Maldives Underground Dining Goes Viral

- The trend of unique dining experiences in the Maldives began in 2005 with the opening of Ithaa, the world's first undersea restaurant, at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. This was followed by the first underground wine cellar and the first cheese bar in the Maldives, also at the same resort. - These exclusive dining experiences come at a premium, with prices for underwater restaurants ranging from approximately $150 to over $350 per person for a multi-course meal. Some resorts offer all-inclusive packages that may include a meal at these specialty venues. - Ithaa, which means 'mother of pearl' in the local Dhivehi language, sits five meters below sea level and can accommodate only 14 guests at a time, offering a 180-degree panoramic view of the surrounding coral gardens. - The largest all-glass underwater restaurant in the world is the 5.8 Undersea Restaurant at Hurawalhi Island Resort, named for its depth of 5.8 meters below the surface. - Beyond underwater dining, a number of resorts now feature subterranean wine cellars. For example, The Rock at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi is constructed from ancient Jordanian limestone, while The Cellar at JA Manafaru Maldives is one of the deepest in the country at 2.5 meters underground. - These wine cellars house impressive collections, with some resorts boasting up to 18,000 bottles and nearly 800 different labels. Many offer curated wine-tasting sessions and degustation menus led by expert sommeliers. - The evolution of the Maldivian culinary scene marks a significant shift from its early days in the 1970s, when resort dining was primarily functional and reliant on imported goods. There is now a greater emphasis on incorporating local ingredients like tuna, coconut, and reef fish into modern, refined dishes. - Sustainability has also become a key focus, with many resorts investing in kitchen gardens and even hydroponic farms to supply fresh produce, reducing their reliance on imports.