Nobu, Los Cabo Review: A Minimalist Oasis in Baja
Front of Nobu Restaurant, located on the beach in the heart of Nobu Hotel, Los Cabo
A Review of Nobu Hotel, Los Cabo - Mexico
Nobu Los Cabo is an elegantly designed luxury hotel found on the Southern tip of Cabo San Lucas. The hotel's unique style is inspired by Japanese design aesthetics, with a tasteful touch of local baja influence, expertly incorporated through elements of textures and color.
The thoughtful design creates a feeling of serenity throughout the property, thanks to the clean lines, flowing water features and heavy use of natural materials.
This sense of calm can be felt upon arrival at Nobu, Los Cabo. Walking into the lobby feels like a breath of fresh air. You’ll be handed a nice cold towel, a refreshing drink while bags are quietly being attended to. It’s this level of sophistication that distinguishes a luxury hotel from an average one. That feeling of relaxation will continue throughout your stay at Nobu, a true respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
If you are reading this review of Nobu hotel and weighing up a few options on where to spend your time in Cabo, Nobu is up there with Cabo’s finest luxury hotels, like One & Only Palmilla and Esperanza Resort, but at a much more reasonable price point. This price comes at the expense of location, which we will cover off in more detail in this review, as well as sharing an overview of the rooms, dining, safety, and facilities.
The Nobu Hotel Courtyard
Hotel Property Quick Facts:
Nobu’s Los Cabo hotel opened in 2019 within the Diamante Community - the surroundings include Hard Rock Hotel, Diamante Resort & Golf Course, and Diamante Residence Villas.
Nobu is a mid-size resort with 200 guest rooms and suites, good quality design helps it feel more like a smaller boutique hotel.
It is part of the “Leading Hotels of The World” group
As part of the Nobu brand, the hotel includes a large Nobu restaurant, as well as a Malibu Farms cafe, and 2 additional dining options.
Location
Nobu Los Cabo Hotel is located in Baja California Sur, on the west side of Cabo San Lucas overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Ocean side of Los Cabo is renowned for its rough seaside, with wild waves that make the beach adjacent to Nobu unswimmable. This is common for many of the beaches in Cabo San Lucas, only a few on the east side of the coast are swimmable.
Nobu Hotel can be found within the gated community of Diamante, the area surrounding Diamante has 6 golf courses and picturesque desert hills that roll into the beachfront. The hotel is an 8-minute drive from the entry of Diamante through golf course greens and expertly designed desert gardens to arrive at the Nobu security desk.
This area is a new development, which means that the area surrounding Diamante is relatively secluded. The hotel discourages Ubers, you will need to hire a car or be comfortable spending money on taxis to get to any of the main attractions in Cabo San Lucas. Depending on what your vacation plans are this can be quite an inconvenience.
Personally, we had already done 2 months of traveling around Cabo San Lucas so we were comfortable retreating, staying at the resort, and relaxing while dining in-house. However, if you are planning on heading out to see the sights, or need to meet people for events then you will definitely want to hire a car. Hiring a car is really straightforward in Cabo and getting around is simple, as highways are clearly signed.
We’ve listed a quick summary below of how far the resort is from key destinations.
Distance of Nobu Hotel from Key Destinations in Cabo San Lucas (by car)
Downtown Los Cabos - 29 minutes
Los Cabo International Airport (SJD) - 49 minutes
Marina Cabo San Lucas (The Arch excursion) - 36 minutes
Chileno Beach - 38 minutes
Palmilla Beach (closest swimmable beach) - 22 minutes
San Jose Del Cabo - 47 Minutes
Flora Farms - 56 minutes
Nobu Hotel Los Cabo - Swim Up Pool Rooms
Safety
Los Cabo
Safety is a question that often comes up with regard to Mexican holiday destinations. Los Cabos is one of the safer places in Mexico with a low crime rate. Over 3 million travelers come to Los Cabo each year, with very few incidences of crime.
Hotel Security
When it comes to the Nobu hotel itself, there is an abundance of security, being housed inside a gated community with a large security presence, as well as having the resort's own extensive security system in place. In the rooms, you will find safety deposit boxes.
Covid-19
In terms of covid protocols, the hotel follows a series of protocols including health checks, temperature testing, deep cleaning, and keeping up to date with government guidelines. The government regulations in Mexico are currently stricter than in the USA, with requirements for staff to wear masks, masks are required in public places, and there is also an encouragement to maintain distances in public places.
