Nobu Downtown
Japanese restaurant · Financial District ·
Japanese-Peruvian fusion with iconic black cod miso & lychee martinis
Japanese-Peruvian fusion with iconic black cod miso & lychee martinis
"The original namesake restaurant in Tribeca opened in 1994 with a lychee martini, and more than three decades and many international outposts later, the cocktail remains a constant classic; its current $21 price tag in the West End is noted as a bit higher. “More recently, we blend the lychee fruit with the lychee juice, which adds an aromatic quality that highlights the floral characteristics of the cocktail,” says Ray Perrin, assistant beverage director." - Lulu Chang
"A spot filled with fond memories for us—it’s where my daughter ate her first sushi." - Michael He
"Made famous by chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s eponymous style and his 1994 New York outpost, Nobu is a high-end Japanese restaurant chain where preciously plated, minimalist dishes dominate: ponzu-splashed yellowtail sashimi veiled with jalapeño, crispy cubes of fried sushi rice crowned with chopped spicy tuna, lightly battered rock/popcorn shrimp doused in a creamy spicy mayo, and salty-sweet miso-marinated black cod. Dining rooms are strikingly modern with sightlines designed so you can see who’s there, and the scene—pulsing with lush electronica—caters to celebrities and those who want to emanate effortless wealth and refinement (guests named include Future, Taylor Swift, and Leonardo DiCaprio). Matsuhisa fused Tokyo technique with Peruvian influences like ceviche and tiradito to create a deliberately adaptive “Nobu-style” cuisine—he even developed ideas like pouring hot oil over sashimi (“new style sashimi”) to win over picky diners—and that approach, plus partnerships such as the early alliance with Robert De Niro, helped Nobu grow into a global empire (56 restaurants and eight Matsuhisa outlets across five continents) that codified the modern Japanese-lounge template." - Matthew Kang
"Nobu Downtown is always a favorite place for David Rockwell and he mentions the exceptional tuna tartare there." - Shivani Vora
"Conceived after Robert De Niro persuaded Nobu Matsuhisa to take the leap, the original 1994 Tribeca restaurant became the cornerstone of an international fine-dining and hotel empire; it’s now a globally recognized, celebrity-backed destination known for its fusion cuisine and high-profile cachet." - Madeleine Davies
