Under, Norway

Located in Lindesnes near Norway’s remote southernmost point, Under take diners five meters below the surface of the chilly North Sea – the habitat their meal was sourced from. Head Chef Nicolai Ellitsgaard’s Immersion Menu provides a unique taste of local, seasonal ingredients, from fish and shellfish to sea arrow grass and salty sea kale – all paired with a curated selection of wine. Under’s partially submerged building was also designed to adapt to the biodiversity of its surroundings, with a concrete wall that functions as an artificial reef. It’s part of the restaurant’s grand plan to connect people to the marine ecosystem that surrounds them, encouraging sustainability and responsible consumption of natural resources.

Ristorante L' Olivo at Al Mahara, Dubai

Standing out in Dubai is no easy task, but the otherworldly design of Jumeirah’s Al Mahara restaurant stuns with a golden tunnel entryway, leading to a dining area set against a massive aquarium. The latest chef to take up residency at Al Mahara is Andrea Migliaccio from Capri’s Two-Michelin star Ristorante L’Olivo, whose signature elevated Italian cuisine is bursting with fresh Mediterranean ingredients.

5.8 Undersea Restaurant, Maldives

Check your shoes at the door and submerge yourself 5.8 meters within the Indian Ocean for the dining experience of a lifetime at 5.8 Undersea Restaurant. Located at the five-star Hurawalhi Island Resort, this surreal culinary space is enclosed in glass, giving diners 180-degree views of technicolor marine life. The natural reef that surrounds the restaurant was fashioned from unhealthy, dislodged coral blocks and repurposed to create this thriving reef system. While seafood is the highlight of the menu, 5.8 Undersea Restaurant also caters to vegetarian and vegan diners, with a selection of delectable and unexpected plant-based options. 

Ossiano, Dubai

Located at Atlantis, The Palm in glitzy Dubai, Ossiano is a Michelin-starred restaurant that invites guests to dine alongside 65,000 fish, sharks, and stingrays. The vibrant, blue aquarium is the star of the show and the inspiration for Chef Grégoire Berger’s 11-waves tasting menu – a carefully curated “meal journey” featuring ingredients sustainably sourced from Dubai’s ocean or within 50km of a coastline. Described by the chef as “progressive fine dining,” Ossiano’s beautifully plated food and refined underwater ambiance are definitely worth traveling for.

Subsix, Maldives

Nothing says glamour like a locale that guests reach by speedboat. Descend six meters to Subsix, where the dining experience is immersive in the literal and figurative sense. Above, abstract Italian chandeliers hang like delicate coral, while below guests seat themselves in sea anemone-inspired chairs. Surrounded by windows for optimal underwater views, guests will love savoring unique cuisine while gazing out into the shimmering turquoise of the Indian Ocean.

Koral, Indonesia 

Dining at Koral, Bali’s first underwater restaurant, is a feast for all your senses. Tuck into Indonesian coastal flavors, like grilled spiny lobster with chili and kaffir lime, as tropical fish swim by your table. The tranquil aquarium visuals are complemented by a soundtrack of ocean-inspired noises, which combine to create a truly unique mealtime atmosphere. Try Koral’s newly launched four-course Locaflair Menu and savor ingredients plucked from the restaurant’s own hydroponic garden. Food doesn’t come fresher.   

*Featured image of Under by Ivar Kvaal