Sakeya – The House of Sake

If you’re looking for an intimate and cozy little place for a romantic date or a dinner different from the usual look no further than Sakeya. Hidden in a street crossing Corso Genova, this place is at the same time a cocktail bar, a bistrot and a sake shop.

The moment you come in you’ll notice its warm atmosphere with the brick walls and the vintage furnishings of the cocktail area that come straight from Tokyo.

Delicate or full-bodied, fresh or dry, at Sakeya, sake is, of course, the absolute protagonist in all of its possible variations (Sake Ya means literally “house of sake”). The listed labels are more than 150, coming from the 47 prefectures of Japan. The restaurant has the largest selection of sake in all of Europe, cured by Sake Sommelier Lorenzo Ferraboschi and by his fiancée, both in life and professionally, Maiko Takashima. The project of Sakeya has the direct patronage of the Japanese authorities, interested in the foreign promotion their territory and traditions.

Sakeya’s mission is to demonstrate the versatility of sake, offering  gastronomic couplings with the finest raw materials. The staff is entirely composed of Sake Sommeliers, who will be able to advise you both if you are new to the sake world or if you’re accustomed. The service is professional and passionate but never too intrusive. Besides the sake labels and the mixologists Alessio and Jacopo’s great cocktails, both classic or with sake, it’s possible to choose from a selection of Japanese craft beers and whiskeys.

The bistrot area is dominated by shelves spread across the whole wall on which are exposed, under the lights, hundreds of sake bottles and by a huge map of Japan. Once you’ve taken seat you’ll see pass before your eyes the delicacies of chef Masaki Inoguchi (aided by the “Japanese by adoption” Andrea Piga and recently by chef Takashi Kido) on adorable little porcelain plates. The octopus in three variations, the meat skewers cooked on coal (among which the best is the Wagyu one) and the seabass sushi.

For both a dinner or just a cocktail, one thing is for sure: Sakeya keeps its promise of a complete, wide Japanese experience. You’ll leave the restaurant culturally enriched, wondering if someone hasn’t secretly teleported you to Tokyo.