Margarita Medrano-Tupaz
IN the heart of Metro Manila’s Entertainment City is a structure with an all-glass, golden façade, and has allure and glamour drizzled all over it. This is City of Dreams Manila, an integrated resort and casino that features a dazzling array of entertainment and attractions, various premium dining outlets and three luxurious hotel brands, including Nobu Hotel Manila.
Tired of the average cookie-cutter luxury hotel? Despite its glitzy exterior, Nobu Hotel’s interior screams understated elegance—dark wood, dark floors, subtle tones of gray, mauve, red and white, and numerous contemporary art pieces. The chic-design hotel, part-owned by Robert De Niro, and inspired by the world-renowned Japanese culinary genius Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, is a trendsetting boutique hotel that will deliver a thrilling, celebrity-inspired and “fun-luxury” experience. The Nobu Hotel at City of Dreams Manila marks the entry of the internationally acclaimed Nobu Hospitality into Asia.
A modern, Japanese-inspired aesthetic is found throughout the hotel, designed by the internationally acclaimed Rockwell Group, whose hand also created the look and feel of Nobu restaurants around the world. At Nobu Hotel, the stylish interior of all 321 guest rooms incorporates a mix of traditional and contemporary icons from Japanese culture. The carpeting and main wall showcase a design that alludes to calligraphy. A serene atmosphere is created with white walls, lantern-like lamps, decorative cherry blossoms and beds laden with premium sheets. Custom works of Japanese expressionists and other modern artists are also on display throughout the property. In addition, the bathrooms contain elegant stone tiling and teak fittings. Guests are sure to enjoy the oversized walk-in showers, bathtubs, basin-style sinks, outfitted by world-class brands of bathroom appliances. Rooms also include complimentary high-speed internet access, top-of-the-line home-entertainment appliances, pillowtop matresses, two sizes of luxury bathrobes and slippers, and many more.
For those with a daily workout routine, Nobu Fitness and Spa, which is exclusively available for hotel guests, has a state-of-the-art gym, aside from a 23.2-meter-long swimming pool. For additional pampering and refined decadence, visit the Nobu Spa and experience its various indulgent signature treatments for the face and body.
Some of the spa treatments include the Nobu Rakuen, an invigorating footbath ritual, followed by Asian-inspired fused massages with relaxing scents of essential oils to soothe away stress, then a rejuvenating hand-and-foot massage to awaken your body’s energy flow, finishing with a relaxing head-and-face massage to complete an exclusive discovery of paradise. The Renewal Massage is a fusion of yoga stretches, Swedish massage techniques and acupressure movements using relaxing blended essential oils that will take the body to an ultimate journey of renewal. Juan’s “Hilot” Pride is a therapeutic full-body massage that soothes overworked and tired muscles, helping to unwind the senses. This experience is most popular in rural areas of the Philippines, which represents the typical Filipino “Juan.” This is the perfect treatment for the gentlemen who want to relax and indulge in massages. Nobu Spa also offers hair, skin and nail services.
Nobu Restaurant
CHEF Nobu Matsuhisa’s culinary empire spans through 36 restaurants, in 31 cities and five continents. Guests at Nobu Manila will be able to savor his signature contemporary artistic fusion and mouthwatering cuisine. Nobu Manila is the 32nd among its chain of restaurants. It offers a contemporary fine-dining venue with 335 seats, including two private dining rooms, a sushi bar, floating-water cabanas, two Teppanyaki tables and a Chef’s Table.
Nobu Restaurant Manila just acquired a very impressive and powerful tandem from the Nobu Restaurant in Las Vegas—Michael de Jesus, head chef; and Kenny Hernandez, restaurant manager. These gentlemen aim to introduce the Nobu style of cuisine and service to the Philippines. “By offering a unique dining experience with a personal touch to each of our customers, regardless of how much they are willing to spend, I believe that they will want to keep coming back,” Hernandez said. “The Philippines has a lot to offer as far as ingredients. I want to create Nobu-inspired dishes using locally sourced produce and seafood. It gets me excited thinking of all the possibilities we can offer to our diners,” de Jesus added.
Nobu Manila’s newest offering is the Sunday Brunch, and it just takes the whole idea of “brunch” to another level. The trendy and modern celebrity-inspired restaurant serves a finely curated brunch buffet that includes Seabass JalapeĖo, Crispy Pork Belly in Spicy Miso, Okonomi Yaki and some of acclaimed Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s signature dishes, such as the Tuna Tataki in Cilantro Dressing, White Fish Tiradito, Wagyu Beef Taco and Salmon Karashi Su Miso, to name a few. Nobu fans and Japanese food lovers will delight in some 50 items in the brunch fare that will satisfy any hearty appetite and craving for the innovative new-style Japanese cuisine that incorporates Peruvian ingredients. Breakfast pastry selections and pastry miniatures are bountiful in the dessert corner, where the cynosure of all eyes is the fountain of Matcha white ganache chocolate served with condiments. The oven-baked warm chocolate cake baked ą la minute and served with green-tea ice cream is a delightful sweet ending.
The Nobu Sunday Brunch Buffet is offered at P2,880+, inclusive of sodas, juices, mocktails, coffee and tea. For a more hip experience, diners may opt to have the brunch with free flow Moet & Chandon, a selection of Champagne cocktails, Bloody Marys, Mojitos, wines and beer, at P4,580+. Children are most welcome to join their parents for Sunday brunch. The cost of the buffet is 50 percent off for children up to 12 years old. Aside from being able to bring home their own Origami design creations made at the Origami corner, a roving magician also provides added entertainment to diners with tableside magic tricks.
Dreamplay
SPEAKING from experience, no family staycation is ever complete if the children are not happy and engaged. Thankfully for the little guests staying in Nobu Hotel, they can enjoy DreamPlay by DreamWorks. DreamPlay is a first-of-its-kind indoor, interactive play and creativity center. Built upon the incredible stories of DreamWorks films and brought to life through the latest digital technologies, DreamPlay allows kids and the kids at heart to experience their wildest dreams. Whether becoming a Kung-Fu master with Po or soaring through the skies with dragons, DreamPlay is a true breakthrough in family entertainment.