Underwater restaurant
A friend of ours just sent us some pictures of this amazing restaurant in the Maldives. It’s completely underwater so you can eat dinner surrounded by coral, fish, rays and all kinds of sea creatures. Ithaa, at the Conrad Maldives Resort & Spa on Rangali Island, is a tube made almost entirely of glass and secured five metres below sea level.
It was designed by New Zealand-based design consultancy M.J. Murphy Ltd, built in Singapore, transported by sea (a journey which took 16 days), then sunk into the harbor two years ago. You enter the restaurant through a thatched pavilion at the end of a jetty, then descend a spiral staircase.
‘Our guests always comment on being blown away by the color, clarity, and beauty of the underwater world in the Maldives,’ says general manager Carsten Schieck, ‘so it seemed the perfect idea to build a restaurant where diners can experience fine cuisine and take time to enjoy the views – without ever getting their feet wet.’
Even though it weighs 175 tonnes plus 85 tonnes of sand ballast, it’s small (5m x 9m) and seats only 14 people, so advanced reservations are strongly recommended. RM
Image: copyright Mike Murphy, Conrad Maldives Resort & Spa
2007 May 1
29 responses.
29 COMMENTS
Paul Slick
May 2, 2007
What about the kitchen? Is it down there too? Would like to know more about how this all works.
Paul
Kevin McDougall
May 5, 2007
Do the customers have to catch their own supper??
Bob
May 8, 2007
So, do you eat fish dishes right in front of them?
Roshan
May 8, 2007
I’m pretty sure the kitchen isn’t down there – it’s far too small – so I imagine they just carry food down from the main restaurant. But seared fillet of reef fish is on the menu – which I agree is a little disconcerting! Luckily they have mushroom soup too…
Michael Cottam
May 11, 2007
This is a pretty cool resort–we sell it (and other Maldives resorts too) for honeymoons. It’s got over-water bungalows (as do most Maldivian resorts), and is part of the Hilton chain. You can get a fabulous overview of it in Google Earth–there’s a Google Earth location link on our listing for this resort at TheBigDay’s website:
http://www.thebigday.com/TravelShop/Package.asp?pid=442&dest=17
There’s another resort that will be completely underwater…not just the restaurant…in Fiji, coming in the next few years. It’s being constructed in Portland, Oregon (where I’m from) and will be taken by barge to the site in Fiji where they’re planning on attaching it about 60 feet down. It’s going to be called Poseidon Resort…here’s Poseidon’s website:
http://www.poseidonresorts.com/
Cheers,
Michael
Julie
May 19, 2007
This looks totally awesome! What a great idea for something – well, different. I am definitely gonna go here.
Thanks for the idea!
Debra
May 20, 2007
A fabulous restaurant. I would like to learn more about this restaurant,How they cook the meals? What do they cook? I have many questions.Please share more about this Wonderful restaurant.
CF
May 23, 2007
V nice… although the Dinner Pricing under the sea is not cheap… Mind you, if you can afford to spend a week there… you can afford to drop $1000 for 4 people (and that’s BEFORE Drinks)
US$ 250 For Guests on Bed & Breakfast meal plan
US$ 220 For Guests on Full Board and Half Board meal plan
All prices are subject to 10% service charge
Kewl
May 23, 2007
now that’s my country!!
DD
i live here
miky
May 28, 2007
W O W ! it’s amazing!!! if i was there i would just gawk around, who cares about the meal
)
Mark Felix
June 2, 2007
Simply beautiful, what else can be said about these images? WOW maybe or fantastic.
I would like to visit if it ever becomes possible.
Mark
Cheap Tickets Secrets
June 2, 2007
Check out this website for ways on how to get there inexpensively. http://www.firstclasstraveltips.com
Saleh Nada
July 1, 2007
Wonderful restaurant.
Debby Banning
July 2, 2007
OMG!! These pics are awesome. I have always wanted to go to the Maldives. I think I might feel claustrophobic (sp?) in this restaurant though.
Damber Bahadur
July 24, 2007
this is very effective..thank you very much
jeremy
August 2, 2007
Absolutely beautiful, but how is the food?
sagar trapasia
September 28, 2007
Wow!i would love to be there once.I liked the pics and content of your site. Keep it up. Seems i would have to add you to stumble upon-I like it!
Antique Furniture
November 7, 2007
I was there once, what a great place to eat.
cris
December 25, 2007
i love it i think hawaii should do something like this it would be super.
Pat
April 5, 2008
nice view
Patt
April 19, 2008
Hey Pat. Nice comment.
holiday thailand
May 9, 2008
Very good post. Many thanks !!!
Antiques
May 14, 2008
that is one of the most beautiful restaurants I can imagine. Absolutely Amazing.
Letsgomaldives
June 5, 2008
Hey guys wanna have dinner with your love one in this restaurant, we do have special offers log in to http://www.letsgomaldives.com
if you wanna take a SPA treatment in underwater we can provide.
cheers
Travel Planner
July 20, 2008
Wow what a place to dine at. Nothing could be more memorable and romantic than a dinner at this place with your beau.
Hotel Guide
August 20, 2008
wowwwwwwww wowwwwwwwwwww… absolutely perfect…
tajo
December 4, 2008
That is amazing, I’d also like to know there the kitchen is and how people get down into the dining area.
Justin Wright
December 7, 2008
This restaurant looks amazing. I wonder how much the meals are!
ass
May 15, 2010
bet the food is crap