First Underwater Restaurant in Europe to Open in 2019

An underwater restaurant in Norway is slated to open in 2019.

Aptly named Under, the restaurant will be built in Båly [BOOL-ee], a Norwegian village in the North Atlantic Ocean. The three-level structure will straddle both land and sea, with the entrance near the shore and the dining area on the ocean floor. Its 100-seater dining area boasts of an underwater view.

Architectural firm Snøhetta [snoh-het-tuh], Under’s commissioned designer, said the restaurant will resemble a large shipping container with meter-thick walls meant to endure changing sea conditions. Its exterior’s coarse surface will serve as an artificial reef that will invite mussels to cling to it.

Furthermore, Snøhetta aims to give diners a learning experience by putting up informational plaques along the way to Under’s entrance. Under will also concurrently function as a marine biology research center. Experts will be invited to give advice on improving the conditions for fish and shellfish found within the restaurant’s vicinity. This would result in more options for seafood-loving customers.

While Under is the first of its kind in Europe, it is not the first underwater attraction in the continent.

Green Lake in Austria became a popular tourist spot in recent years because it naturally transforms into an underwater park during summer. When the snow and ice from the mountains melt, the lake overflows and submerges the entire park near it—including bridges, benches, and trees. As a result, it became a sought-after site for diving enthusiasts. However, in 2016, the tourism office banned all watersports activities in the area due to concerns on irreversible damage to the lake caused by human activities.