Exclusive: Andrea Berton on Leading the World’s First Michelin-Starred Underwater Restaurant

You & Me by Cocoon Maldives rebranded its underwater dining venue as H2O by Chef Andrea Berton, marking the first time a Michelin-starred chef has taken charge of an underwater restaurant.

Andrea Berton is an Italian chef whose restaurants have collectively earned four Michelin stars during his career. He has worked with some of the most respected names in European gastronomy, including Gualtiero Marchesi and Alain Ducasse. His restaurant Ristorante Berton in Milan earned a Michelin star less than a year after opening.

The collaboration at You & Me Maldives brings Berton’s culinary philosophy to one of the Maldives’ most distinctive dining venues. MT spoke with the chef about the project and how he approached creating a menu for an underwater restaurant.

Berton explained that the project was particularly meaningful because of his previous connection to the resort’s team.

“When I first received the proposal to manage H2O, I felt extremely happy. I had come to the Maldives years ago and worked alongside the team, and it was a fantastic experience. We agreed to work on this project quite early on.” >Quote

“To see my friendship with the team at You & Me turn into a collaboration is very special. There are only a few underwater restaurants in the world, so it’s an honour to present my food in a place like this.” >Quote

The restaurant sits below the lagoon at You & Me Maldives in Raa Atoll, offering diners panoramic views of the surrounding marine life while they experience the chef’s tasting menu.

Berton noted that each of his restaurants follows its own concept, and the approach at H2O is intentionally different from his restaurant in Italy.

“All of my restaurants have their own identity. The dishes we serve at H2O are different from what guests find in Milan. Here we focus on local ingredients and draw inspiration from the Maldivian culture.”

“It’s about finding the balance between life in the Maldives and the unique setting of the underwater restaurant. We want guests to enjoy both the food and the experience.”

A key element of Berton’s philosophy is simplicity — allowing ingredients to shape the final dish.

“My philosophy is to characterise each plate using a small number of fresh ingredients. The flavours come from the quality of the ingredients themselves.”

“At H2O we focus on products that can be found in the Maldives. We also use fish sourced from the lagoon to create stocks, broths and soups that complete the dishes.”

This approach allows the menu to reflect both Berton’s Italian culinary style and the ingredients available in the Maldives.

Berton also confirmed that one of his signature dishes will appear on the restaurant’s menu.

“One of my signature dishes, the risotto, will be available at the restaurant. Over the past five years I have also worked on creating a unique broth that adds texture and depth to the plate.”

“The broth changes depending on the ingredients and flavours we want to highlight. Small details like this can make the dining experience more memorable for guests.”

The chef’s first experience with Maldivian food came during an earlier visit to the islands.

“I first tried Maldivian food at the buffet at Cocoon Maldives when I visited years ago. It was easy to recognise the culture and flavours in the cuisine.”

“For me, the combination of Italian cooking techniques and Maldivian ingredients is very interesting.”

With the launch of H2O by Chef Andrea Berton, guests visiting You & Me Maldives can experience the chef’s approach to fine dining in one of the most unusual restaurant settings in the world — beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean.