From humble beginnings when Nobu Matsuhisa first opened his LA sushi restaurant in 1987, the Nobu brand has been built upon creating memories around the enjoyment of exceptional food. Since those early days, the brand has firmly established itself around the most glamorous corners of the world, whilst this ethos remains. From the early 90s Nobu and his team made their mark on London’s iconic Park Lane, but recently the brand has popped up across the Big Smoke, not only in the east-end neighbourhood of Shoreditch but also in Marylebone’s Portman Square where you can choose to reside in one of the rooms or suites for the full Nobu experience.
At Nobu Portman Square, the offering evolves throughout the week – catering to everyone who may want to sample the trademark ‘Nobu Style’ dining concept, which is intrinsic to each Nobu menu worldwide. Notably, each Thursday, the bar aka the ‘disco drinking den’ on the ground floor leads with its Drop The Beat evening. Inviting cocktail lovers to celebrate the weekend ahead, the bar (which is one of Marylebone’s sleekest) combines a mix of 80’s disco and funk inspired by the legendary Japanese nightclub, Maharaja, with a bespoke throwback cocktail menu.
An unashamed celebration that combines cocktail umbrellas, sparkling disco balls and dancing is set to the soundtrack from a line-up of female DJs such as Megan Fernandez and The Colleyer Twins who drop the beat to the ‘almost’ weekend. This is served with new cocktails such as Haku Vodka, Toki Whisky, Roku Gin and Hibiki which have been crafted by bar manager Sophie Bratt in collaboration with the Japanese spirit experts of House of Suntory.
Meanwhile, upstairs in the restaurant, Nobu has also recently introduced their ‘chilled Sundays’ offering. Opening its gourmet offering to all ages before the week comes to a close, this new sharing concept can be enjoyed against the backdrop of live vinyl DJ sets curated by Nobu Hotels’ founders: Robert De Niro, Nobu Matsuhisa and Meir Teper. Designed with families and friends in mind, both hotel guests and hungry visitors of all ages can indulge in a stylish afternoon sampling the flavours of Nobu – influenced by his years of studying Japanese cuisine in Tokyo and his extensive travels.
Between 12.30pm and 3pm each Sunday and at £59 per person, Portman Square’s Chilled Sundays commences with sharing platters showcasing Nobu’s renowned yellowtail jalapeño on a skewer, alongside the crunchy and delicious sea bass tiradito, crispy rice and seafood ceviche alongside a salmon nigiri roll. Moving on, sample a selection of Nobu’s iconic classics such as sea bass tiradito and a selection of sushi for the second course. The main event on this menu is the famous black cod miso served with rice or salad and finishing off with the popular Nobu Portman Square cheesecake.
The dynamic celebration of flavours that appear on each Nobu menu is the iconic chef’s signature ‘Nobu Style’ trademark, which is intrinsic to each of his menus that is found worldwide. At Nobu Portman Square, this can also be enjoyed in the exclusivity of the Nobu private dining room. Drenched in natural light with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, this striking space can accommodate up to 28 guests offering them the opportunity to enjoy one of the restaurant’s smart set menus which include some of Nobu’s signature dishes that are adored globally.
For some healthy hedonism, swathes of Londoners visit Nobu Portman Square to check out the hotel’s chic on-site Pilates studio, which has quickly filled the Instagram feeds of celebrities and influencers alike. The ‘stretch and sushi’ package allows guests to start with a world-class, full body reformer Pilates workout, followed by a enjoying Bento Box in the restaurant, with dishes inspired by Nobu Matsuhisha himself.
Factbox
Address: 22 Portman Square, London W1H 7BG
Phone: 020 3988 5888
Website: london-portman.nobuhotels.com
All imagery credit: Nobu Portman Square
