Hotelnews
Nobu Matsuhisa has been rather busy building his empire, and his debut 150-room Nobu Hotel Shoreditch comes hot off the heels of two equally dreamy launches in Miami and Ibiza, solidifying the star chef’s credentials as a hotelier. While there’s no shortage of must-see new hotels across the capital, this one has done a fine job of capturing our attention. The staggering facade comes courtesy of Ron Arad Architects and Ben Adams Architects and is characterised by overhanging floor slabs and steel beams that form a frayed edge that sets the tone for what’s beyond. Interiors by local designer Studio Mica are the perfect marriage of contemporary Japanese flair and a touch of gritty east London industrialism. Raw angles are softened by rich fabrics and curvaceous furniture; black joinery contrasts with exposed concrete and gold sinks punctuate white bathrooms. The result is balanced, refined and sophisticated, in keeping with Nobu’s East-meets-West philosophy. This transitions into the 240-cover light-flooded restaurant. The sleek wood dining room is the ideal backdrop to the chef’s pristine Nikkei cuisine. And yes, the signature black cod miso is most definitely on the menu, bringing a new bastion of fine fusion dining to the East End, while an eclectic collection of vintage sakes and limited-edition Japanese whiskies are available from the bar. nobuhotelshoreditch.com Warm rays of late-summer sun shine on Santa Marina Mykonos santa-marina.gr this month. The resort has just received a fresh new look and added three sugar cube-shaped villas and a host of private pools to its 100 suites. Kissing the coast at Ornos Bay, it offers the island’s only private beach and a sparkling new Oasis infinity pool, while the open-fronted Buddha Bar promises Grecian dishes at lunch. If you plan your travels around food, then new boutique Akelarre Hotel akelarre.net will fly to the top of your hit list. Extending from Pedro Subijana’s three-star Michelin restaurant of the same name, it’s tucked into a hillside outside San Sebastián. Overlooking the Bay of Biscay, design across the 22 bedrooms epitomises coastal cool. Expect clean lines, crisp pine and neutral hues. Suites have plunge pools providing Cantabrian Sea views. On to Paris, a city that does refined luxury like no other. We’re swooning over the reopening of iconic Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel rosewoodhotels.com which has emerged from a full rebrand that will have hearts bleating ‘Je t’aime!’ Wearing its 250-year history proudly, the vibe is modern-day Marie Antoinette: elegant with a touch of whimsy. Don’t miss Michelin-starred Christopher Hache’s cuisine at L’Ecrin.