The resurgence of luxury train travel
Discover the resurgence of luxury train travel, an elegant tradition dating back to the Belle Époque, with the revival of icons such as the Orient Express and the emergence of modern jewels.
Dinner for two under the sea
Can you imagine a romantic dinner for two surrounded by huge coral reefs, colorful fish, rays, and even sharks? Many restaurants in the world offer exclusive sea views or even dinners on the white sand of a desert island on the beach, but why not go down a few meters like mermaids and enjoy a fascinating gastronomic evening under the sea?
In the Maldives, the Subsix restaurant at the Niyama resort offers a fascinating experience six meters below sea level of the Indian Ocean. This restaurant is made up of large floor-to-ceiling windows that offer unique views of the seafloor. From the coralline reefs to the colorful fish, rays, moray eels, seahorses, and sharks, this experience becomes totally immersive.
Dine surrounded by the marine ecosystem of the Maldives, accompanied by clownfish, seahorses, rays and even sharks.
Arriving by speedboat and the descent to the depths of the reef through a spectacular three-story staircase present a prelude to what is a unique and exclusive experience. The interior design of the restaurant is a faithful reflection of the shapes of the seabed, with chandeliers in the shape of corals, a curved bar, inspired by the shape of clams, and anemone-shaped chairs.
All this is accompanied by lighting that reflects the blue of the ocean and invites you to enjoy an underwater lunch or a gourmet dinner, from $200 per person, where only mermaids would be missing to make this underwater dream complete. In addition to being a paradise for foodies in search of original locations, Subsix also offers its guests talks by marine biologists to expand their knowledge of the rich marine ecosystem of the Maldives.
In addition to being a paradise for foodies in search of original places, Subsix also offers its guests talks by marine biologists to expand their knowledge of the rich marine ecosystem of the Maldives
Diving into the "One Thousand and One Nights"
In Dubai, the Burj Al Arab is said to be the most luxurious hotel in the world, especially since it is a seven-star hotel. At 321 meters tall, with its iconic shape in the form of a ship's sail, it remains one of the most iconic hotel buildings in the world since it opened in 1999. It is located in the sea, on an artificial island, 270 meters from the beach in the Persian Gulf, and connected to the mainland by a bridge.
The Burj Al Arab in Dubai is considered the most luxurious hotel in the world.
Among the hotel's nine restaurants, the underwater restaurant Al Mahara, which in Arabic means "oyster shell", stands out. Led by Kim Joinie Maurin, a renowned French chef of Korean origin who has 3 Michelin stars, this restaurant makes you feel like you're diving into a giant fish tank because you're surrounded by an aquarium.
The culinary experience is made up of dishes whose main ingredient is seafood, contributing to the feeling of being part of the dreamlike environment of the seabed that you can see from any of the tables.
The interior design reflects the luxury of a thousand and one nights under the sea.
The Al Mahara restaurant is surrounded by a gigantic aquarium with a capacity of 900,000 liters.
Chef Kim Joinie Maurin offers a five-to-seven-course meal with wine pairings starting at $200 per person. A la carte options include a selection of caviar and oysters and a seafood tower with lobster, prawns, Hokkaido scallops, king crab, tiger prawns, and Loch Fyne oysters.
For the signature dish, the chef serves a king crab salad with green herbs in a daikon ravioli with honey-sherry vinaigrette. Sea bass is served with artichoke barigoule and a vongole emulsion, while grilled wild turbot robata comes with green asparagus, peas, and lemon beurre blanc sauce.
Some of the regular fish for diners have names of their own, such as a Napoleon fish that employees have christened "George".
Under the icy waters of the North Atlantic
Semi-sunken in the icy waters of Lindesnes in Norway, Under, Europe's first underwater restaurant and awarded a Michelin star in 2020, invites you to dine five meters below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. The panoramic view of the seabed offers a visual gateway to the sea and connects guests with the outer marine ecosystem made up of algae and species such as pollock, cod, sea urchins, crabs, lobsters, and even the occasional seal.
The vision of this restaurant is to unite marine research with architecture and gastronomy. For example, artificial lighting is used to attract plankton, which in turn attracts other species and fish to the area.
Under, Europe's first underwater restaurant, is located five meters under the North Atlantic. Photo: Ivar Kaal.
Under was designed by Snøhetta, one of Norway's leading architectural firms (creators, among others, of the Oslo Opera House), and was inaugurated in March 2019. The monolithic-type structure has been conceived for its resistance to the extreme maritime conditions of the area and also sought to allow different marine species such as algae and mollusks to easily coat the building's shell naturally.
Lindesnes is known for its extreme weather conditions, which can change from calm to stormy several times a day. Arriving at the restaurant, the rocky, rugged coastline is striking. The ceiling of the entrance foyer is lined with fabric panels that reference the sunset falling into the ocean as we walk down the stairs in what is a metaphor for the descent from land to sea. Inside, the oak wainscoting recreates a warm, cozy, and minimalist ambiance that prepares you for the gastronomic journey ahead.
- Aerial view of the Under, showing the rugged coastline surrounding it. Photo: Andre Martinsen. —
- Minimalism and neutral tones recreate a Scandinavian "hygge" style under the sea. Photo: Ivar Kvaal. —
- The warmth of the interior contrasts with the cold waters in which the restaurant is immersed. Photo: Inger Marie Grini. —
- The ingredients for the dishes on the menu are sourced from the local Norwegian coast. Photo: Stian Broch.
On the other side of the restaurant window, the ocean is full of different delicious and fresh fish and crustaceans, so the journey from the kitchen to the plate is minimal. Dishes created by chef Nicolai Ellitsgaard, who has extensive experience in some of Scandinavia's best restaurants, such as the Michelin-starred Henne Kirkeby Kro in Denmark, are served in the restaurant. Apart from seafood-based dishes, the chef offers recipes made with ingredients such as seabreams and the wild sheep that graze in the nearby archipelago.
Extreme weather conditions characterize the environment of the Under restaurant. Photo: Ivar Kvaal.
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