Young At Heart, with Grown-Up Appeal. Nobu Shoreditch Is Back

Step inside the lobby and you’ll be immersed in Nobu Shoreditch’s true aesthetic: a place where East London meets Tokyo. Raw concrete pillars, polished terrazzo floors; low-slung teak chairs and towering plants fill the space. As the hanging globe lamps cast moody shadows on the black furnishings, check in is swift and no-nonsense – it’s the best of curated, urban hospitality.

Found in a quiet street, just off the buzzy Great Eastern Street, Nobu Shoreditch is located in the heart of creative east London. This was the very first Nobu property to open in London, and after a revamp, it has recently re-emerged after a two-year closure. Compared to Nobu’s other London outpost – Nobu Portman Square – this, the original for the Capital, is more laid back, hipper and younger in feel. Perfectly fitting, in fact, for its location. That’s not to say, however, that it doesn’t boast the usual attention to detail and luxury touches that Nobu has become famous for.

Part of the re-imagination is a new sixth-floor, which is home to a sprawling penthouse and terrace, as well as two new bedroom types – Yuhi and Yuhi Skyline – all of which have a quietly opulent feel.

Continuing with the marriage of industrial chic and Japanese minimalism, designers Studio Mica have overseen the renovation. Complete with private lift, the top floor penthouse and rooms have widespread views across the skyline, with décor inspired by New York loft living. There are also Japanese Ryokan-style details – with hanging chairs, dark parquet floors and a custom-designed ceiling and wallpaper by Shoreditch based artist Richard Harding.

Studio Mica were also the team responsible for the original design of Nobu Shoreditch. Rooms feel edgy yet comfortable – polished concrete walls are matched with masculine dove-grey sofas, inky rugs and dip-dyed curtains. Nods to Nobu’s Eastern heritage are seen with traditional Japanese tea sets, kimono-style dressing gowns, lantern lighting and crisp-white bedding. Polished stone bathrooms are lifted with a glamorous, shiny gold sink, indulgent Nature Bissé products and architectural-looking potted bamboo. Walk-in wardrobes and terraces, meanwhile, add space and a touch of luxury to the urban feel. From your outdoor space, it’s interesting to see the contrast between Nobu’s stark architecture, the graffiti daubed walls outside and the area’s more traditional Victorian and Edwardian buildings, which still peek through between the newer builds in the area.

Of course, as in any Nobu property, a highlight is the dining. At Nobu Shoredtich, new executive chef Sandi Richmond takes the helm bringing Nobu’s celebratory menus to life.

You’ll start your evening off in NAMI – Nobu’s sleek, double-height bar, which has a warehouse feel. For summer nights, or long-lunches, there’s a Japanese-inspired outdoor garden. The resident DJ plays epic chill-out tunes, as you chat over drinks. Oversized ceramic pots and a wall of whiskies and sakes are back-lit, traditional screens are used to offer secluded corners and animated street art reminds you of your location. As well as an extensive choice of fine wines, sakes and whiskeys, the crafted cocktail list is also worth a look: the ‘Nami Spirit’, for instance, has a hit of rum and is bursting with cherries, raspberries, rhubarb, apple juice and raspberry spritz, the perfect accompaniment to a bowl of salty edamame.

The open-kitchen, umami-laden dishes and an uber-polished approach to service is an important part of Nobu’s signature style. You’ll find these at every Nobu eaterie, as you will also hear the chefs call out “irrashaimase” – or “welcome to our house” – in Japanese, as you are shown to your table.

Signature dishes, including what must be the most written about dish in the world – Black Cod Miso – are just as delicious as when chef Nobu Matsuhisa first invented them. You can choose an ‘Omakase’ experience – the ‘Chef’s Choice’ menu – or simply pick the dishes which appeal, and which will arrive ‘family style’ for the table to dip into. It’s impossible to go wrong: although the Yellowtail Jalapeno Sashimi; Salmon Spicy Miso Tacos; Baby Tiger Shrimp Tempura with Three Sauces are all standouts. There’s also a tempting array of sushi maki and nigiri, plus decadent Wagyu Beef dishes.

Shoreditch is known for its creative, cooler-than-cool vibe, but the reopening of Nobu Shoreditch adds a grown-up, sophisticated marker in this part of town.