Tucked below a standard Midtown office building, this Japanese izakaya/sake bar offers more than 200 sakes to choose from. The extensive menu is color-coded and cross referenced to give you hints to what bites to pair your drink with, from slices of chilled roasted duck wrapped around scallions to pork shumai. Most dishes are served in small, tapas-like portions, and are meant to be shared. If you feel overwhelmed by the amount of options, Sakagura offers almost all sakes by the glass, carafe, or bottle, so you can start slowly while you refine your tastes.
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By the same owners as East Village mainstay Sake Bar Decibel, which is more than worthy of a visit itself, Sakagura is a speakeasy style sake bar hidden inside an office building. Sakagura has been introducing New Yorkers to the wonderful world of sake since it opened in 1996—over 20 years ago. Finding the immersive, Japanese-inspired bar after walking through a nondescript office building feels like something out of a Studio Ghibli film, and making your way through their long list of sake varietals only sets you further into that happy haze.
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