Assessment: Nobu Resort Santorini (Greece)

December 27, 2023

1

Wednesday newsletters at all times function a lodge or flight evaluate.

Late summer time 2023, I traveled to Greece’s mainland and the Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos. You may learn my journey experiences right here:

Right this moment: Nobu Resort Santorini (Greece)

Located on Santorini’s fascinating northeast coast, Nobu Resort Santorini is boutique lodge which affords panoramic views of each the caldera and Aegean Sea from its distinctive clifftop location. The property homes a signature Nobu Restaurant, health facility, dual-level infinity pool, 25 rooms & suites (together with 5 pool villas). Only a 10-minute drive from the charming coastal city of Oia and 20 minutes from Santorini (Thira) Worldwide Airport, the lodge is well-positioned alongside the famed Oia-Fira mountain climbing path that runs between Oia and Fira, Santorini’s cosmopolitan capital. The property is managed by Nobu, the worldwide life-style model based by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro, and Meir Teper.

Have you ever ever stayed at Nobu Resort Santorini? If that’s the case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.

On this evaluate (extra information and photographs beneath my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

The Nobu Resort is situated in a secluded spot on Santorini’s majestic volcanic cliffs (caldera). The boutique lodge is about alongside a mud street, which is actually a part of the well-known mountain climbing path that connects Fira, the capital of Santorini, with Oia, the island’s most picturesque village. The truth is, the lodge is at the moment the one growth on this a part of Santorini and its remoted but central location is one among its fundamental attracts, providing one of the best of each worlds: it’s inside a brief distance from Santorini’s most well-known cities and village (by taxi or on foot in the event you don’t thoughts some severe mountain climbing alongside the caldera path) however far sufficient away from the big vacationer crowds that go to the island’s points of interest every summer time. The Nobu Resort can be conveniently near the airport (a 15 min drive) and the seaport (a 40 min drive).

The Nobu Resort Santorini is situated on the outskirts of Imerovigli village. Imerovigli is usually dubbed “the balcony of the Aegean” on account of its place on the highest level of Santorini’s caldera (300 m or 1000 ft above sea degree). Whereas the lodge’s setting will not be as excessive as Imerovigli (and it’s fairly an uphill hike attending to the village), the views from the property are simply as beautiful. The lodge’s communal areas (pool & restaurant) in addition to a number of rooms boasts jaw-dropping views of the island’s caldera and the shimmering Aegean Sea. The property even seems out over the whitewashed village of Oia, which is world-famous for its Cycladic structure and sensible sundown views (attracting hundreds of vacationers every evening), though the sundown views from the lodge are equally mesmerizing and crowd-free.

Opened in 2022, the Nobu Resort Santorini was not constructed from the bottom up, however is a glossy revamp of a former five-star property (Omma Resort). The boutique property is designed within the conventional Cycladic type with a contact of Asian minimalism, leading to an eclectic fusion of Greek structure and Japanese interiors. The renovation of the prevailing lodge web site – Nobu’s first enterprise in Greece – was overseen by Elastic Architects, an award-winning Greek firm of proficient architects and inside designers. On the heart of the design is the lodge’s open-sided courtyard with swimming pool, which enjoys breathtaking caldera views. One aspect of the pool incorporates a small out of doors reception space and a gymnasium (on the bottom flooring) as properly because the breakfast restaurant (on the primary degree) whereas the lodge’s signature Nobu Restaurant is located on the opposite aspect of the pool.

The social hub of Nobu Resort Santorini is the gorgeous bi-level infinity pool, which sits on the coronary heart of the property. The higher degree is an oblong lap pool working parallel to the road in entrance of the lodge and having fun with phenomenal caldera views, whereas the decrease degree is a sq. pool, located immediately behind the higher degree pool and having fun with a extra personal ambiance away from the road. Most visitors will begin the day with a dip within the lodge’s dreamy infinity pool, earlier than heading out to discover the island. Then, they’ll return to have lunch and to spend the afternoon lounging by the pool on plush sunbeds that ooze type and luxury, earlier than watching the solar go down, with a contemporary drink in hand and within the firm of likeminded folks. On chosen days (Thursday to Sunday), the resident DJ performs a backdrop of chilled island beats throughout sundown.

Nobu Resort Santorini is an intimate boutique property, that includes simply 25 bedrooms. Lodging choices vary from the first-floor Aozora suites (with caldera & sundown views) to the two-level villas that includes personal gardens and swimming swimming pools (the latter look out onto the opposite aspect of the island and include dawn views). Throughout my vacation, I stayed in a Umi Suite on the lodge’s first flooring, which was reached by a separate entrance from the road. Styled in a minimalistic design, the cave-house type room featured a king-sized mattress (with a Simmons luxurious mattress), a lounge chair, and an ensuite lavatory outfitted with one wash basin, a rest room, and a bathe. The suite’s spotlight was its personal terrace with Jacuzzi, which supplied spectacular panoramic views of the Caldera. Room facilities included a Nespresso machine, LCD TV with satellite tv for pc channels, and a Parlux hairdryer and Nature Bisse toiletries.

The lodge is residence to the nation’s first Nobu Restaurant. Set in a pergola apart from the pool, the venue serves lunch and dinner. At lunch, visitors can select from a wide range of Mediterranean dishes and rotating ‘off the menu specials’ (don’t overlook to ask for the catch of the day) or go for heartier choices like Fried Umami Rooster Wings, Donburi and Wagyu Beef Sando. The signature Nobu expertise is served at dinnertime and options dishes equivalent to Nobu Tacos, Wagyu Dumplings, Rock Shrimps Tempura and Seafood & Beef Toban Yaki. The lodge’s breakfast – which is served till midday on a terrace above the reception space – options the favored Nobu-Model “Full English”, Scrambled Egg Donburi and Matsuhisa Benedict to sweeter Chia Pudding and native Kagianas, a easy mixture of scrambled eggs, feta and tomato.

