9 Best sake bars in Hong Kong

Located inside PMQ, Sake Central – co-founded by Hong Kong's resident 'Sake Samurai' Elliot Faber – is home to one of the broadest selections of sake in Hong Kong. Sake Central is an incredibly cool space and one of the city's trendiest restaurants. There are hundreds of different types of sake to choose from here, whether you want regular brews or something rare. For a fun learning experience, try their daily Saketen 10 Ochoko Challenge ($238/person) from 2pm to 6.30pm, where you can taste 10 different bottles of sake within 90 minutes; the best part is once you tasted all 10, you can ask for refills on your favourite serves. If you want to explore sake pairing, order the tasting menu ($1098) showcasing ten dishes and ten kinds of sake. Bottles are also available for purchase in the retail area. Don't forget to catch their seasonal sales to get good deals on quality bottles. 

For a one-of-a-kind sake pairing experience, Godenya is the perfect place to book a seat. The venue is popular for its authentic charm but what people come back for is the owner's gracious hospitality. Shiya Goshima, more affectionately known as Goshi-san, is a passionate chef and sake expert who talks about sake with a twinkle in his eye. The restaurant's menu features dishes explicitly designed for sake pairing, with each drink carefully chilled or warmed to optimum temperature. 

Imported from Tokyo, Toritama is a neighbourhood yakitori joint that offers authentic Japanese flavours. The eatery serves 30 chicken parts that are grilled to perfection, including some lesser-known chicken cuts such as achilles tendon, knee gristle, calf muscle, oesophagus, and more. Sink your teeth into grilled meat and pair it with different types of sake available from their extensive menu. They offer sake by the glass or bottles that will set you back from a few hundred dollars to thousands depending on your preference. 

Hit up Wako Sake Bar if you're looking for an all-you-can-drink nihonshu deal. It is the only bar in Hong Kong that offers free-flow sake with options of Japanese fruit wine and shōchū in the mix. For $298, you can drink as much sake as you want from over 100 different kinds of bottles. You can pair your sake with a variety of Japanese dishes, including grilled skewers, Hokkaido sea urchin sashimi, Teppanyaki Kagoshima wagyu beef, among others. If you catch Wako Sake Bar's owner, sake sommelier Randy Au, don't be afraid to ask if you need some guidance on the best choices to try. 

People may have a mix of opinions about dining at The Aubrey, but drinks are what we come here for. Three bars are available at the venue, and you can choose a seat depending on your preferred tipple. You can order from a selection of highballs and chuhai cocktails on the main cocktail bar or elevate your drinking experience with bespoke cocktails at the Omakase Cocktail Bar. But to get your nihonshu fix, head over to the Curio Lounge and get a seat by the Champagne and Sake Bar. Alongside a collection of 50 Champagne labels, the bar features an exclusive menu of 25 sake labels from unique Japanese breweries, which includes a selection of sake sparklers.

Over at Knutsford Terrace in Tsim Sha Tsui, Goshaku offers over 200 bottles of sake covering labels from 45 Japanese prefectures. Browse through a selection of sake from their lineup of large refrigerators containing an extensive collection arranged by geography and curated according to the seasons! They serve their sake by the glass, so you can explore more variants without having to purchase an entire bottle. For bites, dig into Japanese dishes, from sashimi, grilled items, and hot-pot bowls that are great to pair with sakes.  

A trendier sister venue of Wako Sake Bar located in Tin Hau. The concept combines coffee and sake under one place with a futuristic design area dedicated to serving sushi. Enjoy freshly made sushi amid posh surroundings complete with LED wall and mirrored ceiling that reflects Japanese landscapes. The striking interior definitely makes sipping nihonshu and nibbling on raw fish on vinegared rice a memorable experience. 

For a no-fuss sake drinking experience, make your way to Wan Chai and knock on the hidden bar Heya. Heya, which means room in Japanese, is a cosy little nook on the fourth floor of the Winner Commercial Building on Lockhart Road. This 18-seater drinking den serves over 30 labels of sake – which you can order per glass ($50 to $100 per glass; $230/flight of three) or bottle, for dine-in or takeaway – sourced from lesser-known breweries in Japan, along with shochu, whisky, fruit liquor, and Suntory beers on draft ($58/glass). Light bites are available on the menu but what's great about the space is you can bring your own food (no extra fee), and co-owner Sean Li will gladly help you pair your food with the right bottle of sake. You can also order bottles at an affordable retail price, and the bar will deliver them to you for free, even on single purchases to Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and New Territories. 

Zuma is popular for its fun night brunch, where you can gorge on a wide selection of Japanese izakaya dishes and wash them down with quality sake. Their sake menu offers sips by glass or bottles – from 100ml, 300ml, 500ml, 720ml, and 1800ml magnum sizes – that can be served warm or cold. Choose from sake styles like daiginjo, junmai daiginjo, or junmai ginjo, and pair them with signature dishes, from sashimi to grilled meat, using a charcoal robata grill that gives their dishes a great smoky flavour.