World’s First Underwater Restaurant Celebrates Tenth Year Anniversary

Dining 16ft below sea level, at this exceptional Conrad restaurant in Maldives, will truly be an exceptional moment. Surrounded 180 degrees by coral reef and colorful fish myriads, Ithaa – the world's first all-glass underwater restaurant offers an original and unique experience to enjoy a glass of champagne and enjoy fine food while staying dry.
This restaurant is a unique concept in the Maldives that offers a new dimension to the tropical paradise of this beautiful resort that stretches on two islands and has been voted “Best Resort World”, “Best Hotel in the Indian Ocean”, Conde Nast Traveler's 2013 Gold List of the “Best 100 Hotels in the World”, “The World's 10 Best Beach Hotels” and rated by the New York Daily News in 2014 as "The Most Beautiful Restaurant in the World".

Located in the lagoon of the island of Rangalifinolhu. In the local language Dhivehi, Ithaa means ‘mother of pearl’. A name very appropriate. An intimate place in which fourteen guests can enjoy together this amazing room 5 meters by 9, cylindrical, fully transparent. Giving the feeling of being at one with the underwater world through the intimacy of the setting, the 180° vision and transparency effects. Offering a unique panoramic view from one side to the reef, and the other on the lagoon. A wide variety of fish each more bizarre than other swim near and in the evening, attracted by the ambient light, sharks, manta rays and other marine creatures sometimes come to watch the guests.
Access to the restaurant is via a wooden staircase in the restaurant on stilts near the beach. Before descending into the restaurant, a cocktail is offered to guests on the terrace of the Sunset Grill. Then the guests descend into the depths of the underwater world and discover a magical setting. In such an environment, nothing more exceptional than the restaurant’s unique fusion cuisine of Western and traditional dishes from the Maldives, along with their pricey vintage wines.
Ithaa’s official celebration is scheduled for April 15th of this year.
Here are some interesting facts about the restaurant:
• There has never been water inside Ithaa. It was built on dry land in Singapore and carefully dropped into the ocean in one piece.
• The total cost of building totalled about US$5 million.
• Ithaa Undersea Restaurant weighs 175 tonnes, with an additional 85 tonnes of sand ballast placed beneath the floor to weigh it down.
• At lunchtime, it is so bright inside Ithaa that diners and waiting staff need to wear sunglasses. Extra sunglasses are available in case a diner forgets theirs. The staff also offers a sunglasses cleaning service during lunch.
World-renowned wine-makers and chefs have flocked to Ithaa over the years.
Highlights are visits from:
Hubert de Billy from Pol Roger
Frederic Engerer of Chateau Latour
Damien Motte from Louis Roederer
Hubert de Boüard de Laforest of Chateau Angelus
Chef Mathieu Pacau of acclaimed Paris restaurant L’Ambroisie