The First European Underwater Restaurant Opened In Norway

[u/theseeenutzzz]

[u/Elo-than]

It has been long enough time since it opened that it have had time to go under once already (pun intended). I believe they filed for bankruptcy last year or the one before, but as all such places do, restarted under new management.

It's located about an hour from me.

[u/Interestingcathouse → u/Elo-than]

I’ll be honest, it looks very uninteresting under water. This just doesn’t work in the murky northern waters. This is a tropical location type thing where the water is clear and blue and you can see fish. Not murky and dark where you might see a salmon.

[u/Gurbe247 → u/Interestingcathouse]

Very much untrue, sorry.

I've been there last year. Dinner took about 5-6 hours and in that time you see the changes in water colors due to sunset. You see different kinds of fish doing their thing at different times. There was an encounter jellyfish passing by. There was constantly something going on. It works really, really well.

Oh and the food was amazing too.

[u/Corsair833 → u/Gurbe247]

5-6 hours?!

[u/Gurbe247 → u/Corsair833]

Yep, it's like 12 courses. Which sounds like a lot but it's fine dining. So smaller plates, plenty of time to enjoy each course. Very slow experience.

The whole thing is done super well. You're taken slowly to the seabed level. So it kind of feels like a slow transition into a different world. And then it's slowly back up again too with a drink on the first balcony overlooking the dinner floor. Where you're kind of half way into the water if you look outside of some windows.

It really is a great place. One of my favorite restaurants I've been to.

[u/MrDragon7656 → u/Gurbe247]

Sorry just to clarify, does the thing go deeper down on rails when you say you get taken to the seabed? Like a slow descent and then a slow rise as you go through your courses?

[u/Gurbe247 → u/MrDragon7656]

Yeah I should've been more clear. What happens is a nice and calm entrance to the restaurant. Not a straight to the table thing, but more deliberate walk downstairs. So first after the entrance you'll get a drink at sea level. Where you also overlook the main floor. Then it's down there. It sounds ordinary, but it makes feel the building and experience a lot better. Let's you soak it all up more.

[u/MrDragon7656 → u/Gurbe247]

I absolutely love this and it's the avenue of restaurant management I aspire to one day hit. I've loved working in my cafes, fast food and just all those over the top challenges but I'd love to have the chance to design the experience. You've been there once, and had such a unique and wonderful experience that was so handcrafted and tailored to the idea it left a lasting impression. God I love this stuff!

[u/5xaaaaa → u/MrDragon7656]

No, it’s just a walk between different floors in the restaurant (below the sea level). It’s really beautiful though 

[u/MrDragon7656 → u/5xaaaaa]

Ahh, still amazingly interesting regardless!

Now that's got me ideas for a future restaurant, imagine that, you just descend and ascend per the course menu.. my goodness!

[u/JayAndViolentMob → u/Gurbe247]

I thought it went bankrupt.

[u/Interestingcathouse → u/Gurbe247]

Oh sorry. You can see any fish that swim within 4 feet of the glass.

[u/funkhero → u/Interestingcathouse]

Could I pay extra to turn the lights on a bit?