet in length.

Despite it being surprisingly spacious, it only hosts up to 20 guests at a time, so it leans into that special intimate vibe. Arriving via the spiral staircase sets the tone of this unique experience as you arrive into the curved, blue-lit dome.

It offers unobstructed views of reef sharks, stingrays, and tropical fish, during the day the natural light floods the restaurant and as it gets darker the restaurant transforms into something more cinematic. 5.8 Undersea Restaurant offers two lunch sitting and one dinner sitting, it is very much a tasting-menu experience that beautifully show off the local seafood.

Where: Atlantis The Palm in Dubai

Ossiano is in a league of its own and among the most extraordinary underwater restaurants in the world. Located on the lower level of Atlantis The Palm in Dubai, Ossiano experience begins with a dramatic spiral staircase which sets the tone of descending under the sea.

Set beside the Ambassador Lagoon which is home to almost 65,000 marine animals, with floor-to-ceiling windows school of rays, sharks, and vibrant marine life swim past during your meal. The aquarium

Ossiano holds one Michelin star and is renowned for its innovative approach to seafood and theatrical presentation. The menu is a contemporary European tasting menu typically featuring around 9 courses. It’s elegant without being stiff, theatrical without trying too hard, and definitely one to try.

Where: Anantara Kihavah Villas, Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Maldives

The SEA Restaurant at Anantara Kihavah Villas is set in the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve celebrated for its extraordinary marine biodiversity. Positioned right on the edge of a deep channel with an impressive house reef teeming with marine life. It’s a location that instantly elevates this Maldives underwater dining experience.

This award-winning underwater restaurant in Maldives offers a different space in comparison to the cylindrical shape offer by others in the Maldives. The space is designed in an octagonal shape with large panoramic windows, which means there are no “bad” seats wherever you sit, it feels like you’re floating in the reef rather than just looking at it.

SEA Restaurant boasts the world’s first underwater wine cellar, with over 450 bottles from two dozen countries. Before reaching your table, you will pass through this incredible underwater wine sanctuary, where a dedicated Wine Guru can design a custom tasting flight or pair rare vintages with your meal.

Seating it kept intimate with just 16 seats available, opt for breakfast, lunch, or an adults-only dinner (with special family-friendly evenings on Mondays and Thursdays). It is definitely one for the bucket list.

Where: Niyama Private Islands, Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives 

Subsix has taken underwater dining in Maldives to a new dimension, what first started as world’s first underwater nightclub has gradually evolved into champagne breakfasts, subaquatic lunches to gourmet dinners and DJ nights with glow parties that illuminate the night.

Arrive at Subsix via speedboat and make your way down a stunning three-tier staircase, where Italian abstract chandeliers set the mood. Inside, you will notice playful ocean theme across the restaurant from clam-inspired bar, plush anemone chairs, all beneath a canopy of capiz shells swaying gently from the ceiling. However, this doesn’t take away from what’s behind the floor-to-ceiling windows, the marine life really does take the centre stage with clownfish, parrotfish, and the occasional octopus

The menu blends international flavours with Maldivian flair, all plated in an artistic way. Unlike other underwater restaurants, at Subsix as the sun sets, it transforms with ambient lighting and music, turning your serene underwater dining experience into an undersea soirée.

Related Reads: 7 Underwater Restaurants In Maldives for Unforgettable Dining

Where: You & Me by Cocoon, Raa Atoll, Maldives

Located in the pristine Raa Atoll in the Maldives gives H2O underwater restaurant that “road less travelled” feeling. Raa is known for quieter resorts, healthier reefs, and less boat traffic than the busier central atolls, which usually means clearer water and richer marine life.

Set six meters below the surface, it sits out on the reef with a 360-degree glass dome, so you’re wrapped in panoramic views of coral gardens and shoals of tropical fish gliding past every angle of your table.

