Under, an underwater dining experienced in Norway

Situated at the most southerly point of Norway, a restaurant 5 metres underwater, opened earlier this year. The restaurant was built on a barge before being submerged and bolted to a concrete slab anchored to the bedrock beneath the sea bed and it’s the world’s largest and Europe’s first underwater restaurant.

Under is designed to look like a rock formation above the ground. The entrance is above the water, clad in oak and guests descend to a mezzanine level where the bar area is situated and there’s a vertical window where guests have a split level view of air and sea. The dining area is down further with a huge window to look at the seabed, which changes in colour throughout the day and seasons, from sapphire blue on a cold Winter’s day, to emerald green in the Summer. Depending on the season the fish species that can be seen are pollack, cod, colourful wrasse, urchins, crabs, lobsters, spiny dogfish and kelp.

The plan is for the structure to integrate with the marine environment over time. Its half-metre-thick concrete walls are built to withstand pressure and shock from the sea conditions, while the rough shell will function as an artificial reef for marina flora and fauna. The restaurant collaborated with the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomic Research to create optimal conditions on the surrounding seabed so that fish and shellfish can thrive.

Under has seating capacity for 100 guests, but on normal nights it will serve 40 guests. The menu includes fish and seafood and also the option of tasting seabirds and wild sheep from the surrounding area.