Matsuhisa Vail Restaurant
FROM VAIL’S HAUTEST HOT SPOT, MATSUHISA CO-OWNER NOBUKA KANG SHARES SOME THOUGHTS ON COLLABORATING WITH CHEF AND RESTAURATEUR NOBUYUKI “NOBU” MATSUHISA.
With the expansion of Nobu Matsuhisa’s epicurean empire to a second Colorado ski town, the Rockies are getting another tantalizing taste of the celebrity chef’s signature Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine in a sensational location. Following the success of the Aspen restaurant, Team Nobu opened the most recent Matsuhisa outpost in Vail’s ultra-chic Solaris luxury residence.
The restaurant has a modern Japanese feel. “Its aesthetic focus is on nature and simplicity,” says Nobuko Kang. Sliding glass “walls” feature transfixing views of Vail Mountain and give a sense
of inviting the outside in, she explains, as they separate the loft-like interior of the great room from the patio. After a powder-perfect day on the slopes, it’s an idyllic mountain setting to kick back with a cold sake from Hokusetsu Brewery (served exclusively at Matsuhisa and Nobu restaurants) and an epic omakase multi-course tasting menu—especially for snowseekers who relish sophisticated Asian and Latin fare. Chef Nobu’s internationally acclaimed cuisine is a gastronomical form of high art.
“His culinary style draws on his vast experiences, and in particular, his travels in South America, Asia, and the U.S.,” explains Kang. “It is characterized by a combination of tastes that are familiar and yet always bring something new and surprising.”
The Matsuhisa Vail menu features Nobu’s spin on classic Japanese dishes such as hand rolls, tempura, and his famous broiled black cod with miso.
And then it ventures into deep fusion territory with dishes like the bright and tangy mixed seafood and lobster ceviches, the scallop with jalapeno salsa, and the melt‑in‑your-mouth sea bass with spicy black bean sauce. The fusion experience also extends to the bar where tequila lovers can spend their après-ski sipping Peruvian margaritas and whiskey devotees can tipple with high-end Japanese single malts.
Matsuhisa’s design may offer a Zen-like vibe, but its energy is anything but.
Matsuhisa Vail’s design may offer a Zen‑like vibe, but its energy is anything but. Booked months in advance, the restaurant fills up each night with a glamorous mélange of guests, everyone from locals to global travelers to celebrities. “With each of Nobu’s dishes,” says Kang, “we aspire to bring a moment of delicious sensation and complete satisfaction into their lives.”
According to Kang, Team Nobu isn’t finished with Colorado ski country yet. Wonder what lucky ski town is next on their list?
