The middle of a pristine fjord might seem to be a somewhat impractical (though undeniably beautiful) location for a restaurant, but then again, we can always count on Norway to deliver on breathtaking restaurant experiences – just remember this underwater restaurant that made headlines a few years ago. Now, Norway’s newest destination dining experience is making waves and going viral on TikTok. At Restaurant Iris, just 24 lucky guests are whisked away for a night of fine dining on electric boats to the Salmon Eye, a floating art installation, but not before a bit of a journey beforehand. “It starts with a boat trip from the picturesque town of Rosendal, with a pit stop and welcoming snack at chef Anika Madsen’s boathouse on the island of Snilstveitøy,” the website states. “Via the jetty of the floating art installation Salmon Eye, the evening kicks off with a multisensory underwater experience, to culminate in the dining room where stunning views of the fjord and mountain ranges create the backdrop for our set tasting menu.”

The exact menu at Restaurant Iris is still shrouded in a bit of mystery, but what we do know is that over six hours and 18 courses, diners can expect a true taste of the environment they’re immersed in with local, sustainable produce at the fore. The menu is designed to tell a story about the challenges and threats to the global food system, as well as present delicious new ideas for the future of fine dining. The experience will set diners back 3,200 Norwegian kroner – around $469 – with matched wines available for an extra 2,500 kroner ($366) and an alcohol free beverage pairing from 1,500 kroner ($220). But picky eaters beware – due to the hyper-local, hyper-seasonal nature of this set menu, vegans, vegetarians and those with dietary restrictions will not be catered for.

The brains behind the menu is Anika Madsen, a young Danish chef who was most recently at the helm of Fasangården in Copenhagen. For Restaurant Iris, Madsen relocated to Snilstveitøy, a tiny island not far from Fish Eye, where she is able to immerse herself in the Nordic environment, sourcing wild ingredients both from the waters and the surrounding mountains. “I love following the dynamics of the Nordic seasons. Here, on the Norwegian coast, I am more in the hands of the elements than ever before, and I can get access to a whole universe below the surface,” she said.

Set in Hardangerfjorden in western Norway, Salmon Eye (the floating home of Restaurant Iris) is the world’s largest floating art installation, funded by Eide Fjordbruk – a super-sustainable salmon fishery. At over 14m high and spanning over four levels (both above and below water) the steely structure was originally designed by Kvorning Design, a Danish exhibition designer responsible for some of Scandinavia’s most notable installations.