Nobu Shoreditch - Shoreditch, London

No name is as synonymous with sushi as Nobu Matsuhisa. Lavished with Michelin stars and an array of plaudits, at the time of writing he operates 38 restaurants across five continents. His two projects in Mayfair helped lead the way in introducing top class Japanese cuisine to Great Britain, and his newest  in London's Shoreditch looks to reimagine the luxury hotel experience - injecting it with a dose of Nipponese aesthetic tradition and industrial glamour. This is evident in the beautifully modern wooden stairway and DJ podium perched on the threshold of a cavernous subterranean lair replete with brushed concrete and exception Japanese gastronomy. 

On the far side of the restaurant there are 20ft floor-to-ceiling glass windows that look out onto a garden terrace split across multiple levels of concrete plinth. An mind-blowingly lofty bar that could reside in either/both New York/Tokyo occupies the space closest to it, with an abundance of tables spread underneath rows of beautiful natural wood beams. On the far side of the room sushi itamaes meticulously slice raw fish. It really is an exceptional space - a masterwork of grey, charcoal, neutral and gold - seating up to 240 guests.

We kicked back with a couple flutes of rosé champagne and enjoyed the scene - a very polished set of guests seemed to be deeply enjoying themselves. Nobu has typically offered some of the best sushi and this restaurant is no exception. We were smitten with the array of maki and nigiri that arrived before us. Other signature dishes include the yellowtail with jalapeño and the Shoreditch-exclusive wood-oven roasted lobster with Hokkaido scallops, cilantro aioli and Ikura. No trip would be complete without the miso black cod which was laced with beguiling flavours.

Nobu has certainly made his mark on London's culinary scene and his newly launched hotel is no exception.