Luxury Travel

Review: Nobu Hotel Santorini (Greece)

December 29, 2023

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Wednesday newsletters at all times function a resort or flight evaluation.

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

Today: Nobu Hotel Santorini (Greece)

Situated on Santorini’s fascinating northeast coast, Nobu Hotel Santorini is boutique resort which presents 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). Just a 10-minute drive from the charming coastal city of Oia and 20 minutes from Santorini (Thira) International Airport, the resort is well-positioned alongside the famed Oia-Fira mountaineering 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 stayed at Nobu Hotel Santorini? If so, what was your expertise? Leave a remark.

In this evaluation (extra information and images under my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

The Nobu Hotel is positioned in a secluded spot on Santorini’s majestic volcanic cliffs (caldera). The boutique resort is about alongside a dust highway, which is basically a part of the well-known mountaineering path that connects Fira, the capital of Santorini, with Oia, the island’s most picturesque village. In reality, the resort is at the moment the one improvement on this a part of Santorini and its remoted but central location is certainly one of its major attracts, providing the very 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 critical mountaineering alongside the caldera path) however far sufficient away from the large vacationer crowds that go to the island’s points of interest every summer time. The Nobu Hotel can be conveniently near the airport (a 15 min drive) and the seaport (a 40 min drive).

The Nobu Hotel Santorini is positioned on the outskirts of Imerovigli village. Imerovigli is commonly dubbed “the balcony of the Aegean” because of its place on the highest level of Santorini’s caldera (300 m or 1000 ft above sea degree). While the resort’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 resort’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 appears to be like 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 resort are equally mesmerizing and crowd-free.

Opened in 2022, the Nobu Hotel Santorini was not constructed from the bottom up, however is a glossy revamp of a former five-star property (Omma Hotel). The boutique property is designed within the conventional Cycladic model with a contact of Asian minimalism, leading to an eclectic fusion of Greek structure and Japanese interiors. The renovation of the present resort website – Nobu’s first enterprise in Greece – was overseen by Elastic Architects, an award-winning Greek firm of gifted architects and inside designers. At the middle of the design is the resort’s open-sided courtyard with swimming pool, which enjoys breathtaking caldera views. One aspect of the pool includes a small outside reception space and a gymnasium (on the bottom ground) as nicely because the breakfast restaurant (on the primary degree) whereas the resort’s signature Nobu Restaurant is located on the opposite aspect of the pool.

The social hub of Nobu Hotel Santorini is the attractive bi-level infinity pool, which sits on the coronary heart of the property. The higher degree is an oblong lap pool operating parallel to the road in entrance of the resort and having fun with phenomenal caldera views, whereas the decrease degree is a sq. pool, located straight behind the higher degree pool and having fun with a extra non-public ambiance away from the road. Most company will begin the day with a dip within the resort’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 model and luxury, earlier than watching the solar go down, with a recent drink in hand and within the firm of likeminded individuals. On chosen days (Thursday to Sunday), the resident DJ performs a backdrop of chilled island beats throughout sundown.

Nobu Hotel Santorini is an intimate boutique property, that includes simply 25 bedrooms. Accommodation choices vary from the first-floor Aozora suites (with caldera & sundown views) to the two-level villas that includes non-public gardens and swimming swimming pools (the latter look out onto the opposite aspect of the island and include dawn views). During my vacation, I stayed in a Umi Suite on the resort’s first ground, which was reached by a separate entrance from the road. Styled in a minimalistic design, the cave-house model room featured a king-sized mattress (with a Simmons luxurious mattress), a lounge chair, and an ensuite toilet outfitted with one wash basin, a rest room, and a bathe. The suite’s spotlight was its non-public 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 resort is dwelling to the nation’s first Nobu Restaurant. Set in a pergola moreover the pool, the venue serves lunch and dinner. At lunch, company can select from quite a lot 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 Chicken Wings, Donburi and Wagyu Beef Sando. The signature Nobu expertise is served at dinnertime and options dishes corresponding to Nobu Tacos, Wagyu Dumplings, Rock Shrimps Tempura and Seafood & Beef Toban Yaki. The resort’s breakfast – which is served till midday on a terrace above the reception space – options the favored Nobu-Style “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 Hotel assortment. Named one of the crucial modern luxurious manufacturers by Robb Report, Nobu Hospitality is ranked amongst an elite number of world life-style manufacturers. Founded 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 Hotels mix fashionable cool luxurious and minimal Japanese custom into the idea of a way of life resort. The first Nobu Hotel opened in 2013 in Las Vegas and since then a further 35 motels have been added each open and in improvement. Today Nobu motels are open within the following areas: Manila, Miami Beach, Malibu, Shoreditch (London), Ibiza, Palo Alto, Marbella, Los Cabos, Barcelona, Warsaw, Chicago, Portman Square (London), Santorini, Atlanta, Marrakech and Seville.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

