Ten years after he bought the beachfront Casa Malibu Inn for $20 million, Oracle founder Larry Ellison is just about ready to unveil the first in a new group of ultra-high-end luxury retreats. He’s doing it with a trio of high-profile partners: Robert De Niro, chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and film producer Meir Teper.
Dubbed Nobu Ryokan Malibu, a new 16-room hotel now stands on the property Ellison bought a decade ago.
It’s the first in what is being called the Nobu Ryokan Collection, a new group of luxury retreats in exotic destinations around the world, created by Ellison and the creative minds behind the Nobu restaurants.
The experience, which is modeled after a traditional Japanese inn, won’t come cheap – according to Curbed, rooms will start around $1,100 a night, though that rate could go up to $2,000 during “preferred” times.
Let’s take a look inside the hotel, which opens April 28.
The two-story hotel is situated on an oceanfront lot on Carbon Beach, an affluent community in Malibu where Ellison has been rumored to own as many as 10 homes.
Source: The Real Deal
That location makes for some amazing sunsets.
While this isn't the first Nobu-branded hotel, it's the first to be created in the new collection of ryokan-inspired properties.
The guest rooms are decorated in a neutral color palette and use natural materials like teak and limestone.
The goal is to embody the spirit of "Omotenashi," the Japanese art of hospitality. It's a balance of service, luxury, and theater.
This particular guest room has a garden and a fireplace.
The hotel was designed by by architects Studio PCH and Montalba Architects and designers TAL Studio, Shawmut Design and Construction, C.W. Eisner and Nikita Kahn.
Select rooms also have teak soaking tubs. Guests can arrange to have exclusive spa treatments in their rooms.
There are lots of Japanese-inspired design touches throughout, including shoji screens, tatami mats, bamboo towels, and linen Yukata robes.
Guests get preferential reservations at Nobu Malibu, which is located right next door. There's also a custom Japanese-fusion menu that the hotel's guests can order to their rooms. Mini bars are stocked with Dean & Deluca products.
There's also a pool, fitness room, direct access to lounge chairs on Carbon Beach, and entrance to the Malibu Racquet Club should guests wish to try something more active during their stay.
