Only BLU Underwater Restaurant: A Culinary Journey Beneath the Indian Ocean

🐠 The Setting: A Horseshoe-Shaped Window to the Deep

Only BLU isn't just a restaurant; it's an engineering marvel. Opened in June 2022, its construction was a feat of modern ingenuity. The restaurant's horseshoe-shaped design ensures that every single table has a front-row view of the vibrant coral reef and the marine life that drifts past.

As you descend the staircase 6.8 metres below sea level, you pass an open kitchen where chefs artfully prepare your meal. The cobalt-washed dining room is framed by the ever-changing spectacle of the ocean—a living, breathing aquarium that surrounds you on all sides.

One guest described the experience simply: "It was so hard to concentrate on the delicious food & wine with all the amazing fish swimming around just inches away."

🦈 The Marine Life: Sharks, Snappers, and Spectacle

The real star of Only BLU is the show happening just beyond the glass. Guests regularly encounter:

• Blacktip reef sharks gliding gracefully past the windows

• Large schools of snapper and other tropical fish

• Lionfish, oriental sweet-lips, boxfish, and pufferfish

• Stingrays and moray eels

As General Manager Christopher Baker put it: "When the sharks make an appearance, it's a real showstopper—everyone grabs their cameras!"

The experience differs between lunch and dinner. Daytime visits offer better visibility and clearer colours, while evenings create a more dramatic, intimate atmosphere with lights illuminating the underwater world and attracting even more marine life.

🍽️ The Menu: Modern Gourmet Cuisine

Only BLU has earned the Editor's Choice for Best Restaurant at the 2024 TTM Awards, recognising its modern gourmet cuisine and breathtaking setting. The kitchen team prepares creative, innovative dishes using the finest ingredients.

The restaurant offers four-course spreads for lunch and dinner, with menu options including:

• Meat (featuring standout dishes like Angus beef)

• Seafood & fish

• Vegetarian

• Vegan

Each dish is paired with carefully selected red and white wines. The culinary experience has been elevated even further with recent guest chef appearances, including a takeover by Michelin-starred Chef Giorgio Servetto.

One guest noted: "The food here was fantastic... all of the food here was incredible and definitely worth going for lunch or dinner—better visibility at lunch, more sharks at dinner!"

⏰ Practical Information

• Location: Connected by a wooden jetty between OBLU SELECT Lobigili (adults-only) and OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi (family resort)

• Operating Hours:

  • Lunch (Tuesday–Sunday): 12:00 – 15:00

  • Dinner (Tuesday–Sunday): 19:00 – 22:00

  • Dinner (Monday Only): 19:00 – 22:00

• Inclusions: For guests staying 4+ nights at OBLU SELECT Lobigili, one visit to Only BLU is included in the Lobi Plan

Is Lobigili’ All-Inclusive Worth It?

💡 Insider Tips from Real Guests

Visit twice if you can. One guest advised: "We visited once for dinner and once for lunch as they were both different but special. The menus stay the same but there is a wide choice and very good too."

Arrive early for the best seat. Some guests recommend coming a little early to secure the most desirable table.

Don't worry about the children. Only BLU is shared with the family island, and children are permitted during lunch service. However, guests consistently report that "the children present were extremely well behaved and hardly noticeable".

Book in advance. As one of the Maldives' most sought-after dining experiences, reservations fill up quickly. Your Island Host can arrange this for you via WhatsApp.

✨ Beyond the Meal: A Setting for Celebrations

Only BLU isn't just a restaurant—it's become a premier destination for life's most memorable moments. The venue is available for private events and celebrations, including romantic marriage proposals.

As one guest reflected: "Only BLU was another unforgettable highlight. The food and service were exceptional, but dining beneath the ocean surrounded by colourful reef fish and blacktip sharks was an experience we will never forget."

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For guests of OBLU SELECT Lobigili, Only BLU represents the pinnacle of the resort's all-inclusive offering—a world-class dining experience that rivals some of the most exclusive restaurants on the planet, all included in your stay.

There are underwater restaurants. And then there's Only BLU.

Ready to dine with the sharks? Book your stay at OBLU SELECT Lobigili and experience the Maldives' largest underwater restaurant for yourself.

Check Availability and Prices

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