The Red Sea Star

Red Sea Star Underwater Restaurant, Bar and Observatory -- This amazingly designed restaurant is 5m (16 ft.) below the surface of the Red Sea, with thick Plexiglas windows that give you an octopus-eye view of the surrounding fish, corals, and other creatures. The decor is fantasy oceanesque, with sand floors covered by a layer of clear epoxy; velvet, sea urchin cushions on the chairs; starfish lighting fixtures; and wavy blue underwater light filtering through the subsea pavilion from natural sources by day, and artificial sources by night. It may sound campy, but the details are so well done that the effect is enchanting -- you find your attention torn between the underwater vistas outside the windows, and the interior decor, overflowing with marine shapes and textures. The food is average, but the basic experience is fun. Denise, a fish from the Red Sea, leads the list of fish (though you may not feel comfortable dining on a sea creature while its family and friends glide past the windows). The restaurant becomes mostly a bar by ten in the evening. Children may enjoy the decor, but service can be slow enough to test the patience of most kids.