Hotel Review: Nobu Hotel Miami Beach

I never thought I would say these words, but, “please, hold the fries.” At Nobu Hotel Miami Beach, room service fare looks and tastes a little different: Guests staying at the property can choose from a 24-hour menu featuring dishes from the wildly popular Nobu Miami restaurant downstairs.

As I was hungry from a languid Saturday morning spent at the white-sand beach mere steps away from the hotel, every single item on the menu sounded mouthwatering. After careful deliberation, I settled on the Bu’ Sliders (wagyu-blend burgers with toasted bao buns, shiitake mushrooms, crispy onions, spicy ketchup and truffle-honey aioli) and the yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno.

Less than an hour later — an admirable feat, since wait times at Nobu Miami can climb upward of 1.5 hours — the two dishes arrived at my guestroom’s door. True to Nobu form, they were worth every penny. (I even closed my eyes while eating in hopes of enhancing the tasty, nuanced flavors.)

In my opinion, this exclusive, indulgent service is enough reason to book a stay at the luxurious south Florida hotel, whose 206 guestrooms and suites encompass a tower of the iconic Eden Roc Miami Beach. (Upon entering the Eden Roc building, a set of gold, gilded elevators to the left provide access to only Nobu Hotel Miami Beach guestrooms.)

A fixture in The Magic City since 1956, Eden Roc features a Morris Lapidus-designed, neobaroque exterior — a style that’s celebrated as being quintessentially Miami. Conversely, Nobu Hotel Miami Beach, which opened in spring 2016, is still among the newer properties lining the lively Atlantic coastline. The hotel-within-a-hotel concept — helmed by celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa and actor Robert De Niro — has a striking style all its own, while still incorporating Miami’s modern yet kitschy panache.

The vision of award-winning architect David Rockwell and his team at Rockwell Group, guestrooms conjure Japanese-inspired beach houses, with an emphasis on raw, natural materials and textures. Black-and-white photography of Japanese landscapes and scenes adorn the walls, while an abstract sand pattern embellishes the soft carpet. Lantern-style lighting, live-edge wood furniture and a woven headboard featuring cherry blossoms round out the minimal, tranquil atmosphere. My Deluxe Ocean View accommodation’s balcony, which opened to the sea, felt like a piece of paradise.

Though there wasn’t a bathtub in the room’s Italian marble-floor bathroom, it did have a large rain shower with an additional handheld spout and a teak wood bench — a worthwhile compromise. I took advantage of the Natura Bisse bath products with a delicious rosemary-and-white-tea scent; the media hub with Bluetooth technology; the complimentary tea and Nespresso coffee; the free Wi-Fi access; and the Nobu private bar stocked with Japanese sweets and chef Nobu’s wine and sake selection (available for a fee).

Outside of the guestroom, clients can sink into bliss at the 22,000-square-foot Esencia Spa. Without needing to book a spa treatment, Nobu Hotel Miami Beach guests have complimentary access to the hydrotherapy circuit (hot and cold plunge pools, a whirlpool, saunas and a hydro-experience shower) and a relaxation room. And if the attached Esencia Fitness Center — shared with folks staying at Eden Roc — is crowded, they can use the private gym on the tower’s penthouse floor.

A Nobu Hotel Miami Beach pool is currently under construction and is slated to open this year; in the meantime, guests can catch rays at Eden Roc’s three pools and the adjacent beach. (Note: These common areas become crowded very quickly, especially during Miami’s high season; it’s advised to snag a pool or beach chair as early in the day as possible.)

Later that Saturday, when I was still fondly recalling my too-short-lived love affair with six pieces of yellowtail sashimi, I heard another knock on my door. I opened it to find a fully stocked cocktail cart, as well as a bartender, grinning from ear to ear and asking for my cocktail order. (Offered daily from 5-7 p.m., the festive surprise is free for all Nobu Hotel Miami Beach guests.)

Carilis Felipe, director of field sales for Nobu Hotel Miami Beach, says that travel advisors can sell the property confidently knowing that it is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World collection, and that every aspect of the guest experience is curated.

“Nobu Hospitality brings the notion of ‘omotenashi,’ meaning offering the very best of service and hospitality,” she said. “There is nothing more important than offering good food and good service in the story of Nobu.”

The Details
Nobu Hotel Miami Beach
www.nobuhotelmiamibeach.com