Screen grab from www.nobuhotels.com/
MANILA, Philippines—Nobu Hotel, inspired by Japanese culinary genius Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, is making its debut in Asia as Macau gaming giant Melco is set to introduce a 321-room hotel under his brand as part of its gaming and entertainment hub City of Dreams Manila.
The upcoming Nobu hotel is envisioned to deliver a “thrilling, celebrity-inspired and fun-luxury experience fused with utmost quality” to the Philippine gaming hub, Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corp. said in a press statement on Monday.
The boutique hotel in City of Dreams Manila is backed by Academy-award winning actor Robert de Niro and Hollywood producer Meir Teper. This is the second hotel brand to be announced as part of the $1.3-billion City of Dreams Manila, a partnership between Melco and the SM group of tycoon Henry Sy.
The new hotel will offer “laid-back luxury, high-energy nightlife” and spa services alongside its guest rooms, Melco said, adding that this would be the ultimate playground for a Filipino, Asian and international client base.
As a unique offering and as promised by its branding, the hotel is seen as the ideal destination to experience the cuisine of Chef Nobu. The hotel will feature a Nobu Restaurant within an idyllic setting including an outdoor cabana-style dining terrace situated on an exclusive platform deck with views of Manila Bay.
The hotel will offer, exclusively to its guests, a special in-room menu crafted by Chef Nobu. In addition, guests will enjoy the Nobu Tea Lounge in the lobby.
Born and raised in Japan, Matsuhisa, who is more popularly known as Chef Nobu, apprenticed in the sushi bars of Tokyo before he ventured overseas to Lima, Peru. He ventured to Buenos Aires, Argentina, then back to Japan, Alaska, and finally, Los Angeles, where he opened his titular restaurant in 1987.
After making waves in the Los Angeles and New York restaurant scene, Chef Nobu has since then opened many more Nobu restaurants worldwide. The first Nobu Hotel opened in 2013 as a boutique hotel within Ceasars Palace in Las Vegas.