The waiting is over!

Joining two distinct sections – one a hyper-modern, black, V- shaped structure, and the other the pristine white tenement that once housed the Hotel Rialto – the luxury brand presents 117 guest rooms whose fundamental design attains a sense of elegant luxury whilst never straying into the vulgar: simplicity, say the designers, was key.

Having been awed by the fusion of chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Japanese-Peruvian flavors in an LA restaurant in the 1980s, the brand was born after Robert De Niro befriended the chef and asked him to consider joining in business to open in New York. The actor’s perseverance eventually paid off and, together with film producer Meir Teper, the trio launched the first Nobu restaurant in NYC’s trendy Tribeca  district.

Proving a firm hit with both the glitterati and public, more restaurants were born and their success prompted De Niro to rethink the group’s strategy – rather than continuing to open restaurants in hotels, why not launch their own hotel brand, one that would be truly in tune with the ethos of the restaurant. Again, his idea prevailed, and as indirectly as it might seem, the Nobu Hotel Warsaw is the result of one Oscar winner’s ultimate ambitions.

Joining the firm’s eleven other international hotels and 42 other global eateries, the team’s first Polish venture has kept much in line with the overall aesthetic of their previous projects: notable for its chic and swank design, it’s a look that places an emphasis on raw materials and natural light with the two wings purposefully bridging the past with the present.

Breaking from the overriding Nobu mantra, importance was placed on keeping the pre-war character of the first wing undisturbed, something apportioned to Teper. Of Polish ancestry himself, it was allegedly on his insistence that the building was preserved as a nod of respect to Warsaw ’s history and heritage. As such, what was once the Rialto Hotel – the city’s first boutique hotel – has retained many of its Art Deco flourishes thanks to a concept coined by the De Novo studio.

The other section, meanwhile, was the result of an international collaboration between Poland’s Medusa Group (also credited with the award-winning design of Warsaw ’s Akademeia High School) and California’s Studio PCH. Decorated throughout by artwork from the likes of Anna Bimer, Piotr Uklański and Mikołaj Moskal, the hotel is set to become a darling of both the travel press and lovers of the good life with its intentions signaled straight off the bat by a lobby featuring a wood-carved spiral stairwell, sensual aromas and black-clad staff that could belong in a Bond film.

Progressing to the rooms, guests are met by a choice of suites equipped with carefully selected vinyl sounds, hardwood floors, luxurious gowns and a underlying feeling of space. Higher up the end, facilities in-room include stunning bathtubs that you may not wish to leave.

Sustainable and rich in eco-friendly features such as “a green wall,” the hotel has already been awarded gold-level certification by LEED, with other internal boons including a water wastage control system and a heavy reliance on locally-sourced components. Looking to showcase “elegant but modest” solutions, the design teams were also keen to implement a style that kept faithful to Nobu’s Japanese inspirations. “While overall there is a noticeable post-industrial feel, the design is accessible,” they say, “this is a modern hotel for modern people.”

Neither is it inaccessibly priced. With published prices set at €199 per room, the bottom line costs are highly competitive when benchmarked against the capital’s other top bracket hotels. However, should the price be balked at then do, at least,  visit the restaurant… if you can.

Already recognized by foodies as the hottest opening of Warsaw ’s gastronomic year, find Nobu’s signatures dishes such as Black Cod Miso and Yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno served as well as tasting menus that reveal the full-depth of the culinary team’s talent. Accompanied by an in-house DJ, it’s a meal that will see you revaluate your thoughts about Japanese cuisine – here, something brilliant has been made even better.

Naturally, the stars have flocked here (spotted: Joanna Krupa!) and while the majority of Warsaw ’s restaurants look on shaky ground, Nobu is booked solid for the next two months – even so, wangling a table isn’t impossible should you deploy the right techniques. And if not, content yourself in Jassmine: slated to open in mid-September, Nobu’s on-site jazz/cocktail bar promises to elevate the city’s live music scene to new levels of previously unseen sophistication.

Nobu Hotel Warsaw

Wilcza 73, warsaw.nobuhotels.com