Delectable food, a great beverage menu, awesome service, and a stunning view make for an unbeatable dining experience.
Views from atop a mountain in the winter, observing the sunset near the beach or watching the waves from the sea, sometimes the scenery can genuinely enhance a restaurant. Underwater restaurants offer their own uniquely stunning view year-round. Imagine eating dinner while watching exotic fish and other sea animals swarm around in their natural habitat.
Here are 13 restaurants where you can get a view from under the sea.
5.8 Undersea Restaurant, the Maldives
Experience fine dining at one of the trendiest restaurants on the Hurawalhi Island resort. German chef Bjoern van den Oever likes his food menu exciting so his guests don’t get bored. He wanted guests to think of the coral when they look at their plate.
“So everything was very inspired by the surroundings: the coral life, the fish. And there’s a lot of small details where you can look on the coral, and you get the reflection on your plate,” he shared with CNN.
Al Mahara Seafood Restaurant, Dubai
At least three couples have gotten engaged in the last two weeks at this restaurant located in one of the most luxurious hotels in the world, Burj, Al Arab. 260,000-gallons of water and a variety of colorful fish make for an unforgettable dining experience. I also love the gold-encrusted entrance to the dining room.
Cargo Hold Restaurant, Durban, South Africa
Feast on oysters while sharks drift past the windows at this shipwreck-inspired restaurant in Durban. It was built as a replica from the story of a legendary ghost ship that sank in 1641. The restaurant also features gloomy and dark with phantom lighting.
Coral Reef Restaurant, Orlando, FL
Disney World has always been a place of fun and exploration for kids and adults, therefore the underwater Coral Reef Restaurant is no different. This restaurant offers panoramic views of over 4,000 creatures (fish, sea turtles, sharks) in the seas and is the largest inland saltwater environment ever built. Start with their lobster-style salad and then select from their ever-changing menu of shrimp and grits or seared Mahi Mahi. Who knows, you might actually find Dory.
Ithaa, the Maldives
Ithaa means “mother of pearl” in the Maldivian language. Sitting 16 feet below sea level, it is the world’s first all-glass undersea restaurant. Located at the Conrad Rangali Island Hotel, their menu features caviar, reef lobster, curry bisque, and other contemporary European cuisines you’ll enjoy with their 180-degree panoramic view of the coral gardens. Breakfast must be privately booked and kids are not allowed at dinner, only lunch.
L’Oceanogràphic Submarino Restaurant Valencia, Spain
I have two reasons to visit Submarino: one to see this iconic roof designed by iconic architect Félix Candela and the second to try they exceptional night meal menu with roasted sea bass, marinated tuna tataki with ginger and the finest French champagne. The restaurant is surrounded by a circular aquarium of over 10,000 fish, starfish, clownfish, stingrays and sharks. Sundays are designated for large parties between 12-1200 guests.
M6m, Minus Six Meters, the Maldives
Presentation is key at this seafood restaurant and I’m not just talking about the food. It’s one of the six restaurants at the OZEN at Maadhoo, a luxurious all-inclusive resort in the Maldives. Guests who stay more than four nights will earn a free dinner six meters below the Blue Lagoon.
Ossiano, Dubai
This underwater restaurant is located at Atlantis the Palm hotel, with an amazing view of their 65,000 fish aquarium named The Ambassador Lagoon. It was voted the best seafood restaurant in Dubai by TimeOut. Indulge in Alaskan king crab or poached blue lobster in a relaxing atmosphere underneath the waves.
SEA at Anantara Kihavah Villas, Maldives
Salmon is one of my favorite dishes, so I’ll try it just about anywhere, especially here where its made with ginger carrot puree and red quinoa risotto. Bond under the sea while watching turtles and sharks swim around. SEA won an award for the world’s leading underwater hotel restaurant in 2018.
Sharks Underwater Bar and Grill, Orlando, FL
Aside from the Dolphin show and the unforgettable shark experience, another popular attraction at SeaWorld is their underwater restaurant. Their menu offers all of your favorite seafood dishes, trout, salmon, tempura shrimp, seafood pasta and more. It’s not far from the Mako ride, the tallest roller coaster in Orlando if you’re looking for a thrilling sensation before or after dinner.
Subsix, the Maldives
Subsix serves a prix fixe menu of fresh and raw fish, chef-inspired dishes, beverages, and other seafood delectables. Dance beneath the waves at night as the restaurant turns into a nightclub twice a week for glow parties. Subsix is only accessible by boat from the Niyama Private Islands Resort.
The Aquarium, Nashville, TN
In the heart of Nashville, The Aquarium is an underwater dining adventure. Depending on the time of day, you’ll catch divers feeding over 100 species of tropical fish from Hawaii, the Indian Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea. The restaurant chain has four other locations in Colorado, Houston, and Kemah, Texas.
Under, Norway
Europe’s first underwater restaurant opened earlier this year in March, under world-renowned chef Nicholas Ellitsgaard. They feature an extensive wine list, delicious seafood and fresh ingredients such as salty sea kale, wild mushrooms, and berries. If you’re looking to visit, book a reservation as early as possible, as the restaurant is only capable of serving 40 guests at a time.