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Ithaa - Dine 5 metres below sea level at the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa’s unique underwater restaurant. Marvel at 360° views of reef and marine life, sip champagne cocktails and sample Maldivian-Western fusion cuisine at this spectacular Maldives restaurant – the world’s only aquarium-style restaurant.
Ithaa, which means pearl in Dhivehi, is the world’s premier mostly glass undersea restaurant, secured five metres below sea level, at Rangalifinolhu, Maldives of Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. The five- by nine-metre restaurant has a capacity of 14 people and is encased in a transparent acrylic roof offering 270° panoramic view to its customers.
The Maldives | 15 April 2005 marks the day that the first ever all-glass undersea restaurant in the world opens its doors for business at the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. Ithaa will sit five meters below the waves of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and encased in clear acrylic offering diners 270-degrees of panoramic underwater views.
“We have used aquarium technology to put diners face-to-face with the stunning underwater environment of the Maldives”, says Carsten Schieck, General Manager of Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. “Our guests always comment on being blown away by the colour, clarity, and beauty of the underwater world in the Maldives, so it seemed the perfect idea to build a restaurant where diners can experience fine cuisine and take time to enjoy the views - without ever getting their feet wet.”
Created by MJ Murphy Ltd, a design consultancy based in New Zealand, Ithaa’s distinctive feature is the use of curved transparent acrylic walls and roof, similar to those used in aquarium attractions. “The fact that the entire restaurant except for the floor is made of clear acrylic makes this unique in the world,” continues Schieck, “We are currently planting a coral garden on the reef to add to the spectacular views of the rays, sharks and many colourful fish that live around the area.
Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa, Rangali Island
Rangali Island, PO BOX 2034, Rangali Island, 2034, Maldives - Telephone: +960 668 0629