Nobu Comes To Cairo This 2025: A New Chapter In Design And Dining

Amidst the crescendo of ‘cultural consciousness,’ Asian countries continue to cast their rich heritage across the globe, leaving traces of tradition, ingenuity, and timeless allure across the contemporary design landscape. Leading this cross-cultural renaissance is the arrival of Nobu, the celebrated Japanese hospitality brand, which will open its first restaurant in Eastown District New Cairo (EDNC) in Autumn 2025, with a hotel launch to follow in 2027. Entrusted with crafting Nobu’s signature aesthetic globally, it only seems fitting that Egypt’s first Nobu hotel and restaurant bear the distinctive design language of the internationally acclaimed design firm Rockwell Group.

Fostering an alliance with SODIC—Egypt’s leading real estate developer—the debut of this restaurant is set to redefine the immersive dining landscape of New Cairo. “This collaboration underscores our commitment to growth in the luxury market, and we look forward to delivering an unparalleled experience, pushing the bar for delivering world-class hospitality and dining experiences,” remarks Ayman Amer, General Manager of SODIC.

In The Land Of Pharaohs

Set against the palimpsest of civilisations—from the colossal, barbed pyramids of Giza to the stately symmetry of temple complexes like Karnak and Luxor, to the intricate arabesques of Islamic Cairo—Nobu draws nuanced inspiration from Egypt’s architecture. “Designing Nobu Cairo has been an extraordinary opportunity to merge the quiet strength of Japanese design with Egypt’s varying scales—its vast desert, monumental pyramids, and intricate crafts—and the play of shadows and light across the land,” shares David Rockwell, Founder and President, Rockwell Group. Sprawling across a massive 23,681 sq. ft., Nobu Restaurant’s aesthetic—illustrated through natural materials, luminous metals, and recurring geometric leitmotifs—is an ode to indigenous craftsmanship, while embodying Japanese minimalism. Borrowing from the Japanese concept of Zen gardens, patrons will be ushered through a lush bonsai-framed landscape flanked by towering split-stone walls, exuding calm while subtly asserting scale and grandeur, much like its locale.

A Cross-Cultural Renaissance

As for the interiors? A promise of sculpturesque serenity, paired with Nobu’s signature flair for theatricality. The two-storey architectural marvel will host up to 300 guests, enveloping them in an air of cinematic noir. A monolithic limestone sushi bar, serving as a cultural bridge, melds the ancient magnificence of the pyramids and the delicate precision of Japanese cuisine. Above this pièce de résistance is a colossal suspended totem that bathes the space in a soft radiance, illuminating the stark black interiors.

Further, the dining space is supported by limestone columns, sourced from the Nile River valley, and etched with backlit Mashrabiya patterns inspired by the Ottoman-era mansions and mosques in Old Cairo. A dark mirrored ceiling and a rustic palette conjure illusions of spaciousness while balancing cosiness and drama. Above, an exclusive cigar lounge, a signature bar, and a surreptitious dining and event space, finished in gilded finishes and charcoal wood, subtly embody Nobu’s quiet luxury ethos.

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The adjoining Nobu Hotel, spread across 68,728.14 sq. ft., will house over 50 opulent rooms and suites, each embodying Nobu’s contemporary Japanese aesthetic—imagine clean lines, natural materials, and earthy palettes. “We’re excited to bring this vision to life and contribute to New Cairo’s vibrant hospitality scene,” Rockwell reveals. The amenities offer a perfect escape into the ethereal, featuring a tranquil pool area for languid afternoons, a spa for slow-exhale moments, and versatile multipurpose rooms that effortlessly transform into spaces for soirées and siestas.

Nobu Around The World

While Nobu currently graces the world’s most coveted destinations, its tale had modest beginnings in Saitama, Japan. Founded by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, this eponymous brand has transcended its culinary origins to become a hospitality legacy, bequeathing subtle cues of its Japanese roots to every corner of the world. A rigorous seven-year apprenticeship in Tokyo and an unexpected twist in Peru shaped Chef Nobu’s signature Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, laying the foundation for Nobu’s first restaurant in Tribeca, New York, in 1994. His journey has evolved over three decades, leading up to the more recent expansions into hospitality with the debut of Nobu Hotels in Las Vegas in 2013.

A new chapter for Nobu awaits in Egypt’s capital, set amidst an eclectic mix of high-end retail, artisanal cuisine, and dynamic nightlife. Designed by the Rockwell Group, Nobu New Cairo, with its soaring columns etched with Mashrabiya patterns, and a dramatic mirrored ceiling, is poised to serve as the city’s crowning jewel. “This project is a fusion of cultural influences and contemporary design, creating a truly immersive and luxurious experience,” Rockwell explains.  Topping off this ambitious expansion, Nobu is set to unveil a trio of experiences—residences, a hotel and a restaurant—within SODIC’s coastal Ogami development in Ras El Hekma, and the elegant Estates Residences in New Zayed.