Nobu Hotel London Portman Square — Hotel in London

2.5 of 5 stars - A nice hotel with a great restaurant and interesting decor that struggles to find its identity. Go to dinner, not the hotel. It feels more like an attempted posh nightclub with an Asian Fusion restaurant, that also had a go at some luxury hotel rooms. Rather than a uniform and polished hotel experience.

Rooms 2/5 Simply too small, even after being upgraded, not worth the price Terrible lighting, no good place for make up see photo Cheap materials A bit of a dirty “drain” smell coming from the shower No Iron Huge balcony door that’s locked However, the bed was very comfortable!

Atmosphere 3/5 It felt like they tried to put little forced twists on everything from food, music, decor, uniforms, etc. Overall, one can see what the Nobu is trying to do, but much of it just didn’t quite land for us. It’s like a wine where you can taste the individual flavors rather than a well balanced subtle wine that becomes something greater than its individual ingredients and leaves you feeling, “Wow!” Or it’s like getting a roll, some cinnamon, and some sugar glaze. Each tastes ok on its own and they go together in theory, but it’s just not the same as a warm gooey cinnamon roll. Odd choices of music during breakfast and dinner. We joked around at every breakfast seating saying it felt like we should be in a movie montage as vigilantes making explosives out of random items from our closet in the middle of the night. The music had this very serious underscore with continuous EDM bass pulses. Just not a good vibe to start your day.

During dinner they had a DJ set up in the main dining room but again, the music selection didn’t fit the restaurant atmosphere. It was odd down tempo EDM instrumental stuff. It was loud and felt like I was being pulled between a night club and fine dining. I much rather would have preferred no music or very soft music freeing one's attention for conversation and for focusing on the amazing menu. Instead it felt like a giant comical distraction

The seating was also a bit cramped. They had long benches with 2 seaters set up a little too close to each other. You feel a bit like you should introduce yourself to the neighboring tables. I would have loved to see more privacy or separation between tables. The uniforms of the female staff looked like something you’d have seen in Demolition Man (Starring Sly Stallone and Sandra Bullock) if they had flight attendants. Again, I see what they’re going for, but it just missed the mark a bit.

Service 4/5 Great service from the front desk and staff, although check out took a bit longer because the associate wasn’t familiar with the Amex FHR perks that had to be removed from my bill and the printer at her given station wasn’t working. Quick laundry turnaround Calls to reception were answered quickly. It didn’t leave me feeling it was AMAZING service like some other top tier hotels that feel like every interaction with staff left me saying to myself, “Wow, they’re really doing everything they can to make our stay better and where every interaction begins with, “Hello Mr. Smith” etc. but it certainly was not bad service. Just didn’t have the extra flare or wow factor as some other places.

Restaurant 4/5 Breakfast Ok, but forced menu twists of fusion just didn’t land for us As an example, our server told us French Toast was also an option but not printed in the menu. We tried it but it arrived covered in Bananas and a lemon citrus glaze/syrup covering everything. It’s ok to keep classic breakfast options without forcing an unnecessary twist to every dish. The pulsing EDM music playing was distracting and didn’t fit

Dinner 6 course tasting menu Excellent! An absolute win! Highly recommended! Both the fish and Veg based menus. (The ToFu steak from the Veg menu wasn't impressive but no one expects a tofu steak to be impressive. It was softer tofu with brown sauce.) Really could have done without the DJ bumping loud tunes the whole time.

Bar - Really dimly lit. Nice drink options. The loud DJ music felt...

