21 February 2026
By Publisher Ray Carmen
There are islands , and then there is Barbuda.
An untouched jewel in the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbuda has long been whispered about among discerning travellers: 17 miles of pink-tinged sand, windswept dunes, empty horizons and that rarest Caribbean luxury , space.
Now, Hollywood icon Robert De Niro is bringing one of the world’s most coveted hospitality brands to its shores.
A Vision Decades in the Making
Through Nobu Hospitality, the global lifestyle empire he co-founded, De Niro has announced Nobu Beach Inn, Barbuda — an ultra-exclusive hotel and residential retreat set along the island’s serene southwest coast.
For De Niro, this is not simply another luxury opening. He first discovered Barbuda more than 30 years ago during a boat trip from Antigua. The island’s raw beauty , free from high-rise development and mass tourism — left a lasting imprint.
This new project is the culmination of that long-held vision: a sanctuary that honours the island rather than overwhelms it.
Pink Sands, Private Villas & Oceanfront Dining
Nobu Beach Inn is designed as an intimate, low-density escape — a deliberate contrast to the mega-resorts found elsewhere in the region.
The development will feature:
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36 bedrooms across 17 individual beachfront villas
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A signature beach club and oceanfront pool
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Indoor and outdoor spa sanctuaries
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Tennis and padel courts
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A state-of-the-art gym pavilion
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A curated kids club and outdoor cinema
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A fully equipped water sports centre
And, of course, the culinary heartbeat: world-class dining anchored by Nobu’s globally celebrated Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, alongside an oceanfront grill highlighting the finest local seafood.
The property expands on the already beloved Nobu Barbuda, located on the island’s iconic Princess Diana Beach — a stretch of coastline often described as one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean.
Ultra-Luxury, Caribbean Soul
In addition to the hotel, the project will include 25 private beachfront residences, with prices beginning around $12 million USD. Owners will have access to all resort amenities while retaining the option to place their villas within Nobu’s managed rental programme.
Yet what sets this development apart is its philosophy.
Barbuda is not St Barts. It is not Miami. It is not meant to be.
The architecture is designed to blend into the landscape. The scale is restrained. The emphasis is on privacy, barefoot elegance, and immersive natural beauty. Think sunrise walks along empty shores. Think candlelit dinners under open Caribbean skies. Think understated glamour , not spectacle.
A New Chapter for Barbuda
With the opening of Burton Nibbs International Airport and enhanced connectivity through Antigua’s V.C. Bird International Airport, Barbuda is becoming more accessible , yet it remains fiercely protected in spirit.
Completion of Nobu Beach Inn is expected in late 2026, marking a significant milestone not only for Nobu Hospitality but for the evolution of Caribbean ultra-luxury travel.
For Caribbean World readers, this moment represents something deeper: a global icon choosing our region — our sands, our seas, our serenity , as the canvas for his next masterpiece.
And in Barbuda, where pink sands meet endless sky, the world’s elite may soon discover that true luxury is not about excess.
It is about escape.
Barefoot.
Caribbean.
