The Ultimate Guide to Underwater Dining in the Maldives

Introduction and History

In the 50 short years that tourism has existed in the Maldives, the country has earned its reputation as the ultimate luxury destination. Yes, our culture of hospitality and breathtaking natural beauty are our blessings, but we achieved this by continuously raising the standard of luxury and making a commitment to innovation.

We were pioneers in introducing and remain among the few in the world to offer overwater villas on stilts, underwater spas, underwater bedrooms, and, of course, our world-famous underwater restaurants.

The first underwater restaurant was conceptualized 20 years ago by the leading Maldivian hoteliers, Crown Company, and the restaurant called Ithaa, meaning the mother of pearls, opened at Conrad Maldives Rangali in April 2005.

The design and construction of the Maldives underwater restaurant were carried out by the New Zealand-based company M.J. Murphy Ltd. Inspired by the world's largest aquarium at the time, in Kuala Lumpur, the company decided on an acrylic tunnel offering a 360-degree viewing experience, effectively creating not only the world’s first underwater restaurant but also the world's first natural aquarium set within the beautiful lagoon of Rangali Island.

As the 20th anniversary of the iconic Ithaa Undersea Restaurant approaches, the Maldives proudly boasts eight of the world's top ten underwater dining experiences. But what makes these undersea restaurants so extraordinary? This article explores the enchanting maldives undersea restaurants ambiance, world-class cuisine, and unparalleled luxury that make Maldivian underwater dining truly unforgettable.

The Restaurants

Ithaa Undersea Restaurant - Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, rightly named 'the mother of pearls’,

This undersea restaurant, aptly named ‘Ithaa,’ meaning ‘the mother of pearl,’ truly lives up to its name as the pioneer of underwater dining in the Maldives. This restaurant sits 5 meters below sea level and, with its unique design, offers a 360-degree view of the ocean. The underwater life around the restaurant is teeming with activity, with blacktip sharks and manta rays frequently swimming overhead as you savour your dining experience.

The restaurant offers both lunch and dinner, but for a more relaxed indulgence, treat yourself to a mid-morning cocktail while immersing yourself in the breathtaking underwater panorama.

The food menu at Ithaa undersea restaurant showcases a delightful fusion of local and international flavors, featuring dishes like Maldivian lobster carpaccio, reef fish tartare with a poached quail egg and passion fruit dressing, as well as légine fillet served with saffron champagne risotto and a delicate beurré blanc foam. Here at Ithaa, the world is your oyster.

M6M - OZEN Life Madhoo

As the name suggests, M6M (Minus 6 Meter) sits 6 meters below sea level at the leading luxury all-inclusive hotel, OZEN Life Madhoo. The dining experience at M6M is included for any guests staying for more than four nights. This is one of the few all-inclusive resorts that offers underwater dining as part of the all-inclusive package and is well worth it.

The experience begins with an indulgence of caviar and champagne at the M4M Lounge upstairs, followed by a captivating journey into an enchanting underwater dining experience downstairs. The restaurant boasts expansive windows that offer breathtaking views of the stunning turquoise lagoon surrounding Madhoo Island, with a healthy reef and an abundance of fish to keep you company. This restaurant is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The menu offers a masterful seafood menu with perfect wine pairings and plenty of alternatives for all dietary preferences.

5.8 - Hurawalhi

This all glass restaurant is located 5.8 meters below the water, and it is one of the largest underwater restaurants in the world. This restaurant features an acrylic tunnel which provides guests with a stunning 360-degree view of the ocean, allowing them to dine alongside manta rays, sharks, and vibrant corals. Additionally, there is a charming mini sunken sailboat that serves as a habitat for tiny fish.

With only 10 tables, this is an intimate dining experience that we recommend you book in advance. The restaurant is available for lunch and dinner, providing a unique underwater experience during both meal times.

Prices start at USD 250 per person for a five-course lunch and USD 315 per person for a luxurious dinner experience. You can expect to enjoy some of the world’s finest dishes, from Foie Gras Parfait for starters to Wagyu beef tenderloin for the main course. The restaurant offers a wide range of vegan options, including delicious nut foie gras and refreshing yuzu coconut ice cream.

SEA - Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

The SEA at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is absolutely breathtaking. This unique underwater wine cellar and restaurant offers a captivating experience, allowing you to gaze through large windows into the deep blue. The mirrored ceilings and walls further enhance the immersive feeling of being submerged in the water.

