The World’s First All-glass Undersea Restaurant

 

 The Maldives, the first ever all-glass undersea restaurant in the world  read more after the break...

opens its doors for business at the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. It 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 Ma ldives 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”

 

 The Ice Bar – Montreal, Canada

 

 Is there no stopping the nightlife scourge known as the ice bar? Apparently not. Sub Zero — actually its full name is “Grey Goose Sub Zero,” in honor of the sponsoring vodka — is perched atop Montreal’s Hotel Place d’Armes. Sub Zero gives new meaning to the phrase “on the rocks.” Drinks are served in fist-sized hollow ice cubes, and the barmaid plunks them down on a bar made of clear ice blocks. The space is kept at -1 centigrade, and all the usual ice-crap is on offer: ice furniture, ice glasses, the bar’s made of ice, various ice sculptures, the walls and tables are also built with ice!