There are a handful of international chefs celebrated enough to be known by a single name. Of those, only one has his own brand of hotels: Nobu. (www.nobuhotels.com/hotel-collection/) Each property in Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s namesake collection of hotels and residences weaves Japanese aesthetics with distinctive local influences.
The Nobu Hotel Atlanta (www.nobuhotels.com/atlanta/), helming the luxurious Phipps Plaza shopping complex (www.simon.com/mall/phipps-plaza), draws inspiration from Atlanta’s “city in a forest” moniker by integrating nature into its design in the form of pocket gardens and ikebana – the Japanese art of flower arranging. Guests are greeted with Nobu’s signature yuzu ginger scent as they step inside the rich teak wood lobby where the seating area is framed by a folding screen with handcrafted flower petals suspended between the wooden slats.
The hotel provides 152 sensuously-appointed guest rooms and suites with custom light fixtures resembling paper lanterns, and red and gold textured resin-patterned walls inspired by traditional Japanese woodblock prints. The suite bedrooms also feature custom-painted artwork above the headboard suggestive of layers of kimono fabric – wonderfully zen for a restful night’s sleep. For the ultimate indulgence, the 200-sq-ft, Nobu Villa suite has direct access to the rooftop pool and lounge area with sweeping views of the surrounding affluent Buckhead neighborhood. (discoveratlanta.com/explore/neighborhoods/buckhead/)
To explore the area, Nobu Hotel Atlanta has their own fleet of Porsche Taycan electric sports cars, and certified drivers to transport guests within a three-mile radius in eco-friendly mode. Pamper yourself with the hotel’s Porsche Experience (you know you deserve it) – an elevated package that includes a two-night stay in the Porsche Icon Suite outfitted with Porsche-inspired décor and exclusive memorabilia, a take-home Porsche robe, breakfast for two, in-room Nobu champagne, and an omakase dinner at the Nobu restaurant. (www.nobuhotels.com/atlanta/offers/porsche-experience/)
Adjacent to the hotel lobby, the 272-seat Nobu restaurant in a traditional Japanese garden pavilion setting with a sexy backlit, white onyx bar is a sublime dining experience. Devotees of Chef Nobu’s cult classics such as the Rock Shrimp Tempura and the Black Cod with Miso, which appear in every Nobu menu globally, can also find their favorites here. Not to rest on their culinary laurels, there are new Nobu creations under the “Nobu Now” section with gastronomic highlights such as the Salmon Belly Sashimi with Wasabi Salsa, and the melt-on-your-tongue, Wagyu Short Ribs Dumplings. For those with limited time to indulge in multiple courses, Nobu is now open for lunch with a more streamlined menu. (www.nobuhotels.com/atlanta/dining/nobu-restaurant/)
You can even fit in a workout during your lunch break at the adjacent LifeSpa (www.nobuhotels.com/atlanta/wellness/spa/), which has an exclusive partnership with the Nobu Hotel Atlanta. With over 100 weekly fitness classes, LifeSpa offers an expansive selection of rejuvenating massages, facials, hair and nail services. Ask for Monica Hingorani, one of the best estheticians in the city who has worked her magic on the faces of celebrities, as well as Atlanta’s business and social elite.
