Assessment: Nobu Resort Santorini (Greece)

Wednesday newsletters all the time function a resort or flight overview.

Late summer season 2023, I traveled to Greece’s mainland and the Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos. You’ll be able to learn my journey stories right here:

As we speak: Nobu Resort Santorini (Greece)

Located on Santorini’s charming 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? In that case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.

On this overview (extra information and images beneath my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

The Nobu Resort is positioned in a secluded spot on Santorini’s majestic volcanic cliffs (caldera). The boutique resort is ready alongside a mud highway, which is basically a part of the well-known mountain climbing path that connects Fira, the capital of Santorini, with Oia, the island’s most picturesque village. The truth is, the resort is at the moment the one growth on this a part of Santorini and its remoted but central location is one among its primary attracts, providing the most effective of each worlds: it’s inside a brief distance from Santorini’s most well-known cities and village (by taxi or on foot in the event you don’t thoughts some critical mountain climbing alongside the caldera path) however far sufficient away from the big vacationer crowds that go to the island’s points of interest every summer season. 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 positioned on the outskirts of Imerovigli village. Imerovigli is usually dubbed “the balcony of the Aegean” attributable to its place on the highest level of Santorini’s caldera (300 m or 1000 ft above sea stage). Whereas the resort’s setting is just not 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 seems to be out over the whitewashed village of Oia, which is world-famous for its Cycladic structure and good 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 type with a contact of Asian minimalism, leading to an eclectic fusion of Greek structure and Japanese interiors. The renovation of the prevailing resort website – 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 aspect of the pool incorporates a small out of doors reception space and a fitness center (on the bottom ground) as properly because the breakfast restaurant (on the primary stage) whereas the resort’s signature Nobu Restaurant is located on the opposite aspect of the pool.

The social hub of Nobu Resort Santorini is the attractive 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 visitors 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 type and luxury, earlier than watching the solar go down, with a contemporary drink in hand and within the firm of likeminded individuals. 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 aspect of the island and include dawn views). Throughout my vacation, I stayed in a Umi Suite on the resort’s first ground, which was reached by a separate entrance from the road. Styled in a minimalistic design, the cave-house type room featured a king-sized mattress (with a Simmons luxurious mattress), a lounge chair, and an ensuite toilet outfitted with one wash basin, a bathroom, and a bathe. The suite’s spotlight was its personal terrace with Jacuzzi, which provided 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 residence to the nation’s first Nobu Restaurant. Set in a pergola in addition to the pool, the venue serves lunch and dinner. At lunch, visitors 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 corresponding 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 one of the revolutionary luxurious manufacturers by Robb Report, Nobu Hospitality is ranked amongst an elite number of world life-style manufacturers. Based by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro, and Meir Teper, with operations spanning 5 continents, the Nobu model thrives on the earth’s capitals as the last 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 an extra 35 inns have been added each open and in growth. As we speak Nobu inns 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 all the time really feel very personal. For instance, a number of rooms on the bottom ground have terraces which look out proper on the general public pool deck. Though these rooms include Jacuzzis, visitors may not be inclined to make use of them attributable to a lack of privateness, since different visitors are always passing by at shut proximity. If privateness is a should for you, make sure that to e-book a primary ground room.

Nobu Resort Santorini is positioned proper subsequent to a mud highway which could be very well-liked amongst hikers (because it connects the island’s capital Thyra with Oia). In the course of the day, dozens of hikers go alongside the property and have a direct view of visitors lounging across the higher pool (which is positioned on the road stage). It’d really feel a bit awkward, however that mentioned, most inns within the Imerovigli space are positioned alongside this mountain climbing path with their pool areas uncovered to passing trekkers. The excellent news is that there’s seldom motor visitors at Nobu Resort Santorini and the fabulous views throughout the caldera greater than make of for the dearth of privateness.

Nobu Resort Santorini calls all of its rooms “suites”, however in truth they really feel extra like rooms than true suites. For instance, whereas my room – the Uma Suite – was completely beautiful, it was not an actual suite, not less than not on the within. Aside from one armchair, there was no actual sitting space (though the out of doors terrace was intensive). Additionally the villas on the resort are usually not what I might name true villas: every villa is comprised of two bedrooms on prime of one another, however there isn’t a separate sitting space. One thing to bear in mind is that the villas – that are nice for households or a gaggle of pals – don’t include caldera views (they appear out over Santorini’s reverse aspect)

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 figuring out the kinks – however I did encounter a number of service points throughout my keep. For instance, the check-in course of was an especially sluggish affair and took roughly half-hour (and after I used to be lastly on my method to the room, I used to be referred to as again to the reception space since they forgot to serve me a welcome drink). Additionally, I acquired 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 residence – it took 45 minutes to arrange my sizzling breakfast dish. Total, the employees was very pleasant however they gave the impression to be missing some coaching in sure areas. I hope that the service shall be extra polished subsequent season.

Nobu Resort Santorini incorporates a well-equipped fitness center, however it lack a wellness heart. At the moment, spa remedies are solely obtainable in-room though the resort homeowners have plans to construct a luxe spa sooner or later.

Nobu Resort Santorini is pleased with its sustainability insurance policies however sadly, it nonetheless affords single-use toilet toiletries (as an alternative of refillable glass-only bottles).

Final summer season, Nobu Resort Santorini was one of the costly inns on Santorini Island. Throughout excessive season, the entry room charges have been properly above 1000 euros per evening, which – in my humble opinion – was an excessive amount of, given the dearth of privateness of the pool space and several other rooms, as properly the service points I encountered. That mentioned, I observed that room charges for the subsequent seasons are extra cheap (beginning at 681 euros per evening) and extra in step with the product provided.

MY VERDICT

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

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Get monetary savings: learn right here my suggestions for getting the most effective 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, make sure that to keep away from the bottom ground rooms and to e-book a primary ground room as an alternative.

Learn my suggestions for getting ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The perfect 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 probably the most guests in the course of the summer season, so that you’ll must make your reservations not less than two months upfront to journey then.

HOW TO GET THERE

Nobu Resort Santorini is positioned 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.