Nobu Barcelona Restaurant Review

Occupying the 23rd floor of Nobu Hotel Barcelona, the signature restaurant Nobu Barcelona is where Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s renowned culinary style meets Barcelona’s vibrant spirit, creating an exceptional dining experience.

Set within the urban heart of Barcelona’s Eixample district, Nobu Hotel Barcelona presents a dining experience that brings Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s renowned culinary vision to one of Europe’s most dynamic cities.

Exciting Urban Dining

Barcelona stands as a monument to artistic expression and architectural innovation. From Gaudí’s distinctive creations to the medieval Gothic Quarter, the city balances historical significance with forward-thinking design. This metropolitan energy complements Nobu’s culinary approach – respect for tradition paired with bold creativity.

The restaurant is on the 23rd floor of the hotel, offering diners panoramic views across the Barcelona skyline. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the city’s architecture against the backdrop of the Mediterranean mountains creating an atmospheric setting for a memorable meal.

The Nobu Bar Prelude

Our evening began at Nobu Bar, sharing distinctive Nobu buzz and energy of the sky high restaurant, creating a sense of occasion. The bar team crafted cocktails with precision and flair.

Chef Rafa Pero’s Omakase

The restaurant has the signature Nobu understated style, with polished wooden elements, neutral tones, and subtle lighting, allowing the food and panoramic views to command attention. Tables positioned strategically ensure both privacy and optimal vantage points of the cityscape below.

Nobu Barcelona always offers a Taste of the Season through their Omakase Barcelona experience, an exclusive multi-course menu where the local and international ingredients meet Nobu’s distinctive touch. For first-time visitors, the knowledgeable team helps navigate the menu, with the chef recommending trying three or more of the menu’s highlights, with an approach that begins with two or three cold dishes, followed by two or three hot ones, concluding with sushi and dessert—all shared family style.

For our visit, Chef Rafa Pero introduced himself and offered to create an omakase experience in Nobu’s distinctive style while introducing elements reflective of the region’s produce. The Japanese concept of Omotenashi – anticipatory hospitality – was evident throughout the evening, with our server being attentive and knowledgeable.

Our culinary journey began with New Style sashimi prepared with local Catalan red prawns.

This was followed by Tartar de Toro con Caviar, elevated with smoked caviar that added depth and complexity. The contrasting textures created a memorable interplay of flavours.

The Rock Shrimp Tempura with Creamy Spicy Sauce arrived next, one of the most popular dishes on the Nobu Barcelona menu. The delicate crunch of the tempura batter gave way to succulent shrimp, all enhanced by the sauce that balanced creaminess with a subtle kick of heat.

Chef Pero’s talent for personalisation became evident again in the Baby Spinach Salad with Dry Miso. His addition of a yuzu dressing and fresh lobster transformed this Nobu staple into something unique to Barcelona, the bright citrus notes of the yuzu complementing the lobster perfectly.

The Chef’s Selection of Sushi represented a highlight of our omakase experience. Each piece was crafted with remarkable precision, featuring some local seafood and fish, including Spanish eel.

Perhaps the most anticipated course was Chef Nobu’s iconic Black Cod Miso – flaky fish glazed with sweet, umami-rich miso that has become synonymous with the Nobu name worldwide. Chef Pero added his own Barcelona signature alongside this classic by serving Spanish-style croquettes filled with the essence of the black cod dish, an ingenious fusion of Japanese flavour and Spanish technique.

For our meat course, we were presented with a selection of premium Japanese Wagyu beef alongside bold Chilean Wagyu. The melt-in-the-mouth texture of the Japanese beef contrasted beautifully with the more robust flavour profile of its Chilean counterpart, both prepared with minimal intervention to showcase their exceptional quality. There was a ponzu butter sauce and a hot sauce too.

Our celebratory meal concluded with a spectacular dessert platter, artfully presented with the utmost attention to detail in both flavour and presentation, which provided a fitting finale to an extraordinary dining experience.

The Essence of Nobu Barcelona

Throughout the evening, the restaurant maintained its distinctive energy, that special Nobu atmosphere created by the combination of striking views, carefully selected music, and the buzz of conversation from a diverse city crowd.

In a city celebrated for culinary innovation, Nobu Barcelona makes an exciting and fashionable contribution with Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s distinctive interpretation of Japanese cuisine, as well as locally created dishes, like those from Chef Pero.

The unparalleled combination of breathtaking views, exceptional service embodying the spirit of Omotenashi, and innovative cuisine makes Nobu Barcelona an essential dining destination in this captivating city.