Rooms at Nobu Hotel Santorini are pretty shut collectively and don’t at all times really feel very non-public. For instance, a number of rooms on the bottom ground have terraces which look out proper on the general public pool deck. Although these rooms include Jacuzzis, company may not be inclined to make use of them because of a lack of privateness, since different company are consistently passing by at shut proximity. If privateness is a should for you, be sure that to e-book a primary ground room.

Nobu Hotel Santorini is positioned proper subsequent to a dust highway which could be very common amongst hikers (because it connects the island’s capital Thyra with Oia). During the day, dozens of hikers cross alongside the property and have a direct view of company lounging across the higher pool (which is positioned on the road degree). It would possibly really feel a bit awkward, however that mentioned, most motels within the Imerovigli space are positioned alongside this mountaineering path with their pool areas uncovered to passing trekkers. The excellent news is that there’s seldom motor site visitors at Nobu Hotel Santorini and the fabulous views throughout the caldera greater than make up for the shortage of privateness.

Nobu Hotel 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 Umi Suite – was completely attractive, it was not an actual suite, a minimum of not on the within. Except for one armchair, there was no actual sitting space (though the outside terrace was expansive). Also the villas on the resort should 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. Something 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 Hotel Santorini didn’t fully adhere to the requirements I’d count on from a luxurious property. This could also be partly as a result of the resort 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 a particularly sluggish and inefficient affair which 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). Also, I acquired the incorrect orders for breakfast on every morning of my two-night keep (which turned a bit irritating after some time), and the morning of my departure – once I needed to catch my airplane again dwelling – it took 45 minutes to organize my scorching breakfast dish. Overall, the workers was very pleasant however they gave the impression to be missing some coaching in sure areas. I hope that the service will probably be extra polished subsequent season.

Nobu Hotel Santorini includes a well-equipped gymnasium, however it lack a wellness heart. Currently, spa remedies are solely obtainable in-room though the resort homeowners have plans to construct a luxe spa sooner or later.

Nobu Hotel Santorini is pleased with its sustainability insurance policies however sadly, it nonetheless presents single-use toilet toiletries (as a substitute of refillable glass-only bottles).

Last summer time, Nobu Hotel Santorini was one of the crucial costly motels on Santorini Island. During excessive season, the entry room charges have been nicely above 1000 euros per evening, which – in my humble opinion – was approach an excessive amount of, given the shortage of privateness of the pool space and several other rooms, as nicely the service points I encountered. That mentioned, I seen that the room charges for the following 2024 summer time season are extra moderately priced (beginning at 681 euros per evening in excessive season) and extra in step with the product supplied.

MY VERDICT

Location: 8/10
Design: 8/10
Pool: 9/10
Rooms: 8/10
Food: 8/10
Breakfast: 8/10
Spa: n/a (not obtainable)
Service: 7/10
Wow issue: 8/10
Value for cash: 7/10
Overall expertise: 8/10 (excellent)

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Save cash: learn right here my suggestions for getting the very best deal at a luxurious resort like Nobu Hotel Santorini (and/or obtain many free perks).

Room tip: if full privateness is a should for you, be sure that to keep away from the bottom ground rooms and to e-book a primary ground room as a substitute.

Read my suggestions for making ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The greatest time to go to Santorini is spring and fall when the climate’s heat and the crowds are few. Like all the Cyclades, Santorini welcomes probably the most guests throughout the summer time, so that you’ll must make your reservations a minimum of two months prematurely to journey then.

HOW TO GET THERE

Nobu Hotel Santorini is positioned a 40 minute drive from Santorini’s ferry port and a 15 min drive from Santorini (Thira) National 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

Below is a number of my images of Nobu Hotel Santorini. To view extra resort images (together with dinner on the Nobu Restaurant), click on right here.