Along Barbuda’s southwestern coast, pink sand stretches uninterrupted for miles. The coastline is flat and wide. Low vegetation extends inland. There are no high-rise resorts or dense hotel clusters.
Now Nobu is moving deeper into the scene, a few years after opening the beachfront Nobu restaurant and club on the island.
Nobu Hospitality has announced new details about the 36-bedroom Nobu Beach Inn. The property is planned as part of The Beach Club, Barbuda, a 400-acre resort and residential development spanning two miles of beach. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
The building has been in development for over a decade (interrupted by Hurricane Irma) and is most anticipated to open this year.
The project builds on the 2020 opening of Nobu Barbuda, a beachfront restaurant and lounge on Princess Diana Beach, which cemented the brand’s presence on the island with its stunning bungalows.
And it’s part of Nobu’s growing footprint in the wider region, which already includes properties in Mexico.
project
Nobu Beach Inn includes 36 bedrooms across 17 individual villas. The structures will be single-story bungalows connected by sandy paths and located within landscaped grounds across the southwestern coast of the island.
Planned amenities include a beach club, waterfront pool, indoor and outdoor spa facilities, a kids’ club, an outdoor movie theater, two tennis courts, two paddle courts and a stand-alone gym pavilion.
Dining includes Nobu restaurant, a beachfront grill focusing on local seafood, and an omakase sushi bar.
This development is taking place in collaboration with James Packer and Daniel Shamoon.
Barbuda’s Environment
Barbuda remains one of the least developed islands in the Caribbean. Building restrictions have kept most structures low-rise and long stretches of beach remain undisturbed.
The Nobu Beach Inn grounds span 400 acres and feature two miles of beach frontage. Density is intentionally limited as there are 36 bedrooms across the area.
Water activities are expected to be a key component of the experience. Plans call for a fully equipped watersports center offering small boat sailing, waterskiing and kitesurfing. Yachts and motor yachts are available for sunset cruises, beach picnics, fishing trips, scuba diving trips and inter-island sailings.
A roster of visiting chefs, wellness experts, DJs and fitness experts is also planned.
Robert De Niro’s Long-Term Vision
The project is described as a personal project of Robert De Niro, co-founder of Nobu Hospitality.
De Niro first discovered this building while traveling on a boat in Antigua 30 years ago. When the site became available about 10 years ago, he pursued plans with Packer and Shamoon.
“Ever since I first set foot in Barbuda, I knew this place was special,” De Niro said in a statement. “We wanted to create a comfortable place where everyone wants to come together and embrace the essence of the island.”
The design calls for natural, sustainable materials intended to integrate with their surroundings rather than dominate them.
residential component
Nobu Beach Inn also includes 25 beachfront residences.
Each residence features four to five bedroom beachfront bungalows with access to the pool, gardens and walkways. Owners can take advantage of Nobu Beach Inn’s amenities and services and may also choose to include their home in the resort’s rental program.
Residences start at $12 million.
This addition expands Nobu’s residential portfolio and introduces one of the most high-profile ownership opportunities currently planned in Barbuda.
How to Get to Barbuda
Access to Barbuda has expanded in recent years.
Burton Nibbs International Airport will open in October 2024, providing direct access by private jet and facilitating inter-island travel.
Most commercial travelers arrive through Antigua’s VC Bird International Airport, which offers non-stop service from major North American and European gateways. Flight times are approximately 3 hours from Miami, 4 hours from New York or Toronto, and approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes from London.
From Antigua, Barbuda is about a 10-minute helicopter ride away.
Why it matters
Barbuda has long had a low-density development model with limited large hotel stock.
Nobu’s expansion from a standalone beachfront restaurant to a full resort and residential community represents one of the island’s most significant hospitality projects currently underway.
Featuring 36 bedrooms and two miles of beach on 400 acres, Nobu Beach Inn focuses on Barbuda’s long-standing emphasis on open land, horizontal construction and limited vertical growth.
Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
