Under – The world’s largest underwater restaurant

Five and a half meters below the ocean surface in Southern Norway, the Snøhetta-designed, Michelin-starred restaurant Under is one of the world's most unique attractions.

At Båly in Lindesnes, as far south as you can get in Norway, a unique restaurant awaits. There might be other places where you can enjoy food underwater – but they look like aquariums compared to Under.

With room for up to 90 guests in a space that's about 500 square metres, the submarine restaurant is the world’s largest of its kind. Striking architecture, beautiful interior, and gourmet food have made Under an international sensation.

So much so that the prestigious magazine Forbes called it “one of the most remarkable restaurants in newer time”, and praised the “18-course tasting menu of the finest Nordic products” upon its launch in 2019. Forbes also gave the restaurant a spot on its list of the 10 coolest places to eat in 2020.

In 2020, the restaurant also received a one-star Michelin rating, which it holds to this day.

An experience for all seasons

Like many other spectacular buildings in Norway and beyond, Under was designed by Norwegian architects Snøhetta. Project manager Rune Grasdal explained that the most time-consuming part of the process was to remove everything that wasn’t essential to the concept.

“We spent a lot of time making it simpler. The building’s function is to take people down to the seafloor in a safe and easy way. It must be able to withstand the forces of nature – water pressure, waves and rough weather,” he says and continues:

“Snøhetta has also provided Under with furniture, colour palette, textiles, and other interior details.”

No wonder the restaurant won the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2020 for Best New Restaurant.

A large glass wall lets you see schools of fish gather around the structure. You also have the unusual pleasure of witnessing rain whip up the ocean surface – from below!

“It is a unique experience regardless of the season and the weather. It’s obviously awesome being here in stormy weather, but also beautiful when the sunshine creates fantastic colour patterns in the surface. The experience will vary according to the time of day and year,” says Grasdal.

Local delicacies

Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere is safe, lovely, and warm, with local oak details featuring prominently throughout.

Head chef Bernt Sætre has a special focus on elements found right outside the windows. He approaches the local surroundings and ingredients with an educational perspective and combines the values of presence, diversity and traditions in his cooking – taking a 'binocular approach', as if peering into nature's own pantry.

In 2024, Under re-opened with a brand-new concept, but the philosophy remains the same as before: giving guests a unique experience and showcasing local ingredients from Southern Norway.

"The set menu is seasonal and consist of 10-12 courses," says head chef Sætre.

Norway’s oldest lighthouse

Even though Under is worth the trip in itself, there are lots of other things to do in Lindesnes.

One of the absolute highlights is Lindesnes lighthouse, situated at the southernmost tip of Norway. It's an excellent place if you like to feel the forces of nature – and see beautiful sunsets. Swing by the visitor centre – or why not book an overnight stay?

You should also stop in the city of Mandal, where you’ll find the traditional white wooden houses and charming narrow streets that characterise the quaint small towns of Southern Norway. Here, you’ll also find some of the country’s best beaches.