For a dining experience guaranteed to be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced, you’ve got to travel to a place that’s just as unique. The Maldives are at the top of many bucket list destinations and with good reason.
It’s home to an unparalleled amount of diverse sea life, the best scuba diving and some of the most exclusive and lavish accommodations in the world. To give you an idea of just how remote the Maldives are, the average flight from the United States is nearly 27 hours.
Located on the pristine private Island of Rangali is the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Hotel, which is home to many of the world’s firsts. This luxury property was the first to build the overwater villas that the Maldives are now famous for. When it comes to wining and dining, it has The Wine Cellar, the very first wine cellar in the region which lies two meters underground, as well as Ithaa, the world’s first-ever underwater restaurant.
Submerged 16 feet below the surface of the Indian Ocean, Ithaa was opened in 2005. Today it remains one of very few underwater restaurants in the world. Before taking a seat, guests descend down a spiral staircase which eventually opens up to 180-degree panoramic views of the water above and around you. Ithaa is a 14-person restaurant specializing in modern Maldivian cuisine fused with both Western and Asian influences.
Ithaa, meaning “mother of pearl” in Dhivehi, features a set lunch and dinner menu which changes seasonally showcasing local flavors. Sample dishes include Maldivian Crisp Lobster Tortellini with saffron and potato cream and Miso and Truffle Marinated Black Cod. Each dish is artfully plated, only further complimenting the stunning show that encircles diners.
Situated within a coral garden reef, diners are welcomed to the table by an array of colorful fish; sharks; and more unexpected sea life. The more commotion inside the restaurant, the more the sea life gets curious and gather. With each course comes new, exciting scenery, and for someone who loves the ocean and the mysteries that lie within, it simply doesn’t get better.
