That all depends on how often you use your M/W and weighing up the convenience of position v's location . You are correct in looking at these options because people don't often want to see them sitting on benchtops any more, and the cubby hole above the oven looks tacky. So if its not a built in Microwave or one with a trim kit, then you are best to either put it in the pantry or under bench (out of the line of sight - for example in the island or peninsula of a kitchen)

I have never had it under the bench but it looks like it would be awkward to use. Especially with hot things

I used to have microwave in pantry (not butlers pantry, just a cupboard) and in new kitchen have it under the bench in the island (hidden as minka interiors said). Either location suited us (except for loss of pantry space) and main thing is having a bench to safely and conveniently set down the hot dish. I probably would have worried about the low down location when kids were tiny toddlers but now think that it will be convenient for them to use in the next few years without risk of spilling on themselves from overhead. Overall, I only use the microwave a couple of times a week.

We have our microwave under the bench and I love it there. It doesn't feel awkward to use (which is a few times a day) and I don't like it on the bench. The main reason for putting it under the bench though was that when we renovated a few years ago the kids were 5 and 7, and I wanted it to be easy for them to use as they both like to help out in the kitchen. They can now independently use the microwave to make their own porridge, heat soup for dinner, melt butter if I need it for a recipe etc. And now they're a bit older they are learning to cook on the hob as well. I guess I just saw it as a stepping stone in learning to cook, which they still both love to do.... dishes are a whole other story though lol!

Under the bench but that said if I had little children, it would be up higher.

Consider whether you back will like it. Mine wouldn't, so I have it above the oven, which is located just in front of me when I'm standing.

I have mine sitting in my pantry..with all my breakfast stuff kettle toaster etc ..

I'd hate to have to bend down every time I have to use it ..even my oven is on the wall only the dishwasher is under the bench

We have our mw under the bench on the kitchen island- its great for us as we only use it to defrost meat. I hate the look of the mw on the bench or up high as i had it before. It depends how much u use it.

Living in a small apartment with a single wall kitchen, our microwave is in the cupboard/pantry to the left of the sink. It's not ideal at all, since there are no powerpoints in the cupboard, we have to un-reel an extension cord and plug it into the wall every time we want to use it. It's also up quite high, and I ranked actual food pantry items more important to have at eye level. This is one thing I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for in future!!!