There’s no denying the magic of a cold drink on a rooftop terrace overlooking the sunset and the city below. However, there is one place that is untouched by the climate and offers spectacular views: the seabed. Like something out of a dream or rather a Disney movie, more and more restaurants are offering the culinary experience par excellence. Luxury dishes served surrounded by sea creatures. Here are the most beautiful underwater restaurants in the world.
Cargo Hold Restaurant – South Africa
As Africa’s largest port city, Durban is home to a colorful variety of seafaring tales, some of which are actually based on true events. It was therefore only fitting that the first underwater restaurant in South Africa should pay homage to these legends. The Cargo Hold Restaurant is located in the stern of a replica sunken ship off the city’s harbor. Here guests can enjoy freshly shucked oysters, mussels and the region’s signature dishes while learning about the SS Waratah and watching the sharks in the Indian Ocean.
L’Oceanográfic Restaurante Submarino – Spain
The eastern Spanish city of Valencia has one of the best-designed aquariums in the world. So when a restaurant was built in it, it also had to be one of the most beautiful. And so it is: located in the middle of a circular aquarium, it offers the best of – literally – two worlds: Mediterranean and Spanish delicacies, plus a view of rays, sharks and all kinds of fish through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Subsix – Maldives
The most unearthly parties take place at a depth of 6 meters under the waters of the Indian Ocean. This is roughly the depth at which Subsix, the world’s first underwater club, is located. An underwater club that is actually also an island: it is located around 500 meters from the nearest island and can only be reached by boat. This exclusive venue also offers excellent dining, but the absolute highlight is the international DJ performances and light shows in the middle of floor-to-ceiling windows that even allow the fish to party.
The Atrium Bar – Germany
Those on a limited budget will be pleased to hear that they too can easily have a drink with the fishes. The Atrium Bar may not be at the bottom of the sea, but it’s still technically underwater. More specifically, under the largest cylindrical aquarium in the world. This bar in the lobby of the Radisson Blu Hotel in Berlin offers a selection of cocktails that is almost as varied as the fish above it: there are 1500 of them!
Al Mahara – Dubai
As with almost everything to do with Dubai, “luxury” is what best defines the Al Mahara. Located in the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah – the famous hotel in the shape of a sail – its floor-to-ceiling windows draw guests’ attention to the fish almost as much as the delicacies served: From salt-crusted sea bass to the best caviar and poached Tsarskaya oysters, everything here is as delicious as it is expensive. It is not for nothing that Al Mahara means “the oyster shell” in Arabic.
Under – Norway
Surprisingly, the world’s largest underwater restaurant is actually a multi-purpose building. Outside of opening hours, it serves as a marine research center, and its architecture is studied by many schools: The concrete walls of this artificial reef are designed to blend in as much as possible with the surroundings and house all kinds of marine life.
Above all, however, it is an extremely successful restaurant that has already been awarded two Michelin stars – in 2020 and 2021 respectively – a more than deserved accolade considering the excellent seafood, seabirds and wild sheep typical of southern Norway that are served here. And seals swim in front of the huge windows from time to time.
Adapted from an article written by Max Hailer for Secret Munich.