The Nobu Collection’s portfolio of luxurious expressions of Japanese-inspired modern minimalism has stretched wide and far – from London to Malibu and everywhere in between – and now with an address on a historic street of Poland’s capital, Warsaw. Founded by chef/restauranteur Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper, Nobu Hotels are renown for their graceful contemporary ryokan-inspired civility superimposed across a wide variety of urban landscapes. The Nobu Hotel Warsaw is arguably the collection’s most dramatic expression of this old with new design philosophy strewn throughout the hotel’s 117 rooms, joining the nearby PURO Hotel Warsaw as a distinctly design experience in hospitality.
Juxtaposing the historical architecture of a former 1920s Art Deco hotel with sleek, yet organic detailing throughout, Polish architectural firm Medusa Group in partnership with California-based Studio PCH have conjured a contemporary haven framed by the historic DNA of a building still echoing with Old World charm. But instead of tension, the Nobu Hotel Warsaw exhibits a complementary harmony embracing classic Art Deco aesthetics within its “old” wing, using its lobby as a conduit waypoint toward the hotel’s contemporary “new” wing – an enclosed architectural timeline expressing the changes happening across the city of Warsaw itself.
Rooms within the contemporary wing exhibit the hallmark Japanese principle of respecting natural objects and materials without an excess of adornment, resulting in a peaceful aesthetic. In-room amenities include Natura Blissé and Yukata robes for all guests.
This does present a dilemma of sorts: Which wing should guests choose, a room within the ornate elegance of the Art Deco heritage wing or one located in the Japanese-inspired contemporary wing characterized by glass, wood and concrete modernity? Fortunately both express different yet complementary definitions of warmth and comfort, with the newer side leaning more toward the modernized Japanese inn experience Nobu Hotels have become known for, including hinoki wood Japanese soaking tubs.
A sophisticated patterned parquet floor lays the groundwork of the Art Deco Suite within the hotel’s older wing, the contemporary reinterpretation of the former Hotel Rialto.
Guests fortunate enough to stay within the spacious Nobu Suite can kick back onto their own sofas and enjoy an immersive 98-inch HDTV paired with a surround sound system.
Matsuhisa’s reputation was first established decades ago by his namesake restaurant in Los Angeles; he’s brought the same new school Japanese inflected with hints of a South American menu to Warsaw, expressed by a warmly architectural sushi bar and restaurant supplemented with local Polish-inspired dishes created by Executive Chef Yannick Lohou.
As one might expect, Nobu Matsuhisa’s New Style Japanese cuisine is represented by the hotel’s menu of signature Nobu classics such as Toro Tartare with Caviar, Yellow Tail with Jalapeno, and Black Cod with Miso.
Located within an extremely walkable section of Warsaw – just across from numerous universities, restaurants and museums – Nobu Hotel Warsaw offers travelers a luxurious home base with equal parts historic drama and contemporary comforts.
What: Nobu Hotel Warsaw
Where: Ulica Wilcza 73, Warsaw, Poland 00 48 22 551 88 88
How much: From $163 (USD) per night
Highlights: Ideally you’ll book a few night’s stay in the historic older Art Deco wing, followed by a few nights within the Japanese-inspired contemporary wing for the full experience of new with old. And don’t forget to peek inside the in-room minibar, each stocked with Japanese snacks like Matcha Kit Kats.
Design draw: The Museum of Modern Art overlooking the Vistula River requires just a 2.1 mile scenic walk from the hotel with numerous historic and cultural buildings along the route.
Book it: Nobu Hotel Warsaw
Photos courtesy of Nobu Hotel Warsaw.
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