In anticipation of Nobu Toronto

The two-level Nobu restaurant and bar will open its doors ahead of Toronto International Film Festival, located just one block away from TIFF Light Box in the Entertainment District. Celebrating 30 years of outstanding success in the hospitality industry this September, Nobu Toronto represents the latest location to join the global restaurant group, marking Nobu’s inaugural presence in Canada.

Image credit: Nobu Hospitality

This milestone location promises the latest trends in Chef Nobu’s beloved New-Style, Japanese cuisine influenced by his travels across South America. Guests can expect Nobu’s world famous dishes such as Black Cod Miso, Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeno, and Rock Shrimp Tempura with signature cocktails like the Lychee Martini and Oni Negroni, including new local nods honouring Toronto’s multicultural food scene by Executive Chef, Alex Tzatzos. The restaurant and bar will open prior to Nobu Hotel Toronto, expected to debut spring 2025

Designed by Toronto-based Studio Munge, the striking interior embodies a captivating blend of Japanese-inspired design and Canadian craftsmanship evoking dramatic sensory exploration across two levels. The dramatic interior masterpiece introduces a new standard for restaurant design excellence in Canada, setting the stage for Nobu’s sought-after energetic atmosphere which resonates across generations, attracting global tastemakers, influencers, and celebrities.

Image credit: Nobu Hospitality

Nobu Toronto’s innovative design and sprawling property allow guests to immerse themselves in a world where culture and luxury intertwine, creating an awe-inspiring experience unlike any other for the hospitality brand’s Canadian debut. Spanning 10,000 square feet across two-levels, Nobu Toronto offers a total of 278 seats. This includea a bar and lounge area on the ground floor, where entering Nobu Toronto guests will be greeted by a grand, yet intimate bar and lounge, with 57 seats enveloped in an alluring dark atmosphere. The bar’s main centrepiece is a breathtaking 28 foot bronze chainmail Lasvit chandelier that gracefully descends from the mezzanine level imitating the elegant drapery of a Japanese kimono as well as handcrafted Kawara Japanese roof tiles which
dress warmly lit pillars that elevate the two-storey high bar.

Image credit: Nobu Hospitality

Continuing the journey upstairs towards the main dining room, guests are met with a 20-seat sake bar area, while passing by an intimate terrace reminiscent of serene urban Japanese gardens. Bringing to life the iconic Japanese artwork ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa’ by Japanese ukiyo-e artist Hokusai Katsushika, the bar space is adorned in a harmonious blue and white colour palette expressed in the striking Blue Tempest stone and a hand-applied plaster finish that gracefully curves across the layered ceiling.

As guests proceed through the wave, they will reach the breathtaking blonde elm Japanese 140-seat courtyard dining room, including a private tasting room for 10 in a contrasting dark cherry wood. Circular timber beams featuring intricate Japanese joinery details gently ripple around a suspended light and porcelain art installation crafted by Canadian ceramic artist Andrea Braescu. Surrounded by circular banquettes connected by four striking columns around its perimeter, the exquisite art piece represents a Japanese ginkgo tree known as a ‘living fossil’ – a symbol of peace, hope, and longevity.

At the 11-seat sushi bar on the second level, guests can appreciate the masterful craft of the culinary team while engaging directly with the sushi chefs. In addition, guests will notice an intimate 20-seat private dining room discreetly tucked behind the cascading chandelier. Enclosed within bronze-tinted glass panels, this celebratory space offers a glimpse of and a vantage point over the ground level bar, creating a captivating gallery view.

Main image credit: Nobu Hospitality