HILTON has opened what is claimed to be the first ever all-glass undersea restaurant in the world, at its Maldives Resort. Ithaa, as it is called, sits 15 feet below the waves of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a coral reef and encased in clear acrylic, offering diners 270-degrees of panoramic underwater views. Ithaa is reached by a wooden walkway from the nearby over-water Sunset Grill Restaurant. Diners begin their meal with drinks on a specially constructed deck over the ocean and then descend to the restaurant via a spiral staircase, where the ” la carte menu is served. Seating only 14 people, Ithaa offers one of the most intimate and exclusive dining experiences in the world. This innovative dining experience is part of a US$25m re-build of Rangalifinolhu Island, one of the twin islands that make up Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. This work includes the construction of 79 luxurious beach villas and the Spa Village, a self-contained, over-water ”resort-within-a-resort” consisting of a spa, restaurant and 21 villas. ABTN reported on the spectacular resort in its original form in the issue of 8 December 2003
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