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Nobu | One&Only Cape Town

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Nobu at One&Only Cape Town is more than a dining destination, it is a celebration of place, craft, and culinary mastery. As the first Nobu in Africa, the space is grounded by Cemcrete’s rammed earth wall finish, a detail we’re incredibly proud to be part of.

The iconic restaurant at the V&A Waterfront recently underwent a thoughtful refurbishment, the result of a collaboration between dhk Interior Design and Rockwell Group, the renowned interior designers behind the global Nobu brand. The vision was clear: honour the prestige of Nobu while weaving the soul of Cape Town into every corner of the space.
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Among the most striking features of the refurbished space are the rammed earth DecoCrete feature walls that anchor the restaurant's aesthetic. Rendered in DecoCrete Sandstone, Pink Sandstone, and Machado, these walls bring an earthy warmth and textural richness that ground the interior in the natural landscape of the Cape. The organic tones and layered depth of the rammed earth finish create a quiet drama, a backdrop that is as considered as the cuisine it frames.

Rammed earth is one of the oldest and most expressive building techniques in the world. Formed by compacting layers of natural earth within shuttering, it creates solid, monolithic walls that are both structural and sculptural; raw, tactile, and deeply connected to the landscape it comes from.

However, traditional rammed earth is not always practical. Walls up to 800mm thick, large material volumes, and specialised construction methods make it difficult to achieve in urban environments, renovations, or projects with space or cost constraints.

Cemcrete offers an alternative that captures the visual and tactile essence of rammed earth without the limitations. Using DecoCrete, a pre-coloured decorative plaster, a rammed earth-inspired finish can be applied as a cladding system at just 30 to 40mm thick. Available in eight natural, earth-inspired colours, with further tones achievable through ColourCem, Cemcrete's pigmented mineral binder, it works on virtually any existing wall.

The application process mirrors the logic of traditional rammed earth. After preparing the substrate with PrimerCote and FlexBond, shuttering is fixed approximately 30mm off the wall and divided into panel sections of 300 to 400mm, echoing the layered appearance of the original technique. Mechanical anchors and bracing ensure grip and rigidity throughout.
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The result is a surface with the depth, movement, and quiet irregularity that defines true rammed earth, but in a far more versatile and accessible form.
 
This approach allows designers and homeowners to bring the warmth and authenticity of rammed earth into spaces where traditional methods would not be feasible, offering a refined balance between craftsmanship, practicality, and contemporary design.

It is a fitting pairing. Just as Michelin-starred Chef Nobuyuki 'Nobu' Matsuhisa layers Japanese precision with Peruvian boldness, the interior layers global luxury with local craft. Every surface tells a story of collaboration, intention, and pride in South African making.

At the heart of the redesign is a deep commitment to local artistry. Skilled joiners, bespoke tapestry artists, and specialist craftspeople were sought out from across the local design industry to meet the exceptional quality standards the Nobu brand demands. The result is an interior that feels both globally luxurious and unmistakably South African.

Nobu at One&Only Cape Town stands as a testament to what is possible when world-class design meets local excellence.

CREDITS
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Interior Design | DHKi (Interior Design department of DHK Architects) and Rockwell Group
Contractor | Firmarox 
Photographs | One&Only Cape Town
Project Completion | 2026