Nobu Hotel Warsaw

In the very heart of Warsaw, at the intersection of Wilcza and Koszykowa streets, Nobu Hotel Warsaw stands out for its understated elegance, combining Japanese minimalism with Art Deco influences. For more than five years, the hotel has attracted international guests, business leaders, and those seeking top-tier culinary and musical experiences. Nobu is a global hospitality and restaurant brand co-founded by Academy Award winner Robert De Niro, chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and film producer Meir Teper. The foundation of its five-star properties worldwide lies in the consistent integration of architecture, exceptional cuisine, and refined hospitality. In November 2025, the three founders visited Warsaw to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Nobu’s presence in Poland.

Omotenashi: The Spirit of Japanese Hospitality
Nobu Hotel Warsaw is a space where both architecture and atmosphere are guided by the concept of omotenashi—the Japanese philosophy of hospitality rooted in genuine care for guests and their overall experience, including visual impressions. The historic wing of the former Hotel Rialto was transformed into the classic part of the property, complemented by a newly built modern structure. Although the two sections differ in style and materials, their contrast does not divide but rather intrigues, creating a layered spatial narrative.

An integral part of the experience is the Nobu restaurant, renowned for its signature interpretation of Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, as well as the Sake Bar and the hidden, underground jazz club Jassmine—an original, atmospheric music venue rarely found within the city’s hotel landscape.

Architecture and Detail
The hotel’s award-winning architecture blends Art Deco with contemporary elements while remaining sensitive to its urban context. Designed by Medusa Group in collaboration with California-based Studio PCH, the project was developed on a challenging, irregularly shaped plot, formerly occupied by a gas station and located in close proximity to historic urban fabric. This required a particularly precise and responsible design approach, both in terms of scale and its relationship with existing buildings.

The new section takes the form of a glazed, trapezoidal volume with staggered floors, allowing for varied perspectives and enhanced natural light. Its façade, made of crushed glass, functions as a semi-transparent membrane, ensuring guest privacy while filtering light and opening interiors to views of Warsaw’s skyline and vertical greenery. The building’s distinctive curved glass corner reinterprets the language of high-end architecture, where bent glass enables a fluid, organic form.

The interiors of the 116 rooms are defined by a contrast of materials and textures. Raw concrete is paired with soft wood and elegant travertine, while contemporary elements—such as patterned carpets and architectural concrete—interact with features inspired by Art Deco aesthetics, including wood textures, black finishes, and wallpaper. The composition is complemented by carefully selected works by Polish artists from the ASOM Collection.

Located at 73 Wilcza Street, Nobu Hotel Warsaw remains, five years after its opening, one of the most distinctive examples of contemporary hotel architecture in Poland. The brand’s characteristic, individualized approach to design has found a strong local interpretation through the bold ideas of Medusa Group—rooted in Warsaw’s history while remaining open to a global context.

Design: Medusa Group and Studio PCH
Photography: courtesy of Nobu