Europe's underwater restaurant
If you have not visited northern Europe, that of cold and spectacular landscapes. Now, in addition, we give you another good reason to visit the southern part of Norway. Dine at five meters below sea level!
A new restaurant has opened its doors in the town of Lindesnes, the Under. That will undoubtedly put southern Norway on the gastronomic map. The first underwater restaurant in Europe and the largest in the world with groundbreaking and impressive architecture.
The building itself is an architectural gem! Designed by the award-winning Snøhetta architecture studio, it evokes reminiscences of a rock formation emerging from the sea; it's like some kind of art installation.
Under, the first underwater restaurant in Europe and the largest in the world
Half-buried in the sea, the striking, monolithic form of the 34-meter-long building breaks the surface of the water to rest directly on the seabed at a depth of five meters.
Another perfectly designed architectural work like the one we already saw from the same country in the most beautiful rest area article in the world.
Underlining the delicate ecological balance between land and sea. The concrete structure is designed to fully integrate with the landscape and marine environment.
The roughness of the concrete building envelope will function as an artificial reef, welcoming algae and limpets to inhabit it.
With the thick concrete walls against the rugged coastline, the structure is built to withstand the pressure and impact of the harsh conditions of the Norwegian Sea.
Like a periscope in the depths of the sea, the restaurant offers a view of the changing seabed throughout the seasons and different weather conditions.
Access to the interior of the building is by means of stairs leading to an oak clad lobby that works as a metaphor for the journey between land and sea. The hallway ceilings are paneled in colors evoking the oceanfront sunset.
The great room, a dining room with capacity for 40 people, bathes the guests with a monumental 11 meter long glass wall offering a panoramic view of the seabed. A visual spectacle!
Under's culinary goal is to create a high-quality dining experience, based on local produce, with a special emphasis on the sustainable capture of wildlife.
Under's head chef is Nicolai Ellitsgaard Pedersen, who was head chef at the acclaimed gourmet restaurant "Måltid" in the city center of Kristiansand, bringing in a 16-person international kitchen team with experience in top Michelin restaurants. (You can also see the article about an original and very sensory restaurant).
Also, the building is not just a restaurant. When out of service, it will function as a marine research center for the Norwegian authorities.
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