under

Lindesnes, Norway, Restaurant –

Europe’s first UNDERWATER RESTAURANT serves sustainable wildlife such as seafood, seabirds and wild sheep

Under restaurant side elevation — © Inger Marie Grini/Bo Bedre Norge. The building’s 34-m long monolithic structure is designed to fully integrate into its marine environment over time

Under restaurant as Lindesnes unleashes its rough seas — © Ivar Kvaal. In harsh weather, you’ll see a roaring, stormy underwater world as nature in Lindesnes unleashes its rough seas

Under restaurant seen from above — © André Martinsen. Lindesnes is located on Norway’s southernmost coast, a beautiful rugged landscape that also includes several fjords, and the country’s first lighthouse dating back to 1656

Under restaurant interior with large see-though acrylic wall — © Ivar Kvaal. The Snøhetta-designed restaurant also functions as a research centre for marine life, providing a tribute to the wild fauna of the sea and to the rocky coastline of Norway’s southern tip

YOU ARE SUBMERGED 6 metres beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic off Norway’s southern coastline. Outside the large see-though acrylic wall marine life flit and sea plants sway. In harsh weather, you’ll see a roaring, stormy underwater world as nature in Lindesnes unleashes its rough seas.

Under is Europe’s first underwater restaurant that creates a Nordic fine dining experience based on high quality, locally-sourced produce with a special emphasis on sustainable wildlife capture. The stunning restaurant is designed by Oslo-based architectural design firm Snøhetta, and it also functions as a research centre for marine life.

In Norwegian, “under” has the dual meaning of “below’ and “wonder”. Half-sunken into the sea, the building’s 34-m long monolithic structure is designed to fully integrate into its marine environment over time, as the roughness of the concrete shell will function as an artificial reef, welcoming limpets and kelp to inhabit it. With the thick concrete walls lying against the craggy shoreline, the structure is built to withstand pressure and shock from the rugged sea conditions.

Thick concrete walls and a Danish Head Chef

Under restaurant seating arrangement — © Inger Marie Grini/Bo Bedre Norge

Under restaurant Head chef Nicolai Ellitsgaard Pedersen — Head chef Nicolai Ellitsgaard Pedersen: Expect fresh ingredients and pure, naked flavours

The restaurant seats 40 persons every night, in a dining room protected by half metre-thick concrete walls. Danish head chef Nicolai Ellitsgaard Pedersen hails from acclaimed restaurant Måltid in Kristiansand, and works with a kitchen team that has experience from top Michelin restaurants.

Locally caught seafood, seabirds and wild sheep on the menu

Under restaurant Lithodes Maja Stone Crab — © Stian Broch. The Lithodes Maja Stone Crab with its sweet flesh is found only in the cold waters of Europe. Its many spikes make tricky prep work

Under restaurant locally-sourced and sustainable clams — © Stian Broch. Clams on the menu are locally-sourced and sustainable

Under restaurant grilled fish — © Stian Broch. Cooked simply – the true flavours of pristine fresh fish caught in surronding waters

Chef Pedersen’s seasonal fixed tasting menu showcases high quality, locally-sourced produce and sustainable wildlife such as seafood like cod, lobster, mussels, crab and truffle kelp, seabirds and wild sheep that graze in the archipelago nearby. The menu with wine pairing costs around US$400. Expect a waiting time of at least 6 months for a table.

Compiled by Carol Kraal. Photographs courtesy of Snøhetta and Under