Nobu Hotel London Portman Square
BACKGROUND The opening marks the 13th hotel from Nobu Hospitality, the luxurious brand founded by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, actor Robert De Niro and director Meir Teper, and the third collaboration with L+R Hotels. Previously the Radisson Blu Portman Hotel, the building underwent a refurbishment and reopened as the new lifestyle hotel in May following a soft launch in December 2020.
WHAT’S IT LIKE? The expansive hotel houses 249 luxurious rooms and suites, and has a beautiful open-plan lobby with double-height ceilings, a mezzanine with events spaces, and natural light flooding in through floor-to-ceiling windows – an architectural feat that shines onto the street as night falls. The public spaces have been designed by David Collins Studio and are inspired by craftsmanship.
The lobby opens onto the hotel’s lounge on the right-hand side, which features lower ceilings, furnishings in burgundy and green, and a sultry art-deco bar clad in black and gold geometric lines. It’s a great space for business meetings, classy cocktails, and some lighter food. Check in was easy, and Anna at reception introduced me to the friendly service emblematic of the hotel.
WHERE IS IT? On the corner of Portman Square in Marylebone, near
Marble Arch Underground station, and within walking distance of London’s famous shopping areas, Oxford Street and Regent Street.
ROOMS Rooms come in seven categories and start at 18 sqm, many of which have balconies. All feature the same sleek minimalist design by Make Architects which includes subtle tones, soft wooden furnishings with matching sliding doors, and calming original prints. Black metal detailing pays homage to the wrought-iron gates of neighbouring Portman Square, while Japanese touches include lanternstyle lights, bonsai trees and traditional tea sets.
I stayed in a spacious one-bedroom suite, which featured two vast 65-inch TVs, two sumptuous bathrooms (one with a bathtub including a bamboo bath tray, and the other with a large walk-in shower), a Queen-sized sofa bed, and kimono-style Yukata robes.
FOOD AND DRINK Nobu is first and foremost renowned for its cuisine, with over 45 restaurants dotted across six continents.
Marylebone is the brand-new home to the former Nobu Berkeley Street restaurant, which operated for 15 years.
A year-round terrace had been transformed into a Japanese Gin Garden in partnership with Roku Gin during my visit in July, with cherry blossoms and bonsai trees.
We opted for the Omakase dinner, a surprise seven-course tasting menu and some inventive cocktails.
MEETINGS The hotel has two boardrooms, and a 600-person ballroom on the first floor with an adjoining reception area which overlooks the lobby.
LEISURE There’s a huge 140 sqm gym and wellness area with three treatment rooms. The main attraction, however, is the world’s first Nobu Pilates Reformer studio which holds classes that blend classical Pilates with high-intensity training and state-of-the-art equipment.
VERDICT The sophisticated hotel oers a wonderful combination of in-room serenity and lively energy at its glamorous bar and restaurant outlets, which are already a hotspot in the capital. Sta are excellent, the location is well-connected, and brilliant facilities include vast wellness areas and events spaces.
Nobu is first and foremost renowned for its cuisine, with over 45 restaurants dotted across six continents