Ocean View Junior Suite at Nobu Los Cabo
Rooms
All of the rooms at Nobu are a decent size, and range from a basic one bedroom with a king bed, bathroom, and balcony to all-encompassing suites with swim-up pools and onsens. Guests can choose from a garden view, ocean view, desert view, or pool view, all of which are impressive. Our recommendation is the ocean view so you can take in the sweeping views of the beach and vibrant sunsets.
There are two main sides to the hotel which create a distinct ambiance in each area. One side is centered around the Cortez pool which has more of a lively atmosphere. This is where people come to socialize in a beach club environment, with a daily DJ, loungers, cabanas, and a swim-up bar.
The other side is centered around the Pacific pool which is more of an oasis of sorts. Calm, cool, chilled, and surrounded by lush gardens. Rooms on the bottom floor here have a swim-up pool area that extends out into the main Pacific pool.
The room design is as considered as the rest of the hotel, the minimalist style is balanced with natural wood and textured accents that manage to offset the clean lines and neutral palette by making the space feel comforting and cozy. A case in point is the beautifully structured warm, teak soaking tub in the bathroom, that sits in place of your standard porcelain bath.
The beds deserve a special mention. Somehow they have found the elusive perfect mattress that has a combination of cloud-like pillowyness with just a hint of firmness. Even the most discernible sleepers will commend Nobu on their choice of mattress. This meticulous selection of bedding extends to the duvet as well, making it hard to pull yourself out of bed in the morning, if it weren't for the stunning ocean views.
Facilities
It’s clear that at Nobu, design is a key component of every element. The design has been thoughtfully considered to make guests’ stay a breeze. The structure of the hotel makes it seem as though nothing is ever too far away - while maintaining a sense of space, it never feels too cluttered or busy. There are nooks and gardens to get away from the crowds but also spaces for socializing. For those that like to make vacation friends, the pool bar at the Cortez pool is the perfect place to have a drink. Couples on a romantic escape can head to an intimate dinner at Nobu, and wellness fanatics will feel at home in the fitness center.
Overlooking rooms facing Cortez Pool & Playacar Restaurant
Pool & Beach
There are 4 pools in total, each offering something unique.
The sunset pool is a peaceful adults-only pool, a small infinity pool that looks out over the coastline. The ideal spot for a recluse, in the quieter mornings you might even find you have this pool all to yourself.
The pacific pool is a large pool located next to the hotel’s Pacific restaurant. A calm shady escape from the afternoon sun, this pool wraps around the rooms providing a relaxing spot for a swim amongst the luscious gardens.
Arrive in the lobby and you’ll look down over the Cortez pool. It can be found in the heart of the hotel, in between the Playacar restaurant and the Malibu Farms restaurant. This pool gets all day sun, right up until the early evening hours, and is the perfect place for swanning around the pool with a cocktail in hand. A resident DJ plays lo-fi house music creating a convivial ambiance. An entertaining spot for people-watching, as the area is full of stylish guests lazing on loungers, celebrities included.
The second section of the Cortez pool extends into a pool bar the same ambiance of the Cortez pool can be found here, wrapping around to face the beachside horizontally.
Cortez Pool
Gym & Esencia Spa
The gym and spa at Nobu is modern, and while small there is a solid selection of equipment and plenty of breakout spaces for mat work or yoga. They have fitness staff available if you want to book private workout sessions such as yoga, pilates or HIIT and you can also book 1 - 3 day wellness retreats.
The facilities at the gym are well maintained and frequently cleaned, with towels and water topped up regularly. The air conditioning is cool and refreshing, definitely a perk in the Cabo heat!
There is a spa with a steam room, cold plunge, hydrotherapy, and sauna. However the sauna, steam, and cold plunge were only available to guests who had booked in for spa service, which was slightly disappointing as it would’ve been great to have these amenities available to hotel guests all the time.
The spa treatment includes a range of anti-aging facials, detoxifying facials, as well as classic Swedish massages, body wraps, and full body treatments. The spa team uses Natura Bisse, a premium skincare and spa range from Barcelona, which you will also be given in your room to try. We highly recommend the body moisturizer and hair conditioner, which we sampled during our stay.