This hotel and manager are a poor example of the Nobu brand. Our entire stay was uncomfortable from the moment we walked in and waited several hours for check-in as the front desk lied on the room reservation we booked. Our reservation was clear on the room type and the Front Desk instead the room was different in the UK and tried to force us into a smaller room. Our rooms were never serviced, each night we returned from sightseeing we had to ask for towels and soap. We had the night manager visit our room as proof, our rooms were never cleaned. The heat did not work and we were very uncomfortable in our room. Instead of offering us a room where the heat worked we were given an extra blanket. A technician came to look at the heating system and he confirmed he had no clue to fix the heat problem. We finally asked the manager to visit our room as we were fed up with our stay and clearly not welcomed! I spoke at length with Fabiola regarding all the issues with our stay. She confirmed she'd issue a full refund and told us not to stop by the front desk on our way out as she would handle everything. To date, I have not received a refund to my credit card. I have contacted Fabiola who proceeded to lie and say my body hit a switch on the wall and turned on a light confirming no service was needed to my room, each day of our stay. Fabiola had a clear view of my body, she is also much bigger than me. When she left the room her bigger body did not switch a light yet now behind email this is her claim. I requested the hotel manager who Fabiola tried not to involve. I emailed him several times, to no avail. He finally responded today and has repeated the same lies. Nowhere on his email does he address the issues that were experienced and relates to surveillance recordings which the hotel has refused to share or detail.

I wouldn't recommend this place as we were more than accommodating to the issues and expected them issues to change, heat to be fixed, rooms to be cleaned and not expected to wait several hours for check-in or treated like we were not welcomed.

At check-in a front desk agent was so stern with us to ensure checking our passports against our faces while in front of her yet the very next guests, one sat on the sofa at least 20 ft away and used her passport for check-in, not demanding the woman be in her face to check against it as she sternly did with us. The same women were promptly escorted to their rooms as we waited hours for a room although we had arrived significantly ahead of them. The hotel made it very clear we were thought of as suspicious and not welcomed guest.

I would never in my life stay at this hotel. It was more of a modest Airbnb stay than a 5 star hotel. No cleaning service, freezing rooms, having to requesting fresh towels, not honoring our reserved room booking and staff, management, hotel manager that are blatant liars and deceitful.

Fabiola told us she had over 15 years in hotel experience and "double occupancy" means king bed for ONE person. She repeated this to our face as we shared the hotel reservation is clear on what we booked. This is not what double occupancy means.

I plan to file a complaints with the business and travel authorities...

Fantastic Experience at the Nobu Hotel Portman Square

I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Nobu Hotel Portman Square during a weekend trip to London, and from check-in to check-out, it was an exceptional experience.

Upon our arrival, we were greeted with a warm and authentic welcome at the check-in desk. Despite arriving early for our room to be ready, the staff efficiently registered us and securely stored our bags, allowing us to explore the city right away. The hotel's superb location on Portman Square, nestled just off the main shopping area and surrounded by numerous restaurants, was definitely an added advantage. A thoughtful touch was receiving a text message informing us when our room was ready, giving us the option to return early from our shopping excursion.

Collecting our keys and entering our room, we were immediately immersed in the soothing Japanese ambiance. The room, with its understated yet elegant decor, boasted top-quality finishes. The large and supremely comfortable bed, adorned with luxurious linen, ensured a restful night's sleep. An impressive feature was the well-stocked mini-bar, offering a variety of delightful snacks. The blackout curtains worked effectively, allowing for undisturbed sleep.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of our stay was the remarkable food and beverage offerings at the hotel. We thoroughly enjoyed indulging in fantastic cocktails at the Nobu Bar, inspired by the travels of the renowned Nobu himself. The lounge bar provided an ideal space to unwind, whether for a cocktail or a coffee while waiting for friends or simply enjoying some downtime. However, the true star of the show was the breakfast experience. Although many guests may be inclined to dine "at Nobu," our focus during this trip was on the breakfast at the Nobu restaurant, which was included in our weekend room package. The buffet, while not extensive, delighted us with the exceptional quality of its ingredients. Additionally, ordering à la carte brought further delight as we savored amazing English breakfasts and Eggs Benedict, each dish bursting with sensational flavors. To complete these lovely breakfasts, we indulged in a couple of revitalizing Bloody Marys, the perfect pick-me-up after a night out.

Throughout our stay, the exceptional service and friendly demeanor of the staff exemplified the epitome of a 5-star experience. From the door staff welcoming us back with a smile to the knowledgeable restaurant and bar teams who effortlessly assisted us in making the most delicious choices, the level of attentiveness was truly commendable.

Without a doubt, when I find myself back in London, the Nobu Hotel Portman Square will be my first choice for accommodation. This remarkable hotel has left a lasting impression, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking an unforgettable 5* experience in the...