3 minute read
Destination Zen
Nobu Palo Alto
WITH TRAVEL DESTINATIONS OPENING UP, MOST OF US ARE READY TO HIT THE ROAD AGAIN AND EXPLORE FASTER THAN WE CAN SAY “NOBU.”
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By Bridget Marie
COURTESY OF NOBU HOTEL PALO
VInspired by the Nobu Ryokan Malibu, the rooms at Nobu Hotel Palo Alto are welcoming, provide serenity and privacy, and offer tranquil views of the Santa Cruz mountains. It truly has the peaceful Japanese-Californian aesthetic feel.
The hotel is centrally located in downtown Palo Alto and a visit to the area should include the requisite drive to Apple Headquarters, which is closed to visitors but still a site to behold from the rooftop observation deck just across the way. There is also the perusal of Facebook’s grounds and a walkthrough of Stanford’s campus that belong on the itinerary. And there are, of course, many cool little spots to shop and eat in the very walkable downtown streets of Palo Alto. Onsite bicycles are also available at the hotel to pedal through the adventures. H
And, after a fun day out and about, Nobu Hotel Palo Alto is a little sanctuary haven. The luxury global brand of Nobu Hospitality, founded by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper, recently renovated the 73-room boutique hotel in a multi-milliondollar elevation of the brand. The new rooms embody the Silicon Valley ideals with Alexa for smart commands, motorized blackout shades for the floor-to-ceiling windows and doors, and Toto Neorest washlet toilets. The 82-inch televisions in the room don’t hurt either. The fitness studio with top-of-theline equipment, including Peloton bikes, makes fitness seamless as well.
The hotel is on point with a variety of safety and healthy protocols for travel during COVID-19. Upon arrival, there are customary processes: temperature is taken, staff are wearing masks and gloves, social distancing, etc. However, what is especially comforting is that guest rooms are left vacant for a minimum of 48 hours following each guests’ checkout, and cleaning includes electrostatic sprays, as well as hospital-grade UV lighting sterilization. UV light germicidal room sanitizers
THE FITNESS STUDIO WITH TOPOFTHELINE EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING PELOTON BIKES, MAKES FITNESS SEAMLESS AS WELL.
are also used in all public areas such as guest corridors, restrooms, fitness centers and throughout the hotel.
The Nobu hospitality extends from the rooms to food. With about 30 restaurants on five continents, the fare fuses Japanese dishes with Peruvian influences, with quality to serve up some of the most delicious dishes found in any restaurant. The hotel’s restaurant (also practicing safety guidelines and not serving at full capacity) is both indoor and outdoor (plus room service is avail-
“WITH ABOUT 30 RESTAURANTS ON FIVE CONTINENTS, THE FARE FUSES JAPANESE DISHES WITH PERUVIAN INFLUENCES, WITH QUALITY TO SERVE UP SOME OF THE MOST DELICIOUS DISHES FOUND IN ANY RESTAURANT.”
able), and, as expected, the service is exceptional. Classic dishes include shishito peppers, crispy Brussel sprouts, sashimi, warm mushroom salad, and, of course, black cod with miso and Chilean seabass with dry miso.
Nobu Hotel Palo Alto in Northern California doesn’t disappoint—and makes a perfect little weekend getaway. And, yes, while it is in the heart of Palo Alto’s downtown streets, and everything is in walking distance—it is quite hard to leave the Zen of the hotel. v www.paloalto.nobuhotels.com
