Nobu Next Door

Address: 105 Hudson St
Phone Number: 212-334-4445

Nobu’s swish, younger sister serves up the same delectable Japanese fare, sans the tough reservation policy. The “no reservations” rule seems to extend to the crowd as well: On any night of the week you might spot hipsters with spiky hair out for some pre-clubbing nourishment and co-workers from the nearby designer architecture firms, digging into raw fish, sea urchin, skewers of Kobe beef, monkfish paté with caviar, and salmon skin salad. Green, blue, and brown sake bottles line the backlit shelves, standing as glowing reminders of Nobu Next Door’s extensive selection of the potent Japanese drink. The low thrum of trendy pop and hip-hop tunes fills the room; music is even piped into the sleek bathrooms. If you show up early – before 6:30 – you’ll usually score a table within a couple of minutes; the later you arrive, the longer the wait, though a chilled sake or two makes time fly.