Bring back your bikini, we’re going to an amazing underwater place. A restaurant. No. Not a simple restaurant. An Under restaurant. Under. Water. And yes, it’s the name: Under.
Do we have to really explain what is an underwater restaurant? No. You just understand that food is served – well served, it’s a gastronomic – about 5 and a half meters below the surface. Then, semi-submerged beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic, you’ll have an amazing, dramatic panoramic view of the ocean floor, exposing you to the wonders beneath the sea.
Under restaurant has been designed by the Snøhetta architects with sensitive consideration for its geographic context, not far from Kristiansand, south of Norway, and aquatic neighbors. In time, the structure will become a part of its marine environment, as the roughness of the concrete shell will work as an artificial reef, welcoming limpets and kelp to inhabit it. With the thick concrete walls lying against the craggy shoreline, the structure is built to withstand pressure and shock from the rugged sea conditions. Like a sunken periscope, the restaurant’s massive acrylic windows offer a view of the seabed as it changes throughout the seasons and varying weather conditions.
The warm, welcoming atmosphere inside the restaurant instills a sense of awe and mystery, hinting at the gastronomic journey that lies ahead. The Chef Nicolai Ellitsgaard provides a fine seafood and season’s powered gastronomic cuisine. It’s, of course, very expensive. But very incredible as an experience. You should go there well accompanied.
Oh. And. No need to wear a bikini as a dress code. It’s Norway, hum.
Location: Bålyveien 48, 4521 Lindesnes, Norway
Architect: Snøhetta
Photos: Ivar Kvaal, Stian Broch, Inger Marie Grini, André Martinsen