Five and a half meters beneath the surface of the North Sea, in the quiet fishing village of Båly, sits Under — the world’s largest underwater restaurant. From the shore, it looks like a minimalist concrete structure slipping into the water. Inside, you descend a slanted hallway until you emerge in a warm, oak-lined dining room with a wall of glass framing the ever-changing life of the ocean. One moment, you might see sunlight rippling through the waves; the next, schools of fish drift past or stormy seas churn above your head.
Since it opened in 2019, Under has been called “one of the most remarkable restaurants in newer time” by Forbes and earned a Michelin star that it still holds today. The space seats up to 90 people, but it never feels crowded — the design makes you feel like you’ve slipped into a secret, intimate world below the surface. Head chef Bernt Sætre serves a seasonal tasting menu of 10–12 courses inspired by the waters and coastline just outside the glass. Every dish feels like a love letter to Southern Norway, from fresh seafood caught nearby to coastal herbs foraged within sight of the restaurant.
Getting there takes some effort — a 90-minute drive from Kristiansand, or a longer road trip from Oslo or Stavanger — but that journey feels like part of the story. You arrive at the southern tip of Norway, where the air smells like salt and the horizon stretches endlessly, and then you step inside to experience the sea from a perspective most people will never see.
For me, the idea of dining here is irresistible. There’s something about watching the ocean move around you while tasting flavors drawn from it that feels deeply connected, almost poetic. It’s not just dinner — it’s an experience that blends architecture, nature, and food in a way few places on Earth can match.
So, if you had the chance to descend below the waves for a Michelin-starred meal, surrounded by the slow ballet of marine life, would you do it?
