Dine Under the Sea at Ithaa Restaurant in the Maldives

Dinner under the stars? Been there, done that. Dinner under the sea? Now we’re talking! Where better than a fabulous dining experience at Ithaa Restaurant in the Maldives... Ithaa Undersea Restaurant in the Maldives is the world’s most unique and celebrated underwater restaurant. Submerged five meters below sea level, the spectacular restaurant has curved glass walls that give guests phenomenal 270 degree panoramic views of technicoloured marine life. Colourful reef fish, manta rays, sharks, and turtles swim around you while you dine on contemporary Maldivian cuisine. Eating here is a thrill of a lifetime, and if you have a culinary bucket list, this is one experience that you won’t want to miss! Visiting Ithaa Undersea Restaurant is the ultimate 5-star dining experience. Guests get up close and personal with phenomenal Maldivian sea life without ever getting their feet wet. Because it’s set in the crystal-clear Indian Ocean water, the inside of the restaurant is so bright, that diners and staff are required to wear sunglasses. The restaurant can host only fourteen people at a time for seated meals, creating a very intimate dining experience. Ithaa is open for lunch, dinner, or cocktails, and you can begin with a glass of champagne “above ground” before heading downstairs for dinner. Children are welcome at lunch but not dinner. The world-famous underwater restaurant serves contemporary fusion Maldivian cuisine with Western and Asian influences. The menu features a set seven-course option of fine food, including dishes like caviar, Agnotti of duck, reef fish tartare, Maldivian lobster carpaccio, saffron, champagne risotto, black angus beef tenderloin, and foie gras. Vegetarian or dietary requests are well catered for. The restaurant also offers a less expensive “cocktail option”, where guests receive a glass of champagne and appetizers in the tranquil undersea spot. The dinner dress code is smart-casual and bare feet are encouraged. Ithaa Restaurant is sometimes used for destination weddings. The undersea venue can be converted into a spectacular wedding chapel.

Since its opening, Ithaa has been making waves around the world. It was rated "the most beautiful restaurant in the world" by the New York Daily News in 2014. The ingeniously-designed restaurant was built with curved, transparent acrylic walls and it has never had water inside it. It was built on dry land in Singapore before workers carefully lowered it into the ocean in one piece. Ithaa, which means "mother-of-pearl" in the native Dhivehi language, is located at the five-star Conrad Rangali Island Maldives Resort. Conrad is a food lover's haven; they have 12 restaurants and bars and they offer the largest wine list in the region with over 20,000 bottles. The Conrad Rangali Island Maldives houses ultra high-end beach and water villas across two private islands. The resort covers miles of fine white sand beaches and unspoiled reefs. Suggested Itinerary: 8-Day Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

Maldives is a country of almost 1,200 islands, and is situated about 300 miles from the southernmost points of India and Sri Lanka. A haven for water sports lovers, Maldives offers fantastic facilities for scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing, and fishing. Maldives is also known for its blissful peace and tranquility. If you’re looking to truly relax and get away from it all, the country’s stunning white-sand beaches, sparkling seas, and luxurious resorts are the perfect setting for a holiday of a lifetime. To visit Ithaa Restaurant or plan a Maldives vacation, call 1.800.557.2841.

By Bronwyn Hodge