Along with banging floral displays and some serious sushi plates, London's Japanese restaurants are also responsible for bringing this city its drink du jour: sake. Traditionally served in small ceramic cups, the fermented rice wine has been knocking around for more than 1,500 years, and while we're only just getting in on the action (a little late to the party, we know...), it's now never been easier to find yourself a glass of the good stuff. Whether you slurp it cold or warm, cloudy or freshly brewed - we've rounded up the best places in London to drink sake.
If you're on the lookout for a traditional Japanese tipple in Mayfair, you're in luck. TOKii packs in one of the best sake collections in the city.
Whether you're here with for a liquid lunch or want to pair your drinks with sushi and robata-grilled skewers, you can make your way through a specially selected list of Akashi-Tai Japanese Sake. If you feel like mixing it up, there's over 100 Japanese whiskies up for grabs too.
If sake's your thing, Freak Scene Sushi & Robata is the place to be. Their carefully curated selection, thanks to Oliver Hilton-Johnson (Tengu Sake), brings everything from delicate junmai to full-bodied daiginjo, perfectly paired with sushi and sizzling robata plates.
Whether you're sipping alongside spicy lemon & garlic miso poussin or balancing the umami hit of duck red curry doughnut buns, these pours elevate every bite. New to sake? The staff will guide you to the perfect match - just bring an open mind.
Home to 17 different kinds of sake, with the menu split into different tasting notes like 'earthy and mineral', 'fresh and crispy', 'fruity and aromatic' and more, Yamatora is great place to try sake alongside Japanese food - whether you're a seasoned drinker or dipping your toe for the first time. Expect dishes made with 90% of its ingredients sourced from Japan, for an authentic taste, as well as a private karaoke room and tasting sets of four kinds of sake.
8 at The Londoner serve up contemporary Japanese cuisine, paired with a fantastic selection of delicious sake. The restaurant boasts various grades of the stuff, including Junmai, Ginjo, Daiginjo, Umeshu and Yuzushu.
From plum, peach and yuzu sake to crisp ginjo and junmai too, Machiya has the full range of authentic Japanese drinks in store at their cool hangout. Expect to sip your way through a glass or bottle, all while munching dishes like wagyu katsu, donburi and more.
For some of the city's best tipples, head to La Bibliotheque in Hackney. Their sake tasting experience with food pairings brings you six delicious drinks alongside a complementary tasting menu, or for something heartier check out their three course dinner with a sake pairing instead.
A haven for sake lovers, Ginza in Mayfair offers one of London's most impressive selections of premium sake. Their carefully curated list features handpicked bottles from Japan's finest breweries, expertly chosen to complement the restaurant's exceptional sushi, sashimi, and wagyu dishes.
Whether you're a sake connoisseur or a curious newcomer, the knowledgeable staff will guide you to the perfect pairing, ensuring an authentic and unforgettable drinking experience.
The second venue from this popular Japanese restaurant, Flesh & Buns Oxford Circus is a casual spot for authentic East Asian fare - specialising in bao and fresh sushi platters. There's also a real focus on sake in their drinks menu, with seven different types available by the glass or bottle, starting from £5.80 for a 100ml measure - and they offer a sake pairing brunch on Saturdays too. What's more, they host supper clubs here on a regular basis, where you can enjoy a guided sake testing alongside a mouthwatering four-course menu, costing just £45 per person.
And the prettiest London sake bar? That's got to be Zuma in Kensington, which brings the blossom season to the city every darn day. If you know your stuff, dive straight into their extensive sake menu, or if you're new to this drink, try one of the sake-infused cocktails; the Rubabu is a slinky little mix of rhubarb-infused sake, vodka, and passion fruit.
Known for their robatayaki cuisine (cooking over hot charcoal), Roka Aldwych is a stylish and slick spot to dip your toes into sake drinking in London. The smart space has a choice of bottles on their drinks menu every day, or keep your eyes peeled for one of the sake masterclasses.
If you're looking for a traditional Japanese tipple with a side of listening bar vibes, get on over to Kioku Sake Bar. In the iconic Old War Office building, you can choose your soundtrack as you work your way through one of London's largest bespoke sake collections.
All low lights, interiors, sleek wood finishes and laidback cool, it's easy to lose a good few hours in this spot. Prefer to taste something a little different? Tuck into the signature Japanese cocktails, from the Shiso Gimlet with Roku gin and sudachi lime to the Kinoko Old Fashioned infused with mushroom distillate and Hibiki Harmony whisky.
For those of you who fancy a swig of sake with your meal, head on over to Bamboo Mat Stratford. This Nikkei restaurant is slinging out a mighty menu of creative and classic sushi rolls, alongside kingfish tiradito and grilled octopus. Plus, you can bag a 120ml glass of Kawatsuru for £8 (bottle for £42) or Junmai Daiginjo for £9 a glass.
Dedicated to, well, the arts, The Arts Club is a gorgeous private members club set in an old townhouse. Along with a brasserie and leafy outdoor terrace, the club has a Japanese-inspired space with its very own sake tap.
Knightbridge's CLAP is a fine dining Japanese restaurant just a stone's throw from Harrods, offering you the chance to dig into their delicacies and sip through the finest sake. Their bottles range from £45 a piece up to £950 for the rare and premium sakes, while two cocktails - including the yuzu and berry-flavoured Nippon Sangria - also boast sake.