H2O is overseen by Michelin-starred chef Andrea Berton, in fact it is the first underwater restaurant branded and supervised by a Michelin-starred chef. It is worth noting that You & Me by Cocoon Maldives is an adult’s only island, which makes H2O underwater restaurant the perfect choice for couples.

Where: OZEN Life Maadhoo, South Malé Atoll, Maldives

M6M (Minus Six Meters) at OZEN Life Maadhoo is the first underwater restaurant in Maldives to be included in an all-inclusive plan. Unlike many underwater restaurants that focus solely on exclusive à la carte dining, guests staying four nights or more at OZEN can dine at M6M without any additional charge.

Sitting six meters beneath the turquoise lagoon in South Malé Atoll, the experience begins in the over elegant over-water M6M Lounge with champagne and caviar, setting the tone for the underwater dining in Maldives.

Once inside, expansive acrylic walls creating the sensation of floating in the lagoon, where sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, and vibrant angelfish swim past the sweeping glass walls. The menu leans confidently into seafood-led fine dining, where each dish is paired perfectly with curated wines.

Where: Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, Dubai 

Set inside the iconic Burj Al Arab in Dubai, Ristorante L’Olivo stands offers unrivaled 360-degree aquarium immersion. Although the restaurant itself is not submerged under the sea, the illusion that the aquarium creates is flawless.

The experience starts with a walk down the dramatic golden tunnel, unveiling the mesmerizing floor-to-ceiling aquarium of Al Mahara, where a a colossal 990,000-liter aquarium alive with sharks, rays, and shimmering reef fish encircle the restaurant.

Ristorante L’Olivo holds two Michelin stars for its refined Italian cuisine and leans into into classic luxury, think crisp white tablecloths, impeccable service, and a sense of old-world glamour.

Where: Between OBLU Select Lobigili and OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi i North Malé Atoll, Maldives

Why Choose Only Blu? Most family friendly, deepest non-gladd underwater restaurant in the world.

Among the many underwater restaurants, ONLY BLU stands out for its large capacity, seating around 50 guests, especially in Maldives. Located between the adults-only OBLU SELECT Lobigili and the family-friendly OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi, accessed via a wooden jetty, its location is particularly clever.

ONLY BLU is notably more accessible, with just a quick 15-minute speedboat ride from Malé airport. In addition, it also proudly holds the title as the deepest underwater restaurant in the Maldives, sitting about 6.8 meters below sea level. The distinctive horseshoe shape ensures every single table gets its own unobstructed window view of the vibrant coral reef teeming with tropical fish. It is worth noting that ONLY BLU is not entirely made of glass, so yes it is the deepest but not the deepest glass restaurant.

Where: Apurva Kempinski resort in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

Koral, Bali’s first aquarium restaurant has quickly become one of the island’s most talked-about dining spots, joining the ranks of the world’s most impressive underwater restaurants. Located inside the Apurva Kempinski resort in Nusa Dua, a large tank wraps around the room like a tunnel offers 180-degree views of colorful fish, turtles, stingrays, and even sharks gliding past massive glass panels.

Choose between regular tables or tunnel seating where you’re fully surrounded by the aquarium. What sets Koral apart from some of the other underwater restaurants around the world is its interactive experience, here scuba divers swimming through the tank to feed fish and wave at tables.

Lead by Michelin-starred Executive Chef Jean-Baptiste Natali, the menu at Koral beautifully blends Indonesian coastal flavors with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Where: InterContinental Sanya Haitang Bay Resort, Sanya, China

Located within the tropical Haitang Bay in Sanya, China is Aqua restaurant. Set inside the InterContinental Sanya Haitang Bay Resort, Aqua an aquarium restaurant offers a spectacular underwater dining experience with its 270° panoramic aquarium views. Rather than being buried beneath the ocean, Aqua wraps you in a giant indoor aquarium that is teeming with turtles, stingrays, colorful tropical fish, and sharks.

Family friendly with live shows like mermaid performances and fish feedings that, Aqua offers an immersive experience, while the kitchen serves up international cuisine with a focus on seafood.  

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