Dining at Only Blu is a true bucket list experience. Located in the ocean between the Oblu Xperience Ailafushi and its sister resort the Oblu Lobigili this is the largest underwater restaurant in the Maldives.
Home to panoramic marine views and offering truly excellent food if you’re staying at either resort, this really is a must visit.
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What Makes Only BLU So Special?
The Maldives’ Largest Underwater Restaurant
Located 6.8 meters below the ocean surface this is the largest capacity underwater restaurant in the Maldives. It caters to 46 people and is open for both lunch and dinner apart from Mondays when it’s just dinner.
Although there are several other underwater restaurants in the Maldives this is a relatively rare dining concept elsewhere. The panoramic glass wall offering reef views is almost other worldly.
A One-of-a-Kind Dining Experience
Although touted as the largest in the Maldives, with only 46 seats, Only Blu actually feels really intimate and cosy. Servers are incredibly attentive and happy to spend time discussing the marine life or taking your pictures for the ‘gram.
What makes Only Blu stand out compared to other Underwater restaurants in the Maldives
For me, the most important thing is that the restaurant is mainly child friendly. Teenagers 15 and over are welcome in the restaurant at any time. Under 15’s can visit for the lunch service. There is a special kids menu available with plenty of child friendly favourites.
Another major pro is the fact that Oblu Ailafusih resort is located just 15 minutes speedboat trip from Velana airport in Male. This makes it one of the easiest islands to access in the Maldives.
If you’re staying at the Oblu Lobigili, a meal at Only Blu will be included in your Lobi all inclusive plan. It is chargeable if you’re staying at the Ailafushi.
The Journey to Only BLU
The Walk to the Underwater Restaurant
Only Blu underwater restaurant is located on the wooden jetty between Oblu Xperience Ailafushi and Oblu Lobigilli. It’s on the Ailafushi side of the overwater gym. The turquise lagoon surrounds you on both sides, it’s picture perfect Maldives. If you don’t mind the heat it’s a pleasant walk from the centre of each resort but if you would rather arrive less sweaty you can hop on a buggy from either resort. I do recommend this as it’s probably one of the rare occasions of your Maldives vacation that you’ll want to dress up and slap on some make up!
The restaurant looks relatively unassuming from the outside, a small wooden structure jutting out of the lagoon. When you arrive you’ll be greeted at the main door and given the option to take the stairs down into the restaurant of the short lift down.
Arriving at the restaurant
When you reach the dining room, the space opens into a stunning underwater chamber surrounded by curved panoramic glass walls. Soft blue light filters through the water outside, creating a calm, almost dreamlike atmosphere. Schools of tropical fish glide past the windows, while coral formations and reef life create a constantly changing natural backdrop.
Inside, the restaurant itself feels modern and elegant. Tables are carefully spaced to maximise the ocean views, dressed with crisp linens and subtle lighting. The focus is most definitley on the underwater scenery. It feels both luxurious and peaceful.
The Menu at Only BLU
Gourmet Seafood and Modern Cuisine
Only Blu offers a set 3 course menu for $125 or a tasting “Degustation” menu for $250. Both menus come with wine pairings which are included in the price. We opted for the 3 course, which was more like 4 course as the complimentary bread basket and canapes were like a course all of their own!
As there were three of us we managed to try a lot of the options on the menu – yes we like to share our food! It was all totally delicious and beautifully presented. To begin we had the Chilled Broccoli, Cucumber and Almond Salad, the Lentil Soup and the Maldivian Tuna Tataki.
For our mains it was the Spinach Ricotta Gnocchi, the Ghee Roast Chicken, and the Angus Beef Tenderloin.
I couldn’t manage a desert but Piper and Nigel tried the Banana Crème Brulee and cheesecake.
Only Blu prides itself on using fresh seafood and premium ingredients and that definitely is apparent in the standard of food. The fish was super fresh, the beef was melt in the mouth and the chicken perfectly spiced. Clearly a lot of thought has been put into the menus so all tastes are catered too. I loved that there were plenty of vegetarian options and non fish options. If you have any other dietary requirements you can just mention these to your server and they will make sure you are looked after.