Pacific Pool and Pacific Restaurant
Activities
Nobu offers many onsite and offsite activities that can be arranged upon request. If you want to keep the kids entertained there is a kids club that opens daily and can provide babysitting services as well as a range of arts and crafts.
For adults, one of the world’s best golf courses can be found on your doorstep, the Diamanti golf course, designed by Tiger Woods. Other activities available offsite include hiring a catamaran to sail around the famous Cabo arches, and the sea of Cortez, ziplining through the desert, snorkeling Santa Maria, or a trip to the magic pueblo of Todos Santos.
Onsite, on request the Nobu team, can arrange tequila tasting, private cooking classes, and even an evening bonfire under the stars, complete with smores.
When we were at the hotel Nobu hosted a festive 4th of July event that included a fireworks show, bourbon tasting, and American-themed dining, so while it might feel secluded, we found there was always something enjoyable to do at the hotel.
Fourth of July Celebrations at Nobu Los Cabo Hotel
Dining
It goes without saying that the food on offer at Nobu is exquisite. There are 4 restaurants that range from casual fare to fine dining, including the namesake restaurant Nobu, Los Cabos.
Malibu Farms
Malibu Farms has a focus on fresh wholesome food. This eatery is open for breakfast and lunch with a range of juices, smoothies, and breakfasts, and sandwiches. The acai bowls and fruit bowls were delicious. The addition of this casual brunch spot adds a well-rounded food offering to the hotel, a nice healthy place to start your day and recover from yesterday's cocktails with some hydrating green smoothies.
Breakfast at Malibu Farms Restaurant
Ardea
Ardea is the hotel’s premium steakhouse. The slightly confused aesthetic might be more at home in Las Vegas, (think raw meat hanging in glass cabinets while a DJ sits on a LED platform above couples looking for a romantic dinner) that’s easily forgotten once you start eating. At this restaurant, the star of the show is the meat, not the DJ, and the meat has been cooked to perfection. The beef short rib was outstanding, as were the artfully plated smokey scallops. The staff were highly accommodating with food allergies, going above and beyond to detail the dishes and confirm any replacements. They also recommended fantastic wine pairings throughout dinner, making it one of the best steakhouses we tried in Cabo.
Dessert at Ardea Restaurant
Nobu
We’ve dined at many of the Nobu’s around the world, and the location and design of this Nobu restaurant make it one of their best locations. Sunset views here are as spectacular as the sushi. The menu is extensive and the service is fantastic. You can get all your regular Nobu favorites like yellowtail with jalapeno as well as some local menu items. We loved the drinks menu, pairing our sushi with premium local mezcals and tequilas.
Yellowtail sushi at Nobu Restaurant
Pacific
The Pacific restaurant caters to the Pacific pool, with Mexican inspired fare such as tacos and ceviche. The menu offers something for everyone and is ideal for families with kids, as the Mexican on offer isn’t too heavy on herbs or spices, but the quality of products and meals will still make it appealing enough for parents.
Playacar
Playacar is a casual restaurant that serves poolside snacks and provides bar service for the Cortez pool. We mainly had drinks here but we found that they had a great pool and cabana service that runs right through to 6 pm.
Nobu Hotel Front Lobby & Check In
The Staff
The service at Nobu is truly outstanding. Throughout our stay, we found that all of the staff we encountered were a pleasure to deal with. The rooms were crisply cleaned with regular turn-down service. Wait staff and bar staff were knowledgeable and helpful, and the team at the front desk made check-in and check-out seamless.
Each room is given a personal butler who is on call during their stay. The butler can arrange dining reservations, book activities, answer any questions you might have, and deal with general administrative tasks. They’ll also keep you up to date with anything happening at the hotel.
Having the butler on hand definitely enhanced our overall experience and helped to make us feel as though we could really unwind. So much so, that we decided to add on a couple of nights to our stay, which we were able to arrange via our butler, poolside, without having to lift a finger.
Final Thoughts - Is Nobu’s Los Cabo Hotel Worth It?
For gourmands traveling to Cabo, yes. The hotel is sleek and sophisticated, the service is meticulous and the food is outstanding. Nobu resort delivers high-end luxury at a respectable price for the area and leaves you with a sense of relaxation that will make you feel reinvigorated.
Due to the isolation, this probably wouldn’t be my number one recommendation for a large family wanting to do lots of activities around Los Cabo, but it’s the perfect place for a romantic getaway or a weekend escape with friends.
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