Bangkok welcomes the world’s highest and largest Nobu restaurant, guests invited to relish chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s unique take on traditional Japanese cuisine on the top three floors of The Empire, a mixed-use complex that is currently the city’s 20th tallest building. Boasting unforgettable 360-degree views of the Bangkok skyline, Nobu Bangkok spans two floors plus a spacious rooftop, with multiple spaces that include a private tearoom and versatile rooms for events.
Designed by long-time collaborators, New York-based architecture and design studio Rockwell Group, this project marks a new milestone in the studio’s decades-long collaboration with Chef Nobu, which began in 1994 with a humble restaurant in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighbourhood. The brand’s first foray into Thailand, Nobu Bangkok is its largest restaurant globally.
Upon entering the restaurant high up on the tower’s 58th floor, diners will find a space that draws inspiration from Bangkok’s natural and urban landscapes, incorporating themes found in a vintage map of Thailand — Urban, Jungle, and River — that shapes the design and mood. A custom host stand made of high-gloss lacquered carved wood sits adjacent to the lounge with dramatic city views, curved banquettes framed by undulating metal, and Thai-inspired floral embroidery. Sky-blue leather seating complements the stepped ceiling, which is clad in smoky, antiqued mirrors to reflect and expand the panoramic sky. This stepping motif echoes the architecture of traditional Thai temples.
In the main dining area, a site-specific installation depicts a gold swirl of watery sumi-e ink, referencing the iconic installation at Nobu Downtown in New York, but with a Thai influence that floats below a mirrored ceiling. As with all Nobu restaurants, the sushi bar is the central focal point symbolised by a glowing onyx panel above. Banquettes reference antique Thai sofas, with their low profile and daybed-like cushions, with Rockwell Group employing Jim Thompson fabrics in the dining room, a brand with ties to Bangkok and its silk industry.
Beyond the main dining room, the outdoor terrace offers cascading seating with unobstructed views of the city. A central bar features a carved, sculptural bar die and a low liquor shelf, and lantern light fixtures integrated into the banquettes create warmth and added character. The circular Sky Bar on level 61 offers those 360-degree views of Bangkok and is framed by organic infinity pools and glowing lanterns. A collection of private dining rooms can also be hired on the 57th floor which drawing inspiration from contemporary Japanese sake rooms and traditional Thai tearooms, are characterised by low ceilings, reflective metal grid ceilings, and sparkling crystal light fixtures.
Combining Rockwell’s visionary design and knowledge of the Nobu DNA with the essence of Thai culture and Nobu’s signature elegance, Nobu Bangkok is on its way to becoming a premier destination for fine dining and events in Southeast Asia, and is set to elevate the city’s dining scene in more ways than one.
Nobu Bangkok Photography, Owen Raggatt.
