Shunzentamusake Soan

The first thing that comes to mind when one hears the word izakaya is a rowdy scene with shouting salarymen spilling sake on the floor. That is not the case at Shunzentamusake Soan, where the small dish and sake format is done in an altogether more refined style. This intimate gastropub offers a more high-class izakaya experience. Here, you can enjoy a wide range of sake, paired with delicious small dishes that bring out the best in the drinks and vice versa. The menu changes daily based on the best ingredients available. In izakaya dining, food is often an afterthought to the drinking. Not so here! Their dishes can rival those at the top kappo restaurants around town. Expect grilled meat and seafood, along with seasonal vegetables, and rich simmered dishes in winter. It’s all wrapped in a great value package: around 7 or 8 dishes typically feature on the set menu. The setting itself is intimate, with the couple who run the shop tending to all of the hospitality. Their warmth, sake knowledge, and cooking skill have won them a star in the 2020 Michelin Guide — no small feat for an izakaya, as few feature on these revered pages. Michelin Stars: 2020 - 1 Michelin star 2021 - none