Forest returned to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon as The Reds made a first visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face Spurs in Premier League action.
Steve Cooper made two changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Everton at The City Ground as Jesse Lingard and Orel Mangala came into the starting XI in place of Jack Colback and Chris Wood.
The hosts started brightly in North London and thought they were ahead after just three minutes, Richarlison being played through into the box before lashing the ball past Keylor Navas with a powerful first-time finish but following a lengthy VAR check, the goal was ruled out for offside.
Forest settled into the fixture soon after and chances for both sides were few and far between, Son Heung-min's free-kick was met by the head of Cristian Romero on 13 minutes but the Argentina World Cup winner was ruled offside.
After a neat passage of possesion on 18 minutes, Brennan Johnson was released in-behind the Spurs defence after a through-ball from Jonjo Shelvey but Romero was across on the cover to help see the ball for a goal kick.
However, moments later the hosts were ahead. Pedro Porro's cross from the right was met by the head of England captain Harry Kane who planted the ball past Navas from 10 yards out.
On 35 minutes, Spurs doubled their lead from the penalty spot following a foul by Joe Worrall on Richarlison. Kane duly stepped up to add his second of the afternoon from 12 yards.
Kane looked to get his hat-trick on 43 minutes as he connected with another Porro cross, however the Tottenham number 10 couldn't divert his header on target from close range.
The Reds looked to halve the deficit during two minutes of additional time as Shelvey's effort from the edge of the box was deflected inches behind before the hosts cleared the resulting corner.
Half time: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Cooper responded with a double change for the second half as André Ayew and Emmanuel Dennis entered the action in place of Lingard and Mangala.
Spurs had the first chance of the second half as the lively Son slipped in Richarlison but the Brazilian was well denied by Navas who was quick off his line to pounce on the ball.
Renan Lodi was shown the first yellow card of the afternoon on 55 minutes following a foul on Richarlison near the halfway line as Spurs looked to build an attack.
Forest created an opening on 58 minutes as Worrall headed Gibbs-White's free-kick into the area before Felipe struck towards goal but he couldn't quite keep his effort below the bar.
Another chance followed on 61 minutes as Dennis combined with Gibbs-White before setting Johnson in on the right hand side, the Wales international hit the target with a powerful low effort but he was denied by a strong Fraser Forster save.
However, two minutes later Son made it three for the hosts, remaining cool to convert from inside the area after being found by Richarlison.
Another double change for The Reds followed on 68 minutes as Ryan Yates and Chris Wood took the place of Remo Freuler and Johnson.
Bookings for Tottenham duo Eric Dier and Oliver Skipp followed with 20 minutes remaining following a couple of strong challenges on Dennis and Wood respectively.
Wood was forced to make way on 73 minutes due to injury, Neco Williams his replacement.
On 76 minutes, Forest almost had a goal back as Serge Aurier powered a header towards goal following Gibbs-White's corner, but Fraser Forster in the Spurs net made a superb reaction save to tip the ball behind for a corner.
Son almost made it four with ten minutes remaining after being found by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, but Navas made a fine stop to deny the South Korea international from doubling his tally.
On 81 minutes, Forest reduced the deficit to two as Worrall nodded in at the back-post following Felipe's flick from Gibbs-White's dangerous corner.
Spurs made a double change in the closing stages as Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Moura replaced Richarlison and Son.
The Reds were handed a lifeline in the last of four added minutes as Kulusevski handballed inside the box, but Ayew was denied by Forster from 12 yards before referee Craig Pawson blew for full time in the capital.
Full time: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Nottingham Forest
Tottenham Hotspur: Fraser Forster, Cristian Romero, Eric Dier, Clement Lenglet, Ben Davies, Pedro Porro, Oliver Skipp (Pape Matar Sarr 90+4'), Pierre Emile Højbjerg, Heung-min Son (Dejan Kulusevski 84'), Richarlison (Lucas Moura 84'), Harry Kane (C)
Substitutes: Brandon Austin, Davinson Sánchez, Japhet Tanganga, Ivan Perišić, Arnaut Danjuma, Romaine Mundle
Goals: Kane (19', 35' pen), Son Heung-min (62')
Nottingham Forest: Keylor Navas, Serge Aurier, Joe Worrall (C), Felipe, Renan Lodi, Jonjo Shelvey, Remo Freuler (Ryan Yates 67'), Orel Mangala (André Ayew 46'), Morgan Gibbs-White, Jesse Lingard (Emmanuel Dennis 46'), Brennan Johnson (Chris Wood 67', Neco Williams 74')
Substitutes: George Shelvey, Neco Williams, Moussa Niakhaté, Jack Colback, Danilo
Goal: Worrall (81')