Located in the UNESCO biosphere reserve of Baa Atol, SEA offers a truly wonderful underwater show for its visitors. The Caviar Indulgence menu at SEA tantalises the taste buds with dishes such as the lobster ceviche with mango, red onion, coriander, yuzu pearls, and young coconut dressing, accented with royal caviar, to the mango crème brûlée with white chocolate sauce and royal caviar.

SEA is open for both lunch and dinner and welcomes kids for lunch. We recommend the wine pairing menu to elevate this once-in-a lifetime experience. The restaurant's excellent wine collection has won awards consecutively in 2023 and 2024

H20 - Cocoon Maldives

H2O by Chef Andrea Berton offers a truly unique dining experience in the Maldives, blending Michelin-starred excellence with a breathtaking underwater setting. Renowned for his culinary mastery, Andrea Berton trained under the legendary Alain Ducasse before making his mark on the gastronomic world.

He earned his first Michelin star in 2001 at Taverna di Colloredo in Monte Albano. His exceptional talent and dedication led him to receive another Michelin star for Piazza della Scala in Milan in 2008, followed by a second for the same restaurant in 2009. In 2013, he founded his own restaurant, The Chef, and just a year later, in November 2014, he and his team earned their first Michelin star. In recognition of his achievements, Chef Berton was honoured as the EXPO Chef Ambassador in 2015.

This underwater restaurant stands out not only for Chef Berton's exceptional culinary skills, but it is also the largest underwater restaurant in the Maldives. With 360 views and a capacity of only 20 guests per seating, it offers an exclusive experience for both lunch and dinner.

Only Blu - OBLU Select Lobigili

Only BLU sits in a unique underwater restaurant that sits between OBLU Select Lobigili and OBLU X Aailiaafushi. It is 6.8 meters below sea level, making it one of the deepest-set underwater restaurants in the Maldives.

Only Blu is open only for dinner and serves modern fusion cuisine and has an open kitchen that puts on a show. It is included in the Lobi plan for guests staying at the romantic Lobigili and is available with an additional supplement for guests staying at the more family friendly Aailiaafushi.

Sub Six - Niyama Private Island Maldives

SUBSIX is a unique offering, as it is the only underwater restaurant that stands alone in the turquoise lagoons and is not connected by a jetty. You arrive by speedboat and descend 6 meters below sea level down a dramatic three tier staircase. The decor is inspired by the ocean, featuring Italian chandeliers that resemble coral, illuminating the stairs. The bar has a charming likeness to a clam, while the soft chairs are shaped like anemones. The ceiling is adorned with capiz shells, creating a captivating ambiance. The restaurant offers adult-only glow parties alongside the lights of the coral reefs and is the only underwater eatery open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Sub Six, Niyama Private Island Maldives will undergo an exciting makeover from September 1st to October 2nd, 2024! Keep an eye out for its upcoming revelation.

IMMERSE… Latitude 4° - Huvafen fushi

The only private underwater dining establishment in the world, IMMERSE…Latitude 4 offers the utmost in seclusion and luxury. Situated nine meters below sea level in the coral- and fish-rich lagoons of Huvafen fushi, this location is perfect for romantic moments and provides a customized experience where you can select the menu according to your preferences. For those very special occasions, they always go above and beyond, so reservations are required in advance.

Why is it so popular?

Since Ithaa's founding, underwater restaurants have captivated the attention of tourists from all over the world. Social media glimpses of the experience are insufficient for our guests, who must have the experience firsthand. It is a really once-in-a-lifetime experience and is often chosen for big celebrations such as birthdays, anniversaries, and even proposals. Romance aside, the underwater restaurants also offer families a great opportunity to learn about the fish and coral and observe them in their natural environment. Last but not least, the Maldivian service and the delicious cuisine whipped up by master chefs across the restaurants have guests coming back for more.

What is the difference between lunch and dinner?

Lunch and dinner offer different experiences in terms of both cuisine and setting. Lunch is often a shorter set menu and slightly cheaper, which extends affordability for more people, whereas dinners are longer and a bit more expensive.

In the daytime, the views are expansive and you can see larger fish, but at night, the true colors of the fish and the coral are more visible, and it's all about the smaller details.

We recommend lunch time for families with children and dinner for couples seeking some romance.

Occasions that call for an underwater celebration

• Milestone birthdays!
• Proposals
• Weddings
• Anniversaries