Iris, a distinctive, floating restaurant which can make you wonder if you are in a fictional world or a real one.
Anika Madsen, the chef, has amazingly put together the perfect amalgamation of sci-fi and real life. She is a remarkable Danish chef widely known for the ingredients (oceanic) and her approach towards the sustainability of the ever-growing culinary industry.
The restaurant in Hardanger Fjord became fully functional in late spring 2023 and has been garnering accolades for its unique design and amazingly delicious 18-course food.
IRIS Restaurant: The Menu and Location
The restaurant’s location is in the centre of the “fisheye” construction; the name Iris evokes the Greek goddess Iris, a messenger who can travel between the worlds of the sea and the heavens.
This unique restaurant is ready to welcome tourists and provide them with the most extraordinary and unexpected eating experiences. It is tucked away in the middle of the infinite sea. The route taken to get there is a story unto itself.
According to Mari Eriksmoen, a famous Oprah singer, diners travel there on 100% electric boats. We can see from the photos above that she captured how elegant and gourmet the dining experience overall is. This dining experience is undoubtedly something to treasure forever, from choosing their own crackers to indulging in a delicious feast of 18 meals!
Beautiful surroundings, first-rate service, and a broad menu undoubtedly elevate every diner’s dining experience. The opera soprano called her experience at this Norwegian restaurant “Spectacular!!” on her Instagram handle.
The Phenomenal Ingredients
The head chef of this restaurant in Norway, Anika Madsen, is passionate about finding excellent ingredients in the most unusual places. She employs fresh, regional ingredients from such locations, whether she finds them in the mountains or the coast, to produce the delicacies. In fact, she is determined to make this approach sustainable. The 18-course menu certainly appears delectable, and the food is presented superbly.
Undoubtedly, this amazing vacation is expensive, but considering all the wonderful extras, services, dining in the Hardanger Fjord, and other benefits, the money is well worth it.
The Immaculate Experience
Iris’ dining experience is like a journey. Beginning with an immersive journey on an electric boat from Rosendal’s town centre to chef Anika Madsen’s houseboat on Snilstveit, where the diners are given the evening’s menu and handed a welcome snack, the entire experience begins. Salmon Eye is the next stop on the voyage, where you can have a multimodal experience.
Iris guides you for their amicable 18-course tasting menu, where all the dishes are distinctive in flavour and experience and offer a spectacular perspective of the fjord and mountains. Dishes are also served on the rooftop and are grilled over an open flame so you can take in the crisp fjord air if the weather permits. Your excursion will end when you are returned by boat to Rosendal after the evening.
The experience costs around 3200 kr per person, not including the tasting menu. A minimum of two persons must reserve the whole tasting experience.
A Word by the Chef
“It has always been close to my heart to lift the less known sustainable ingredients into the spotlight. If I discover an ingredient leading to a greener future, I am not afraid to push boundaries. But to convince people to love it, it needs to be truly delicious,” says Anika Madsen.
Iris has elevated the dining experience with such a brilliant, unconventional idea.
