7 Underwater Restaurants In Maldives for Unforgettable Dining

The Maldives has firmly claimed its place as the world’s capital of underwater restaurants. It all started in 2005 when Ithaa at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island became the world’s first all-glass underwater restaurant in the world, and the islands haven’t looked back since. Surrounded by crystal-clear lagoons and rich marine life, Maldives underwater dining is not just about the view but the whole experience.

Today, there is an impressive collection of underwater restaurants in Maldives to choose from. With each bringing its own personality to the table. Some are adults-only, designed for intimate, candlelit evenings and fine-dining purists, while others are family-friendly, it is also home to world’s first underwater wine cellar, one even transforms into an underwater club by night.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Underwater Restaurants in Maldives?
Although ultimately it is location dependent, there are a few things to consider when booking your reservation at underwater restaurants in Maldives.

Dry season: Drier months, especially destinations like the Maldives, offer clearer water and better visibility through the glass. Typically, from November to April.

Lunch: The natural light during the lunch hours provide better visibility and the maximum chance of spotting marine life and reef. The lighting also makes for better photos.

Dinner: Offer a moodier, romantic atmosphere with artificial lights adding to the experience.

The Best Time: Early dinner, generally around 6pm, would give you the best experience as you get to experience the transition from daylight to darkness.

1Ithaa Undersea Restaurant

Ithaa Undersea Restaurant
Photo courtesy of © Conrad Maldives Rangali/ Ithaa Undersea Restaurant

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

Why Choose Ithaa ? World’s first all-glass underwater restaurant.

Ithaa Undersea Restaurant is the OG of underwater restaurants not just in Maldives but in the world, as the first underwater dining experiences in the world, Ithaa has set the benchmark for underwater restaurants around the world. 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.

 

Book : Conradmaldives.com

25.8 Undersea Restaurant

5.8 Undersea Restaurant
Photo courtesy of © 5.8 Undersea / Hurawalhi

Where: Hurawalhi Island Resort, Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives

Why Choose 5.8 ? Largest all-glass underwater restaurant.

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.

 

Book : Hurawalhi.com

3SEA Restaurant

Photo courtesy of © SEA Restaurant / Anantara Kihavah Villas

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

Why Choose SEA? Underwater wine cellar, marine biodiversity.

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.

Book : Anantara.com

4Subsix

Photo courtesy of © Subsix Underwater Restaurant

Where: Niyama Private Islands, Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives 

Why Choose Subsix? Underwater lounge/restaurant that also transforms into a club.

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 in Maldives, at Subsix as the sun sets, it transforms with ambient lighting and music, turning your serene underwater dining experience into an undersea soirée.

 

Book : Niyama.com

5H2O Underwater Restaurant

Photo courtesy of © H2O / You & Me by Cocoon

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

Why Choose H2O? Adults only, Michelin-chef supervised, located in the pristine Raa Atoll.

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.

 

Book : Thecocooncollection.com

6M6M (Minus Six Meters)

Photo courtesy of © M6M

Where: OZEN Life Maadhoo, South Malé Atoll, Maldives

Why Choose M6M? Underwater restaurant beneath the lagoon.

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.

Book : Theozencollection.com

7ONLY BLU

Photo courtesy of © ONLY BLU

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.

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.

Book : Coloursofoblu.com

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