In the mood for a different boozy experience altogether? If you’re feeling a little sick of your usual pints of beer, perhaps it’s time to delve into the wonderful world of refreshing rice liquor—yes, we mean sake. Ditch your usual watering holes for these top-notch sake bars in Singapore!
Shukuu Japanese Izakaya and Sake Bar
For A Sensorial Izakaya Adventure
Founded by four young professionals crazy about all things Japanese, Shukuu is a trifecta of sublime food, epic drinks, and of course, an authentic Izakaya experience. With carefully curated food items, painstakingly air-flown from Japan, the joint ensures only the best morsels grace your plate. After all, these dishes (the Rosti Mentai, Kani Gratin, Buta Minced Katsu, and charcoal grilled skewers are all crowd favourites) are meant to be paired with their artisanal sake! If you’re unsure of what to get, just ask for expert advice from their certified in-house sommeliers who are always more than happy to offer their two cents to the discerning drinker.
For Authentic Robatayaki
Ishinomaki is a grill and sake dining concept which offers both authentic Robatayaki and Izakaya dishes paired with premium sake and shochu. As the bar works closely with local Japanese produce purveyors to bring in high quality and fresh seafood, patrons dining in will get to feast on prime seasonal ingredients alongside a carefully curated sake menu that’s prefecture focused and selected to match the taste profile of the dishes.
We’d definitely recommend the Juurokudai Kurouemon Tokubetsu Junmai Natsu Muroka Nama Genshu they carry. This sake is wonderfully fresh and lively with notes of green apples and citrus fruits, all balanced by light lactic and nutty undertones, reminiscent of a late-summer evening. Head over to enjoy this unfiltered and unpasteurised wonder before it’s gone!
For Excellent Sake & Exquisite Bites
Located on the second floor of a heritage shophouse along Telok Ayer Street, Kabuke is a sake restaurant that really sets the stage for excellent sake pairings and exquisite bites. Their seasonal umami-packed menu features signature Wagyu dishes as well as quality seafood, and their drinks section boasts sake from prefectures all across Japan, including the smaller breweries.
Popular food picks would be their Ikura Somen that’s packed with fresh silky Ikura, and their crispy Kurobuta Pork which has been braised for 12 hours for a melt-in-your-mouth bite. Of course, sake amateurs who are unsure of which drinks to pair these dishes with, can seek advice from the service crew who will shed light on sensible pairings—ones that will allow the flavours from both the food and drinks to be savoured as a whole.
For A Retro Japanese Vinyl Bar
Discover the ultimate sensory experience at Iko, a Japanese-style ‘listening bar’ which spins retro records so patrons can enjoy the rich sound of vinyl while sipping their sake on the side. One of the drinks you’d want to sample while you’re there is the Kuroushi Junmai which possesses a calm, clean, and magical charm. As you slowly enjoy this particular sake, you’ll realise that the initial sweetness of the Omachi rice will give way to a refreshing citrus acidity. This one’s suitable for all enthusiasts as it’s a light and dry sake—perfect for any occasion!
For Sake & Tempura Pairings
Explore a variety of premium sakes at Yamakita! We’re talking traditional favourites of Ginjo (namely the Akabu F Ginjo, $13 per glass) and Daiginjo (notable labels are the Dassai Junmai Daiginjo 45 and 23, $15 and $30 per glass respectively) as you’ve never tasted them before. Unlike most sake bars, wine glasses are the preferred serving method here as this helps to elevate the flavours and accentuate the aromas of each distinctive sake. Pair these with a selection of exquisite tempura-centric dishes created by their talented chefs; these include ala carte Ebi ($5), Hotate ($4), Ika ($3), and Asparagus ($4) servings.
