Pink sand runs uninterrupted for miles along Barbuda’s southwest coast. The shoreline is flat and wide. Low vegetation stretches inland. There are no high-rise resorts and no dense hotel clusters.
Now Nobu is moving deeper into that landscape, several years after opening the beachfront Nobu eatery and club on the island.
Nobu Hospitality has announced new details for Nobu Beach Inn, a 36-bedroom property planned as part of The Beach Club, Barbuda, a 400-acre resort and residential development set across two miles of beachfront. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2026.
It’s a property that has been more than a decade in development (interrupted by Hurricane Irma) – and instantly the most anticipated opening of the year.
The project builds on the opening of Nobu Barbuda in 2020, the beach restaurant and lounge on Princess Diana Beach that established the brand’s presence on the island (along with a very cool bungalow).
And it’s part of a growing Nobu footprint in the broader region, one that already includes a property in Mexico.
The Project
Nobu Beach Inn will include 36 bedrooms across 17 individual villas. The structures will be single-story bungalows connected by sand pathways and positioned within landscaped grounds across the southwest coast of the island.
Planned amenities include a beach club, an oceanfront pool, indoor and outdoor spa facilities, a kids club, an outdoor cinema, two tennis courts, two padel courts and a standalone gym pavilion.
Dining will include a Nobu restaurant, an oceanfront grill focused on local catch and an omakase sushi bar.
The development is being created in partnership with James Packer and Daniel Shamoon.
The Setting in Barbuda
Barbuda remains one of the Caribbean’s least developed islands. Building restrictions have kept most structures low-rise, and long stretches of beach remain uninterrupted.
The Nobu Beach Inn site covers 400 acres with two miles of beachfront frontage. With 36 bedrooms across that footprint, the density is intentionally limited.
Water-based activities are expected to be a central component of the experience. Plans call for a fully equipped water sports center offering dinghy sailing, water skiing and kite surfing. Sailboats and motor yachts will be available for sunset cruises, beach picnics, fishing trips, scuba diving excursions and inter-island voyages.
An evolving roster of visiting chefs, wellness practitioners, DJs and fitness experts is also planned.
Robert De Niro’s Long-Term Vision
The project is described as a personal one for Robert De Niro, co-founder of Nobu Hospitality.
De Niro first discovered the property more than 30 years ago while traveling by boat from Antigua. When the site became available roughly ten years ago, he moved forward with plans alongside Packer and Shamoon.
“Since I first stepped foot on Barbuda, I knew it was special,” De Niro said in a statement. “We wanted to create a place that’s comfortable, where everyone wants to gather and embrace the essence of the island.”
The design calls for natural and sustainable materials intended to integrate with the surrounding environment rather than dominate it.
The Residential Component
Nobu Beach Inn will also include 25 beachfront residences.
Each residence will feature four- or five-bedroom beachfront bungalows connected by pools, gardens and pathways. Owners will have access to the amenities and services of Nobu Beach Inn and may choose to place their homes into the resort’s rental program.
Residences begin at $12 million.
The addition expands Nobu’s residential portfolio and introduces one of the most high-profile ownership opportunities currently planned in Barbuda.
Getting to Barbuda
Access to Barbuda has expanded in recent years.
Burton Nibbs International Airport opened in October 2024, allowing direct private jet access and facilitating inter-island transfers.
Most commercial travelers arrive via V.C. Bird International Airport in Antigua, which offers nonstop service from major North American and European gateways. Flight times are approximately three hours from Miami, four hours from New York or Toronto and about seven and a half hours from London.
From Antigua, Barbuda is approximately a ten-minute helicopter transfer.
Why It Matters
Barbuda has long maintained a low-density development model, with limited large-scale hotel inventory.
Nobu’s expansion from a standalone beach restaurant to a full resort and residential community represents one of the island’s most significant hospitality projects currently underway.
With 36 bedrooms across 400 acres and two miles of beachfront, Nobu Beach Inn positions itself within Barbuda’s longstanding emphasis on open land, horizontal construction and limited vertical growth.
Construction is expected to be completed in late 2026.
Karen Udler
2026-02-19 03:02:00