Tranquil courtyards, locally sourced stone and an array of swimming pools are among the features at Nobu's first hotel in Mexico – a beachside resort along the Pacific Ocean.

The high-end hotel is located in Cabo San Lucas, a town on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula. It is the latest in a global collection of Nobu hotels – a brand established by famed chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa and actor Robert De Niro.

The resort offers 200 guest rooms, along with amenities such as pools, a spa and several restaurants that serve fresh, local food. The property was designed by WATG, a California firm that has offices around the world. Studio PCH, also based in California, oversaw the interior design.

Situated on a triangular, beachfront site, the hotel was oriented so that it blocks strong winds from the northwest while still providing sweeping views. The design features rectilinear forms, clean lines, neutral colours and earthy materials.

The property is described as the "first ground-up hotel for the brand that merges local and Japanese culture".

"The design builds upon the Nobu brand as a modern and luxurious hotel at the intersection of exquisite cuisine, innovation and creativity that fuses seamlessly with the distinctive Mexican locale," the team said in a project description.

When guests arrive at the property, they pass through a motor court and into an austere courtyard. Continuing on, they encounter a "stone-framed portal" that looks toward the ocean and offers vista of spectacular sunsets.

If guests are lucky, they might even catch a shot of migrating whales.

The entry courtyard features stone sculptures that are meant to symbolise a journey up a mountain. Guests than travel through a passageway with fire elements that evoke heat, and into another courtyard with water components that evoke a cooling sensation.

"This subtle design creates a balance between the fire and water elements, symbolising yin and yang," the team said.

The guest rooms are decorated in neutral colours, natural materials and streamlined decor, which is intended to create a luxurious yet relaxed atmosphere.

Richly toned wood is paired with ivory linens and tan tile flooring. In the bathrooms, the team clad walls in light stone and dark grey pebbles.

Japanese influences include teak soaking tubs and wooden slats that allude to traditional shoji screens. All finishes and decor were carefully chosen to "to maintain the balance of serene sophistication".

WATG also oversaw the property's landscape design, which takes cues from Japanese gardens. The team incorporated locally sourced stones and plants, along with a number of water features.

Guests are prevented from swimming in the adjacent ocean due to its strong currents. In response, the team created numerous pools and jacuzzis for the resort.

There also are multiple eateries and bars on the property, including the bright and airy Malibu Farm restaurant, where guests can enjoy fresh, organic food.

According to the brand's website, there are 12 Nobu hotels around the globe, with additional ones planned for Atlanta, Riyadh, São Paulo, Tel Aviv, Toronto and Warsaw.

Completed properties include an oceanside retreat in Malibu, California designed by Studio PCH and Montalba Architects and a hotel in London's Shoreditch neighbourhood designed by Studio Mica.

Photography is by Kraft Signature Resort & Hotel Photography and WATG.