Suiraku

There are few places in Singapore as dedicated to sake and shochu as Suiraku. Opened by the same folks behind bottle shop Kurara, this polished izakaya leans closer to an upscale omakase counter than a rowdy drinking den. But don’t mistake that for stiffness. The sake sommeliers are refreshingly down-to-earth, offering a distinctly Singaporean take on sake.

The vibe

A handsome wooden counter anchors the room, much like a sushi bar, but the atmosphere is warm and inviting. It’s watched over by the original Suiraku signboard, gifted by the proprietress of the Japanese izakaya whose spirit this place revives.

This is the kind of place where one round of sake turns into three. With so much on offer, and sommeliers who are genuinely excited to share their knowledge, it’s easy to get swept up in it all. Prices are reasonable, too, so you can explore without blowing your budget.

Commissioned artwork, including Ryoko Kimura’s ‘Three Tipsy Dragons’, adds a playful, slightly whimsical edge that mirrors the restaurant’s philosophy: serious drinks, relaxed fun.

The food

Suiraku offers a traditional Japanese menu alongside its beverage offerings. Prepared by chef Jing, who has over a decade of fine-dining experience in Japan, focusing on Kyoto-style kaiseki fine dining, Suiraku's food menu leans more traditional Japanese.

Beyond the à la carte menu, he also offers a kyo-kaiseki tasting menu that requires bookings to be made three working days in advance. Here, he works with seasonal ingredients which are further amplified through a sake pairing. Watch out for its monthly events where chef Jing has a chance to showcase more of his creativity, where he might blend influences from Singaporean or Chinese cuisine, too.

The drink

The headline here is the drinks programme: more than 300 sake and shochu labels spanning crisp spring releases to deeper, savoury bottles built for food pairing. The team clearly loves education – masterclasses spotlight honkaku shochu and awamori, and staff are happy to guide you through flights depending on your mood. Cocktails exist, but this is a place to lean into sake discovery.

Time Out tip

Ask for seasonal sake pairings. The team often brings in limited bottles that don’t stay on the list for long.