Evaluation: Nobu Resort Santorini (Greece)

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

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

Right now: Nobu Resort Santorini (Greece)

Located on Santorini’s fascinating northeast coast, Nobu Resort Santorini is boutique resort which affords 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). Only a 10-minute drive from the charming coastal city of Oia and 20 minutes from Santorini (Thira) Worldwide Airport, the resort is well-positioned alongside the famed Oia-Fira mountain climbing 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 ever stayed at Nobu Resort Santorini? If that’s the case, what was your expertise? Depart a remark.

On this assessment (extra data and images beneath my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

The Nobu Resort is situated in a secluded spot on Santorini’s majestic volcanic cliffs (caldera). The boutique resort is about alongside a mud street, which is actually a part of the well-known mountain climbing path that connects Fira, the capital of Santorini, with Oia, the island’s most picturesque village. In actual fact, the resort is presently the one improvement on this a part of Santorini and its remoted but central location is one among its principal attracts, providing the perfect of each worlds: it’s inside a brief distance from Santorini’s most well-known cities and village (by taxi or on foot for those who don’t thoughts some critical mountain climbing 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 Resort can also be conveniently near the airport (a 15 min drive) and the seaport (a 40 min drive).

The Nobu Resort Santorini is situated on the outskirts of Imerovigli village. Imerovigli is usually 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 stage). Whereas the resort’s setting just isn’t as excessive as Imerovigli (and it’s fairly an uphill hike attending to the village), the views from the property are simply as gorgeous. 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 1000’s of vacationers every evening), though the sundown views from the resort are equally mesmerizing and crowd-free.

Opened in 2022, the Nobu Resort Santorini was not constructed from the bottom up, however is a modern revamp of a former five-star property (Omma Resort). The boutique property is designed within the conventional Cycladic fashion with a contact of Asian minimalism, leading to an eclectic fusion of Greek structure and Japanese interiors. The renovation of the present resort web site – Nobu’s first enterprise in Greece – was overseen by Elastic Architects, an award-winning Greek firm of proficient architects and inside designers. On the heart of the design is the resort’s open-sided courtyard with swimming pool, which enjoys breathtaking caldera views. One facet of the pool contains a small out of doors reception space and a health club (on the bottom flooring) as effectively because the breakfast restaurant (on the primary stage) whereas the resort’s signature Nobu Restaurant is located on the opposite facet of the pool.

The social hub of Nobu Resort Santorini is the gorgeous bi-level infinity pool, which sits on the coronary heart of the property. The higher stage 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 stage is a sq. pool, located straight behind the higher stage pool and having fun with a extra personal 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 fashion and luxury, earlier than watching the solar go down, with a recent drink in hand and within the firm of likeminded folks. On chosen days (Thursday to Sunday), the resident DJ performs a backdrop of chilled island beats throughout sundown.

Nobu Resort Santorini is an intimate boutique property, that includes simply 25 bedrooms. Lodging choices vary from the first-floor Aozora suites (with caldera & sundown views) to the two-level villas that includes personal gardens and swimming swimming pools (the latter look out onto the opposite facet of the island and include dawn views). Throughout my vacation, I stayed in a Umi Suite on the resort’s first flooring, which was reached by a separate entrance from the road. Styled in a minimalistic design, the cave-house fashion room featured a king-sized mattress (with a Simmons luxurious mattress), a lounge chair, and an ensuite lavatory geared up with one wash basin, a rest room, and a bathe. The suite’s spotlight was its personal 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 in addition to 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 neglect to ask for the catch of the day) or go for heartier choices like Fried Umami Rooster Wings, Donburi and Wagyu Beef Sando. The signature Nobu expertise is served at dinnertime and options dishes comparable 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-Model “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 Resort assortment. Named some of the progressive luxurious manufacturers by Robb Report, Nobu Hospitality is ranked amongst an elite number of international life-style manufacturers. Based by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro, and Meir Teper, with operations spanning 5 continents, the Nobu model thrives on the planet’s capitals as the final word vacation spot life-style expertise. Nobu Inns mix fashionable cool luxurious and minimal Japanese custom into the idea of a way of life resort. The primary Nobu Resort opened in 2013 in Las Vegas and since then a further 35 resorts have been added each open and in improvement. Right now Nobu resorts are open within the following areas: Manila, Miami Seaside, Malibu, Shoreditch (London), Ibiza, Palo Alto, Marbella, Los Cabos, Barcelona, Warsaw, Chicago, Portman Sq. (London), Santorini, Atlanta, Marrakech and Seville.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

