Nobu Hospitality’s rising sun has reached the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula, where its first Mexico hotel opened in April. The new-build Nobu Hotel Los Cabos marks the ninth of the brand worldwide for the rapidly growing hospitality group owned by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, actor Robert De Niro and Hollywood producer Meir Teper.
Contributed by Alicia Sheber
The offshoot of Nobu Restaurants is among luxury brands such as Four Seasons, Aman and 1 Hotels set to?elevate the area.
The competition doesn’t worry GM Felix Schlokat. “Nobu-san says if the food is good and the guests are happy, they’re going to come back, and he’s totally right,” he said. “We already have tremendous guests from Nobu’s gastronomic side, so now we just need to introduce them to our hotel.”
Americans comprise 80% of occupancy, Schlokat said, mostly from California. The balance comes from Mexico and Canada, with the Australian market arriving soon.
Synthesis
Flanked by the Diamante Cabo San Lucas golf course designed by Tiger Woods and Davis Love III and the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, the site’s prime stretch of shoreline offers guests’ ample connections with nature. This was essential to the synthesis of Japanese and Mexican aesthetics envisioned by building and landscape architect WATG and interior designer Studio PCH, which was the architect for the freestanding Nobu Restaurant and has designed more than 10 Nobu projects.
The design integrity aimed at showcasing Mexico’s cultural sophistication — an antithesis to the pastiche of most “exported” Mexican hospitality designs as well as monotonous international hotels that could be anywhere in the world. The result is 103 suites, some with private pools along the beach; 97 standard rooms with teak onsen soaking tubs; a 13,700-square-foot spa; four pools; four restaurants; five bars; and 11 function areas. All blend Japanese minimalism with Mexican touches.
Oriented to capture sea views and breezes, the 377,000-square-foot site celebrates the outdoor living made?possible by a temperate climate. Sliding glass doors replace many walls, and floor tiles inside and out blur boundaries.
Numerous tests ensured materials would withstand humid salt air and strong sunlight, said Severine Tatangelo, principal and founder of Venice, California-based Studio PCH. ?The millworker “suggested durable local stones and timbers such as parota wood, as well as traditional carpentry techniques, to create a true sense of Mexican style.”
Minimized shipping distances lowered the project’s carbon footprint, as does illumination from bathroom skylights and natural ventilation in the corridors and public spaces, since only the guest rooms are air-conditioned.
The Nobu Restaurant is modeled after the brand’s Malibu, California, venue, also designed by Studio PCH, with a courtyard for alfresco dining and indoor tables with shoreline views. Farm-to-table restaurant Malibu Farm uses produce grown in the hotel’s garden.
Personal space
The design team, managed onsite by Ashley Fitch, interior designer of Studio PCH, approached the spaces as if part of a personal home, bringing a chilled-out calm to the?angular Japanese-inspired architecture. Niches create an intimate human scale within soaring, open-plan zones. Local art commissions and accessories found in Guadalajara, Mexico, add authenticity.