48 Hours at the Nobu Marbella
BEST FOR:
Weekend Getaway, Gourmet, Luxury, and Nightlife
POINTS:
9.0 out of 10
WHAT WE LOVE:
- Tranquility – all day long
- Nightlife as soon as the sun sets
- Local design paired with the simplicity of Japanese elements
- Only 49 rooms making it an intimate boutique hotel
- Secluded infinity pool exclusively for Nobu guests
- All-rounder resort: Several restaurants, beach-club, huge gym, Spain’s best tennis club and private access to Marbella’s most prestigious night club
Five years after the first Nobu Hotel opened in Las Vegas, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and co-owner Robert De Niro just opened their third property in Europe. Built inside the well-known Hotel Puerto Romano, Nobu Marbella currently offers only 49 guest rooms and suites, although a total of 81 rooms are planned to be under operation by the end of the year.
The hotel winds around ‘La Plaza’ which is often referred as the ‘heart and soul’ of the hotel. Surrounded by several restaurants and bars, it is the place to be in Marbella when the sun sets, and a picture-perfect Andalusian styled square the next morning.
After a quick, 35 minutes’ drive from Málaga Airport we arrived during a sunny morning at the small entrance, just right off Marbella’s main road where our car and luggage were quickly taken care of. The lobby itself consists only of two check-in desks though the living room called “Nobu Lounge” is right next to it, featuring several couches, a coffee machine and a small bathroom.
As our room was not ready yet, we headed to the Nobu Restaurant and got a first impression of what “Nobu” really means – attentive service, tranquil atmosphere and high-quality products. It was even better knowing, that we will have more opportunities throughout our stay to try more of their individually created dishes. Later that day, it was finally time to explore our room. We had generously been upgraded to a Studio Suite which could not have designed in any better way. The simple design had been perfectly adjusted with local touches though it is probably easier to let pictures speak for themselves.
The generously sized marble bathroom featured a rain-forest shower, a huge bathtub, a double-sink and Natura Blissé amenities. What really stood out, was the service though. We were in our room from 6pm to 8pm and several goodies were brought up. An Aperol cocktail to start the evening? Why not! The second time it knocked on our door, we were presented some delicious pralines and the third time a small bottle of Sake. (It’s almost tempting to stay in your room and not go out ;-) )
The next morning, we headed back to the Nobu Restaurant where you have small, yet high quality buffet and a few, “Nobu-styled” a la carte options. Nevertheless, it was of course still possible to get classic dishes like Egg Benedict or Pancakes. The buffet consisted of fresh bread and sweet temptations provided by Celicioso (their famous gluten-free café), cold-cuts, fresh salmon and all kinds of fresh fruit, nuts, cereal and local treats. As already mentioned, service was attentive and extremely personal. They remembered our drink choices after the first morning and constantly encouraged us to try more of their local dishes.
While you can use all three pools from the Puerto Romano hotel, the highlight is of course the Nobu Pool which can only be accessed by guests of the Nobu Hotel and therefore guarantees a peaceful and quiet environment. Drinks and small bites can be ordered right at the pool bar and the staff is there, for everything you may need. (like sunscreen… Asking for a friend ;-) )
What really impressed us, and I already mentioned it above, is the variety of activities possible. Keep in mind, that the hotel still has less than 50 rooms and you can access the huge tennis club “Tennis Brothers Marbella” (owned and also frequently used by the Djokovic family ), a Six Senses Spa, a private beach club (probably open from June onwards) and the famous open-air nightclub “La Suite”.
Please keep in mind that Nobu Marbella is a grown-ups only hotel and may also not fit you, if you prefer to go to bed at 10pm. The hotel is located approximately 3km away from old-town Marbella and the famous harbour in the other direction. You can either rent a bike, take a taxi or use the complimentary Tesla shuttle – choose wisely. ;-)
We were guests of Nobu Marbella in order to inspect the property during its soft opening phase. All above written expresses our opinion and has not been influenced.
