Underwater restaurants – Fine dining with undersea view

Underwater restaurants are the most unique dining locations in the world. No matter you want to have a romantic dinner with your beloved one or take your family for a very special lunch, the WOW factor is guaranteed! Now we show you the best places in The Maldives, in Dubai and all around the world where to eat under the sea!

Written by Anett Szaszi

Anett is a certified scuba diver, freediver, and an expert in snorkeling with more than 10 years of experience. She fell in love with the ocean while snorkeling in the Red Sea on a vacation to Egypt back in 2008. Since then, she has been traveling to discover the world’s best snorkeling spots and sharing her experience and tips to inspire others. Find her photos on @anett.szaszi Instagram too!

Underwater restaurants Maldives

The Maldives resorts offer amazing snorkeling and diving which is the best way of discovering the Indian Ocean, but don’t worry if you are afraid of these activities. You can also experience the undersea world when dining at one of the magical underwater restaurants of The Maldives. This list shows where you can do that!

Ithaa Undersea Restaurant

The very first underwater restaurant in the world and still one of the most famous! The Ithaa Undersea Restaurant lies 5 m (16 ft) below sea level.  The restaurant can be found at the Conrad Rangali Island (previously known as Hilton Maldives Rangali Island Resort & Spa) in the Alif Dhaal Atoll in The Maldives. Ithaa means “mother-of-pearl” in Maldivian.

The Ithaa Undersea Restaurant is the most special among the seven restaurants of the Conrad Rangali Resort. Their specialty is the Maldivian lobster and caviar that they serve in a stunning luxury environment.

The Crown Company, who owns The Rangali Island was always dreaming about a breathtaking attraction. Therefore, they contacted Mike Murphy who has already had experience in some huge underwater projects. His acrylic tunnel was designed for the Kuala Lumpur National Science Center, the world’s largest aquarium tunnel.

The design work started in March 2004 in Singapore and the construction began in May 2004. The Ithaa Undersea Restaurant was transported to the Maldives on a barge in 16 days. It was sunk underwater on the 19 of November, 2004. Its total weight is 175 tonnes and they used 85 tonnes of sand ballast by sinking. 

Anantara Kihavah Sea underwater restaurant and wine cellar

The Sea Underwater Restaurant became famous for the world first undersea wine cellar.  The Anantara Undersea Restaurant locates on the ocean floor in a stunning environment. The Indian Ocean’s rich marine life will entertain you with fish and turtles cruising around while enjoying European cuisine and world-class wines. It can happen that even snorkelers will swim in front of the glass while you are sitting inside!

The Sea is open for lunch and dinner and has only 8 tables to make sure that guests will have privacy. If you would like to identify the fish swimming around you a Maldivian Reef Fish Guide can be found on each table. 

Subsix PER AQUUM Niyama

Underwater restaurants always have something extra that adds to the WOW factor, the Subsix PER AQUUM features an underwater nightclub too 6 meters (20 ft) below the surface. It is only accessible by speedboat from the Niyama Maldives Resort. This extraordinary dining spot was recently submerged, each tiny detail was designed with special underwater style.

The chairs look like a sea anemone, the atmosphere is like being in an undersea kelp forest. Enjoy here a special Champagne breakfast, subaquatic lunch, dinner or let off the steam on a DJ night. The Subsix underwater restaurant is also open for events. Book it for a wedding, birthday party to make it unforgettable! But please, don’t forget to invite us…

Tip: we think you would enjoy reading about the UFO floating house and Seahorse underwater villas!

Aquarium underwater restaurants around the world

There are several underwater restaurants in the world that are not submerged but the unique design, special decoration and huge aquarium-like style make you feel like being under the ocean surrounded with colorful fish and sea creatures. You find such underwater restaurants in Dubai, in the United States, in South Africa and surprisingly also in Germany, here is a list exactly where!

Al Mahara Underwater Restaurant Dubai 

If it comes to majestic solutions, Dubai knows how to amaze the people. The Al Mahara Underwater Restaurant in Dubai can be found in the luxurious Burj Al Arab Hotel. The entrance looks like an oyster shell referring to the meaning of Al Mahara. Although this is not a real underwater restaurant, but you will definitely have the feeling of being under the sea. Watch fish, sharks and rays swimming in the floor-to-ceiling aquarium while enjoying your meal.

The Al Mahara seafood restaurant can be found on the ground floor of the Burj Al Arab Hotel and their specialties include poached tsarskaya oysters and sea salt-crusted sea bass, Alaskan king crab, Wagyu beef with potato gnocchi or dark brown sugar shortbread for dessert. An experience not to miss out!

Aquarium underwater restaurants – United States

An underwater dining adventure for the whole family! The Aquarium concept demonstrates four underwater restaurants throughout the United States. One in Nashville, Tenesse, one in Denver Colorado, and two in Texas, Houston and Kemah. They offer not only food but a complex entertainment program for young and old. Kids can enjoy camps and different shows like mermaid party or rainforest tours while adults visit interesting exhibitions.

The underwater restaurants are open for banquets and meetings as well. If you are looking for a unique wedding or birthday party location, you are right here! The Aquarium underwater restaurants offer a wide variety of seafood specialties as well as salads, pasta, and delicious desserts that young and old will love!

Atrium Bar Germany – AquaDom Berlin

What do the architects if they are in a landlocked country but would like to enjoy the stunning sea life every day? They build an aquarium, but not just a simple one! The AquaDom Berlin is the world’s largest cylindrical aquarium inside the Radisson Blu Hotel.

This massive installation contains 1 million liters of saltwater and home to 110 different sea species. When around, do not miss out on having a snack or a fancy cocktail in the Atrium Bar that can be found directly under the huge AquaDom aquarium. Try the special breakfast, coffee, tea or try the homemade pastries, cakes and cookies!

Cargo Hold Restaurant Durban – South Africa

Ultimate gourmet experience with sharks swimming around you! The Cargo Hold Restaurant built in a replica of the “Phantom” South Africa’s legendary ghost ship in the famous uShaka Aquarium in Durban. The design and atmosphere are brilliant – the past comes to life and the ghost stories of the South African coastline evoke. Enjoy a lunch on oysters and seafood in the historical interior and take a journey into the past!

Tip: do you want not only to dine but also sleep under the sea? See the Manta Resort Zanzibar underwater room!

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