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Hotel review: Nobu Shoreditch London

Simon Calder’s Travel

A glossy Shoreditch hotel where industrial chic meets Japanese hospitality and food comes first, this is the Nobu brand’s moody east London outpost


Location

A shut door from Shoreditch, Nobu brings a taste of Shibuya to the capital’s creative east London district. The hotel entrance off of Great Eastern Street is fairly unassuming given its architecturally bold casing, which is a very different tone to the brand’s first city outpost in high-end Portman Square. Here, you’re steps from both the financial district and a buzzing culinary scene, featuring big-name eateries and indie newcomers. There’s not much greenery but an abundance of art sprayed between pavements. It’s less than a five-minute stomp to Shoreditch High Street and just 10 minutes to Old Street station.

Seven signature suites, including the spacious ‘Nobu Suite’ and sixth-floor Yuhi rooms, have their own balconies

Seven signature suites, including the spacious ‘Nobu Suite’ and sixth-floor Yuhi rooms, have their own balconies (Nobu Hotels/Will Pryce)

The vibe

Six floors of metal jut into Shoreditch to house the hotel cum restaurant megabrand. Brash or creative – I’m not sure. Inside, there’s silence with dimly lit corridors well-suited to ‘’taking a break” businessmen – it’s not the eerie whodunnit kind, but a peacefulness suited to those comfortable in the company of their thoughts. Cement ceilings nod to east London industrial chic balanced with Nobu’s staple clean lines, crisp furnishings and spa-like scent. Ultimately, this is a city hotel (with little outdoor space bar the terrace), so the vibe is less polished glamour and more stylish comfort, as is evident from the mixed crowd of trendy to tech-type guests.

The service

Typical of Japanese hospitality, the staff greet you fondly without being too familiar. Check-in was breezy, and you’ll find staff are inconspicuous while getting things done efficiently. In the restaurant, waiters make eating easy. Impressively familiar with the menu and thrilled to guide through omakase – “I’ll leave it up to you” – ordering, these are people you can trust with your tastebuds.

Order omakase in the Nobu restaurant

Order omakase in the Nobu restaurant (Nobu Hotels)

Bed and bath

There are 164 guest rooms, most moody with dark wood, hanging bulbs and black and gold accents. King-sized beds sport cotton pillows with the right amount of poof, and you’ll find walk-in…

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