Nobu has opened at the Four Seasons hotel in Doha

NOBU, the famed sushi empire from Michelin-starred chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, just opened its largest outpost in the world — not in Tokyo, LA or London, but somewhere rather unusual.

Inside world’s most lush restaurant

NOBU, the famed sushi empire from Michelin-starred chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, just opened its largest outpost in the world — not in Tokyo, LA or London, but in the emerging Middle East capital of Doha.

The glamorously mod three-storey restaurant, designed by the NYC-based Rockwell Group, is part of the Doha Four Seasons and floats on its own mini-island in the Arabian Gulf, rising like a coiled shell crossed with a starship from the future.

Along with its soaring main dining room, it boasts three lounges, including a sprawling rooftop bathed in purple accent lighting. Chef Nobu’s beloved Japanese-meets-South America fare (black miso cod, pumpkin-chip foie gras, sushi for days) is on offer, along with local-catch fish and spices (think: sea bass with mint salsa) and internationally inspired cuisine and design.

Here’s a peek at Nobu Doha, by the numbers:

2400 square metres

Size of the new restaurant, making it the largest (and first freestanding) Nobu in the world.

192

Seats in the double-height dining room, plus an additional 10-seats at the intimate sushi counter.

5

Inches: Height of the heels beneath the abayas of many of the glam female diners on a recent visit; plenty of alluring western dress was also on display.

$40 million

The rumoured (but unconfirmed) cost to build the restaurant.

2

Times fresh fish, including tuna, yellowtail and uni, is flown in from Japan each week.

Chef Nobu has taken things to the next level at the Four Seasons.

$300

Cost of the Master Kobe beef (150 grams), the most expensive dish on the menu.

3

Lounges in Doha Nobu, including the Black Pearl Bar, White Pearl Bar and 82-seat indoor/outdoor rooftop lounge.

25

Nationalities on staff, from as far away as Mauritius, Korea, Japan, Nepal and Vietnam.

2016

Year a special boat entrance to the restaurant is expected to open (entrance is now via car or a private shuttle from the hotel).

10

Year anniversary the Four Seasons Doha is celebrating with the opening of Nobu.

$16 billion

Cost of Doha’s one-year-old, 5-star Hamad International Airport, which you’ll fly into to visit Nobu.

20

Years since Chef Nobu, Robert De Niro and a partner opened the first Nobu in NYC; the restaurant now has outposts on five continents.