Most dining options that span the spectrum across the Maldives offer backdrops by the blissful island shores or are set on stilts above the Indian Ocean. These are incredible, of course, but if you’re on the lookout for something even more exhilarating, then you might want to seek a dining experience underwater with an out of this world view.
Having a luxury meal while surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass windows can seem slightly terrifying – but you also get to appreciate the beauty of marine life in its natural habitat and, more importantly, the Instagrammability alone will make it worth your investment, all while sort of feeling like a mermaid.
Check out these amazing underwater restaurants in the Maldives.
Ithaa Undersea Restaurant Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
The world’s first underwater restaurant, Ithaa (translates ‘mother of pearl’ in the Maldivian language of Dhivehi), sits a whopping five meters below sea level, offering 180-degree views of the surrounding coral gardens. To get there, diners walk across a pier, descends a spiral staircase down into a coral reef through a glass tunnel with a curved glass roof. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to midnight every day and serves contemporary European cuisine while diners are able to spot all kinds of tropical fish and enjoy a four-course lunch or a six-course dinner. Ithaa is also open for mid-morning cocktails and can be booked privately for breakfast, weddings or other special occasions.
The 5.8 Undersea Restaurant at Hurawalhi Maldives
Opened in late 2016, this is currently the world’s largest all-glass underwater restaurant and is made of dislodged coral blocks which makes its own ecosystem. As the restaurant’s name implies, it sits at a depth of 5.8 meters below the surface. To get there, diners walk across a pier towards the resort’s over-water Aquarium Restaurant and head down a separate path to a long, winding staircase. The restaurant offers 10 tables in an intimate setting with surrounding coral landscape views that intrigues all shapes and sizes of sea life right up to the glass. Diners can sate their appetite among the sealife with a multi-course tasting extravaganza. The restaurant is open for lunch with two sittings, first at 12.00 and second at 14.00, and dinner at 18.00. The restaurant also serves private Champagne breakfast upon request.
Sea at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas
Built on the edge of a natural reef right near the deep sea, this is the world’s first underwater wine cellar and leads diners to a fine-dining restaurant surrounded by the sea. Schools of angelfish can be seen swarming around the hexagonal space surfaced with mirrors, through swaying soft corals that dapple with sunlight. The wine cellar boasts over 450 bottles from two dozen countries and counting. Diners can enjoy a wide selection of special homemade breads, pancakes, and coffee for breakfast. Canadian scallops, assorted fish, Maldivian lobster, and prawns for lunch; Pair rare vintages with appetizing pan-seared Japanese wagyu for a romantic dinner. The restaurant is open for breakfast from 8:30 am – 10:30 pm, lunch from 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm and dinner from 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm.
Subsix at Niyama Maldives
Located 545 yards from the Niyama Resort, Subsix sits six meters below the Indian Ocean. It is the world’s first underwater nightclub and are frequented by international DJs who spin their discs for their patrons, as they dance beneath the waves. Diners reach Subsix by speedboat and descends down a dramatic three-tier staircase. Italian abstract chandeliers illuminate the descent like shining coral, a clam-inspired bar with chairs in the shape of anemones and capiz shells draped from the ceiling. The restaurant serves lunch between 12:00 noon and 2.30pm, also serves private Champagne breakfast as ‘Destination Dining’ experiences upon request.
M6M Restaurant at OZEN by Atmosphere Maadhoo Island
This is the resort’s pièce de résistance! M6M is an acronym for “minus six meters” and diners reach the restaurant by descending down a winding staircase into a blue-hued area. Diners can choose between three set menus, which include five delicately presented courses. The restaurant’s popular dishes include citrus-doused octopus carpaccio, chilean sea bass with confit tomatoes and lobster thermidore. It is open for lunch and dinner, though the visibility is better during the day when thousands of fish (and maybe an eel or baby shark) dart behind the windows.
H20 at You & Me by Cocoon
The resort’s premier fine dining restaurant, H2O by LAGO is named after the chemical formula for water in a bid to promote its responsible image. The restaurant is located 100 meters from the island, and sits fully submerged six meters under the lagoon. The restaurant offers 360-degree views of Raa Atoll’s breath-taking coral gardens and incredible marine environment and treats diners with unrivalled gourmet cuisine catering 26 guests at once.
Just for the record: Maldives houses more underwater restaurants than any other country in the world! That being said, the quest for the elusive gastronomical heaven has come to an end, now dive into the pleasure of having a view that but a few restaurants in the world afford.
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