Slap bang in the middle of the Venn diagram that represents London’s swankiest hotels and most sought-after restaurants sits Nobu. The effortlessly stylish hotel-and-restaurant hybrid needs very little introduction, because – let’s face it – if you haven’t already been; you’re desperate to visit. And if you have already been; you can’t wait to go back.
The world-renowned and wonderfully luxurious chain was founded by four businessmen (one of whom is Japanese celebrity chef, Nobu Matsuhisa, and another being Hollywood legend, Robert De Niro) in New York. Having recently celebrated its 30th birthday, there are now Nobu restaurants and hotels scattered across the globe. One of which is Nobu Hotel London Portman Square. And that’s the one I’m going to wax lyrical about for the next few minutes, so make yourselves comfortable, folks.
Perched proudly on the corner of (you guessed it) Portman Square in Marylebone, Nobu boasts a whopping 243 rooms and suites, a bar, a lounge, a terrace, a state-of-the-art gym and wellness centre, a fully kitted-out Pilates studio (the first of its kind – but more on that later), and – of course – an iconic (and outrageously delicious) Nobu restaurant. Yes, it really does have it all.
From the very moment you step inside the calm-inducing lobby; you forget that you are, in fact, just mere moments from the some of most chaos-inducing parts of the capital, and you can instantly feel the stress of city life melting away from you. So, if you’re in need of little haven of serenity in the midst of London’s hubbub; Nobu could be just the place for your next staycation.
The rooms at Nobu
As I’m sure you can imagine, the rooms at Nobu are pretty darn perfect. Not overwhelmingly big, but certainly not too cramped. Minimalist and contemporary decor, but not in a way that makes you feel like you’re in a show home. Touches of luxury dotted around the room, but not in a try-hard way. If Goldilocks was in the market for a hotel; this one would be just right.
I’ll start with the bed – mainly because it’s all I’ve been able to think about since having to force myself out of it. I honestly think it was the comfiest bed I’ve ever slept in, and was slightly heartbroken to discover that it was a Nobu-branded mattress, and that I probably won’t be able to nab one on Facebook Marketplace anytime soon. I fell asleep the moment my head hit that perfectly squishy pillow – certainly not something that often happens to a millennial Londoner, filled with mild existential dread.
Each room comes complete with all the comforting amenities you could wish for, plus some thoughtful added touches. The Japanese tea set was a lovely detail, the toiletries smelt gorgeous, and the robes provided were unbelievably snug. The neutral decor and natural materials were instantly relaxing, and it took every morsel of self-discipline to make it down to check out, instead of hibernating in there until Christmas.
The restaurant at Nobu
The jewel in Nobu’s ever-so sparkly crown is undoubtedly the food. The world-renowned menus are created by Nobu Matsuhisa, with recipes influenced by his years spent travelling and studying Japanese cuisine. The classic Japanese dishes are infused with some Peruvian flavours, making each and every one unique and utterly delicious.
We were recommended the ‘Omakase’ multi-course tasting menu, which turned out to be a dream for indecisive folk like myself. We were treated to what I can only describe as a roll-call of Nobu’s best bits, like the world’s most delicious conveyor belt. From the iconic miso black cod to the sizzling beef toban yaki; everything was so tasty. And the sushi absolutely blew us away – but, of course, that came as no surprise.
The dim lights and dark furniture provided the perfect setting for us to enjoy our feast, washed down with some refreshing cocktails, of course. The Nobu restaurant was also where we were treated to a delightful breakfast the following morning, but the low-lighting was was traded for natural daylight, and the cocktails were (unfortunately) swapped for flat whites.
The wellness at Nobu
For those looking for a less indulgent and slightly more active stay, Nobu London Portman Square is also the world’s first NobuPilates studio. Having earnt itself quite a reputation in the Pilates world, NobuPilates is raising the bar when it comes to Pilates practise in the capital. The wellness offering at Nobu also provides a range of restorative and luxurious treatments as well as a state-of-the-art gym – which we had a look at, before deciding to head back to the bar. Each to their own, I suppose…
Every nook and cranny of the hotel is finished with a true Nobu gloss, which is difficult to describe but wonderful to experience. It turns out that it really is worth the hype.
Rooms at Nobu Hotel London Portman Square start at £399. Find out more and plan your stay here.