Have a look at all the Only Blu menus to decide if you would prefer the more expensive tasting menu. In my opinion three courses will be more than enough.
Drinks and Pairings
Each course came with suggested wine pairings – either a white or a red, whichever you prefer. The wine was delicious, a much welcome change from the all inclusive option available at the resorts all inclusive restaurant. If you would rather you can also have a soft drink of your choice. We had plenty of water and a coffee to finish.
Marine Life You Can See While Dining
Due to the coral eco system around the restaurant you will be spoilt with the marine life you can spot. It’s hard to tear your eyes away as yet another colourful fish swims by. Reef fish species you are likely to spot include lionfish, pufferfish, parrotfish and my daughters favourite, the clown fish.
We did see one smallish shark during our meal but I wasn’t lucky enough to get my camera out in time. I’ve also heard that you will often see rays whilst dining. You do find that you will be staring out the window a bit too long and letting your food go cold.
When to Visit Only BLU
Lunch vs Dinner Experience
Only Blu is open for both lunch and dinner service, both will be wonderful experiences so I wouldn’t fret too much about which to book. If you have kids under 15 you’ll need to book the lunch service, this is what we did and it was great. Lunch offers brighter reef views with the turquise colours of the lagoon really shining through. Although after a huge meal and several glasses of wine, I did need a nap after!
Dinner service has more of a romantic vibe, the lighting is dimmer and the reef is lit up with artificial lighting. Don’t worry, you’ll probably see the same amount of marine life whenever you choose to visit. The menu is the same for both lunch and dinner.
Best Time of Year to Visit
The best time to visit the Maldives is during the dry season, which typically runs from November to April. During these months, travellers can expect sunny skies, calm seas, and excellent visibility for snorkelling and diving around the coral reefs. The peak period is usually from December to March, when the weather is at its most stable and rainfall is minimal. While the Maldives is a year-round destination, visiting in the dry season offers the best chance of enjoying clear ocean views, vibrant marine life, and perfect tropical beach conditions. Dry season is obviously the most expensive time to visit the Maldives, don’t be put off visiting at other times of the year, you can find some great deals at the Oblu resorts.
Who Should Visit Only BLU?
- Couples seeking romantic dining and honeymooners. Especially for the evening service
- Luxury travellers, if you’re after bucket list experiences in the Maldives, this ticks all the boxes!
- Families – this is one of the few underwater restaurants in the Maldives that allow kids
- Unique foodie experiences. The food alone is worth the visit but the setting adds to the experience.
Tips for Visiting Only BLU
- Reservations are recommended if not essential. Aim to get there as close to opening time as possible to ensure you get a window table. I recommend doing this on the Oblu app before you even arrive at the resort to ensure your preferred time.
- Smart-casual dress code. This is not ball gown territory and really the only official dress code is long trousers and no swimwear but put a little effort in for the photos.
- Bring a camera (low-light friendly), you’ll want to snap so many pics and videos.
- Don’t fill up on your all inclusive buffet before you visit, you’ll be eating a lot and not want to miss a mouthful.
Is Only BLU Worth It?
Yes I absolutely this a visit to Only Blu underwater restaurant is worth it. The stunning design and being surrounded by marine life makes it one of the most unique dining experiences in the Maldives. Add to that the food and wine quality and all for just $125 make it excellent value for money.
FAQ Section
How deep is Only BLU underwater?
Only Blu is located 6.8 metres below the surface
How much does dining at Only BLU cost?
The Three course set menu is $125. The tasting menu is $250. This includes wine pairings. You will need to add on service charge and taxes. This will be charged to your room which will be settled on check out.
Is this Underwater restaurant in the Maldives suitable for kids?
Yes, this is one of the few underwater restaurants in the Maldives that welcome children. It has it’s own kids menu although children under 15 can only attend the lunch session. Kids of all ages will love the fact that they are eating underwater,
Do you need to stay at OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi to visit?
You can visit this restaurant if you are staying at the Oblu Xperience Ailafushi or it’s sister resort the Oblu Lobigili.
What marine life can you see from the restaurant?
There is a chance of seeing reef sharks, barracudas, rays and all manner of bright and beautiful reef fish.
