The Japanese restaurant that has had everyone raving from Malibu to Milan will now be serving luxurious accommodations alongside its signature dishes. Built into Caesar Palace’s Centurion Tower, The Nobu Hotel in Las Vegas took a leap from culinary to hospitality yesterday when it opened as the world’s first celebrity chef-inspired hotel.
Present at Saturday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony was the Oscar-winning actor and part-owner himself Robert De Niro, who was all smiles standing between two models wearing dresses made of paper folded into traditional origami designs. And that’s just the beginning of the stellar cast behind the concept, which includes De Niro’s long-time business partner Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Hollywood producer Meir Teper and lead designer David Rockwell, the same man who brought the brand’s informal luxury to fruition for the debut of Nobu in Los Angeles in 2008.
The first boutique hotel of its kind, The Nobu Hotel’s 181 rooms draw inspiration from Japanese shodo (calligraphy) and origami. In a recent article for The Los Angeles Times, Rockwell explained his decision to use touches of fir, hemlock, oak and teak to bring a subtle, rich feel to the property. “What we mostly did is take the notion of simple patterns and natural landscapes,” Rockwell says of the overall decor, “[It is] very simple but hopefully an oasis of Japanese warmth.”
Those visiting the hotel will not want to miss out at dining at the world’s largest Nobu restaurant totalling an impressive 12,775 sq. ft. including a 327-seat bar, lounge, and private dining area. Vibrant color schemes, large, pillowy light fixtures dangling overhead, and traditional teppanyaki tables for cooking directly in front of guests contrast the otherwise “zen” feel of the hotel’s interior.
For an added element of intrigue, consider the hotel’s no lobby approach, where guests are escorted to their rooms by iPad-wielding staff members so as to complete the check-in process in private. Plans to take the Nobu hotel concept to even greater heights has already being explored internationally with outposts in London, Bahrain and Riyadh in the works.
Weekend room rate at Nobu start at $299 for a king room.