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

Nobu Resort Santorini is situated proper subsequent to a mud street which could be very fashionable amongst hikers (because it connects the island’s capital Thyra with Oia). Through the day, dozens of hikers move alongside the property and have a direct view of company lounging across the higher pool (which is situated on the road stage). It would really feel a bit awkward, however that stated, most resorts within the Imerovigli space are situated alongside this mountain climbing path with their pool areas uncovered to passing trekkers. The excellent news is that there’s seldom motor site visitors at Nobu Resort Santorini and the fabulous views throughout the caldera greater than make up for the shortage of privateness.

Nobu Resort 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. Aside from one armchair, there was no actual sitting space (though the out of doors terrace was expansive). Additionally the villas on the resort are usually not what I’d name true villas: every villa is comprised of two bedrooms on prime of one another, however there is no such thing as a separate sitting space. One thing to remember is that the villas – that are nice for households or a gaggle of buddies – don’t include caldera views (they appear out over Santorini’s reverse facet)

The service at Nobu Resort Santorini didn’t fully adhere to the requirements I’d count on from a luxurious property. This can be partly as a result of the resort is new – and they’re understanding the kinks – however I did encounter a number of service points throughout my keep. For instance, the check-in course of was an especially gradual and inefficient affair which took roughly half-hour (and after I used to be lastly on my method to the room, I used to be known as again to the reception space since they forgot to serve me a welcome drink). Additionally, I obtained the flawed orders for breakfast on every morning of my two-night keep (which grew to become a bit irritating after some time), and the morning of my departure – after I needed to catch my airplane again dwelling – it took 45 minutes to organize my scorching breakfast dish. General, the workers was very pleasant however they appeared to be missing some coaching in sure areas. I hope that the service will likely be extra polished subsequent season.

Nobu Resort Santorini contains a well-equipped health club, however it lack a wellness heart. At present, spa remedies are solely out there in-room though the resort house owners have plans to construct a luxe spa sooner or later.

Nobu Resort Santorini is happy with its sustainability insurance policies however sadly, it nonetheless affords single-use lavatory toiletries (as a substitute of refillable glass-only bottles).

Final summer time, Nobu Resort Santorini was some of the costly resorts on Santorini Island. Throughout excessive season, the entry room charges had been effectively above 1000 euros per evening, which – in my humble opinion – was method an excessive amount of, given the shortage of privateness of the pool space and several other rooms, as effectively the service points I encountered. That stated, I seen that the room charges for the subsequent 2024 summer time season are extra fairly priced (beginning at 681 euros per evening in excessive season) and extra consistent with the product supplied.

MY VERDICT

Location: 8/10
Design: 8/10
Pool: 9/10
Rooms: 8/10
Meals: 8/10
Breakfast: 8/10
Spa: n/a (not out there)
Service: 7/10
Wow issue: 8/10
Worth for cash: 7/10
General expertise: 8/10 (excellent)

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Lower your expenses: learn right here my suggestions for getting the perfect deal at a luxurious resort like Nobu Resort Santorini (and/or obtain many free perks).

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

Learn my suggestions for making ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The most effective 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 essentially the most guests through 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 Resort Santorini is situated a 40 minute drive from Santorini’s ferry port and a 15 min drive from Santorini (Thira) Nationwide 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

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