The boutique property is a member of the Nobu Resort assortment. Named probably the most progressive luxurious manufacturers by Robb Report, Nobu Hospitality is ranked amongst an elite choice of international life-style manufacturers. Based by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro, and Meir Teper, with operations spanning 5 continents, the Nobu model thrives on the earth’s capitals as the last word vacation spot life-style expertise. Nobu Inns mix trendy cool luxurious and minimal Japanese custom into the idea of a life-style lodge. The primary Nobu Resort opened in 2013 in Las Vegas and since then a further 35 lodges have been added each open and in growth. Right this moment Nobu lodges are open within the following places: Manila, Miami Seaside, Malibu, Shoreditch (London), Ibiza, Palo Alto, Marbella, Los Cabos, Barcelona, Warsaw, Chicago, Portman Sq. (London), Santorini, Atlanta, Marrakech and Seville.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

Rooms at Nobu Resort Santorini are pretty shut collectively and don’t at all times really feel very personal. For instance, a number of rooms on the bottom flooring have terraces which look out proper on the general public pool deck. Though these rooms include Jacuzzis, visitors won’t be inclined to make use of them on account of a lack of privateness, since different visitors are always passing by at shut proximity. If privateness is a should for you, be certain that to ebook a primary flooring room.

Nobu Resort Santorini is situated proper subsequent to a mud street which could be very well-liked amongst hikers (because it connects the island’s capital Thyra with Oia). In the course of the day, dozens of hikers go alongside the property and have a direct view of visitors lounging across the higher pool (which is situated on the road degree). It would really feel a bit awkward, however that stated, most lodges within the Imerovigli space are situated alongside this mountain climbing path with their pool areas uncovered to passing trekkers. The excellent news is that there’s seldom motor site visitors at Nobu Resort Santorini and the fabulous views throughout the caldera greater than make of for the shortage of privateness.

Nobu Resort Santorini calls all of its rooms “suites”, however the truth is they really feel extra like rooms than true suites. For instance, whereas my room – the Uma Suite – was completely beautiful, it was not an actual suite, no less than not on the within. Apart from one armchair, there was no actual sitting space (though the out of doors terrace was in depth). Additionally the villas on the lodge are usually not what I might name true villas: every villa is comprised of two bedrooms on high of one another, however there is no such thing as a separate sitting space. One thing to bear in mind is that the villas – that are nice for households or a gaggle of associates – don’t include caldera views (they appear out over Santorini’s reverse aspect)

The service at Nobu Resort Santorini didn’t utterly adhere to the requirements I’d count on from a luxurious property. This can be partly as a result of the lodge is new – and they’re figuring out the kinks – however I did encounter a number of service points throughout my keep. For instance, the check-in course of was an especially sluggish affair and took roughly half-hour (and after I used to be lastly on my solution to the room, I used to be referred to as again to the reception space since they forgot to serve me a welcome drink). Additionally, I acquired the flawed orders for breakfast on every morning of my two-night keep (which grew to become a bit irritating after some time), and the morning of my departure – once I needed to catch my aircraft again residence – it took 45 minutes to arrange my scorching breakfast dish. Total, the employees was very pleasant however they appeared to be missing some coaching in sure areas. I hope that the service might be extra polished subsequent season.

Nobu Resort Santorini incorporates a well-equipped gymnasium, nevertheless it lack a wellness heart. Presently, spa remedies are solely accessible in-room though the lodge house owners have plans to construct a luxe spa sooner or later.

Nobu Resort Santorini is pleased with its sustainability insurance policies however sadly, it nonetheless affords single-use lavatory toiletries (as an alternative of refillable glass-only bottles).

Final summer time, Nobu Resort Santorini was probably the most costly lodges on Santorini Island. Throughout excessive season, the entry room charges had been properly above 1000 euros per evening, which – in my humble opinion – was an excessive amount of, given the shortage of privateness of the pool space and several other rooms, as properly the service points I encountered. That stated, I seen that room charges for the following seasons are extra cheap (beginning at 681 euros per evening) and extra according to the product supplied.

MY VERDICT

Location: 8/10
Design: 8/10
Pool: 9/10
Rooms: 8/10
Meals: 8/10
Breakfast: 8/10
Spa: n/a (not accessible)
Service: 7/10
Wow issue: 8/10
Worth for cash: 7/10
Total expertise: 8/10 (superb)

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Get monetary savings: learn right here my suggestions for getting one of the best deal at a luxurious lodge like Nobu Resort Santorini (and/or obtain many free perks).

Room tip: if full privateness is a should for you, be certain that to keep away from the bottom flooring rooms and to ebook a primary flooring room as an alternative.

Learn my suggestions for making ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The perfect time to go to Santorini is spring and fall when the climate’s heat and the crowds are few. Like the entire Cyclades, Santorini welcomes probably the most guests through the summer time, so that you’ll have to make your reservations no less than two months upfront to journey then.

HOW TO GET THERE

Nobu Resort Santorini is situated a 40 minute drive from Santorini’s ferry port and a 15 min drive from Santorini (Thira) Nationwide Airport. The airport is served by most European charters and a few full-service and low-cost airways in vacationer season (click on right here for a direct hyperlink to their web sites), however has no direct abroad connections.

PHOTOS

Under is a choice of my photographs of Nobu Resort Santorini. To view extra lodge photographs (together with dinner on the Nobu Restaurant), click on right here.