Nobu Marbella – a mega gym and sushi to your sunlounger

Nobu Marbella is a luxury resort located on the famous Golden Mile in southern Spain. Sam jetted off to check out its new mega boutique gym and found a stay at the adults-only oasis is equal parts naughty and nourishing…

For those of us who like to keep up our fitness regime on holiday, making sure a hotel has a decent gym is high on the priority list. But more often than not the facilities amount to a treadmill and some dusty weights in a dingy basement, which makes working out when you could be sunbathing downright depressing.

Well, not at Nobu Marbella because the luxury resort has built a brand new state-of-the-art gym complete with a boxing ring and Peloton spin studio.

What it’s like to stay at Nobu Marbella

The celebrity hotspot, co-owned by Robert Diniro and chef Nobu Matsuhisa, is located on the Andalusian town’s glitzy Golden Mile. It reopened last month following closure due to COVID-19 and I was the first UK journalist to pay a visit.

The rooms at Nobu Marbella

Arriving at the hotel things felt almost back to normal except everyone was wearing face masks, which are compulsory in all public places in Spain. I was shown to my room, a junior suite, which channeled chic Japanese-inspired minimalism with its neutral tones. I had a private balcony with stunning views of La Concha mountain and the resort’s tropical gardens. The espresso coffee machine was a welcome touch and I also loved the silk kimonos and banging bluetooth sound system.

The gym at Nobu Marbella

Next up, the gym. I was booked in for a PT session with head trainer Mario and I was buzzing – especially as I hadn’t set foot in a gym for over four months due to lockdown. The space is mega with every piece of equipment imaginable plus a barre, pilates and spin studio, boxing ring, biohacking facility and a live DJ in the evenings. It has a nightclub feel and the most glamorous changing rooms I’ve ever seen complete with a Smeg fridge stocked with water. And what’s more, it’s easy to social distance as it’s so exclusive you have to book a time slot.

Nobu breakfast

Apart from the gym, I also judge a hotel by its breakfast offering and I couldn’t wait to dig into the Nobu-style feast. Guests are served coffee, fruit and pastries to start and can also choose an à la carte creation. I was tempted by the pancakes with yuzu cream but went for the avocado and dry miso on toast, which was added a delightful Japanese twist on a favourite.

The pool

The best way to spend a morning? Sipping on a fresh coconut by Nobu’s adults-only pool. You don’t have to move a muscle as when lunch rolls around you have can have sushi delivered to your sunlounger, or if you fancy stretching your legs head to one of the 15 restaurants spread across the resort. For a healthy choice, Rachel’s Eco Love serves picture-perfect smoothie bowls that are topped with customisable fruit letters.

SupperClub

After a quick disco nap it was time to get dressed up for SupperClub, a new immersive dining experience for the summer season (think Mediterranean food mixed with fire dancing and body popping). The night finished in La Suite, the VIP nightclub, and I rolled into bed in the early hours.

The next morning a day on the beach beckoned but first I swung by the spin studio for a quick 30-minute ride to sweat out the champers. Later, I headed to Celicioso cafe for a much-needed revive before my flight. The lunch menu is all gluten-free and packed with health shots, poke bowls and raw vegan cakes.

I slept all the way home as I really didn’t get a lot of shut-eye on the trip but it’s the price to pay if you want to make the most of 48 hours in sunny Marbs.

To book, visit the website or call

By Sam

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