Sake Bar GINN was amongst the first in Hong Kong to specialise in premium sake. Perched on the fourth floor of a nondescript building in LKF, it’s a welcome respite from the high-octane madness below. Approachable, convivial and with a range of affordably priced otsumami or small bites (starting at around $80) to complement your drink selections, you’re in for a stress-free journey into the world of sake. Many of the bottles here have been sourced from smaller boutique breweries in Japan and are stored in a special fridge to maintain quality. Sit back, relax, and let Sake Service Institute certified sommelier Ayuchi Momose lead the way. Sake Bar Ginn also offers sake tasting menus (from $500 and up)– keep an eye on the Facebook page for details.

Sake Bar GINN, 4C, Ho Lee Commercial Building, 38-44 D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong, 2536 4355, sakebarginn.com

Sake Central is one of the most comprehensive sake destinations in the city. A hybrid retail and educational space, it’s dark and cavernous, irresistibly chic, and filled with a stunning variety of sake– from adorable yet potent one-cup sakes to gold calligraphy-scrawled bottles of the finest Junmai Daiginjo, and even handcrafted Japanese wares. If you’re a sake novice, the servers here are always eager to answer any questions, as well as provide highly intuitive, well-studied recommendations based on your preferences and what’s best during the season.

Sake Central, S109 – S113, Block A, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2656 6552, sake-central.com

Sleek, trendy, and Hong Kong-sized, SAKETEN embraces the Japanese concept of tachinomi or standing bars. A sister project of Sake Central, this H Code drinking den is an easy go-to spot for an after-work beverage or late night tipple, with a glass of sake starting at a smooth $70. Not only are the servers friendly, knowledgeable and genuinely enthusiastic about sake, but there’s also a solid selection of non-sake drinks too, including highballs on tap and sparkling sodas of ume and yuzu. Stylish, stress-free, and great for the ‘gram– SAKETEN delivers on all counts. It’s also the only place in the city serving sake on draft!

SAKETEN, G/F, Shop 4, Lower Block, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central, www.saketenhk.com

Located on Sun Street behind the Star Street precinct of Wan Chai, it’s easy to miss Sake Beya Masu. Run by Sake Samurai Louis Ho, it’s nestled behind a dark sliding door sans signage. The inside is quiet, inconspicuous and elegantly restrained– a broody atmosphere, great for a solo jaunt. Take a seat at the bar and purchase by the glass (starting at about $100), or opt for the sake pairing and omakase (between $900 and $1500 per head) prepared by the Kyushu-born head chef. You’ll need to book a reservation for the latter.

Sake Beya Masu, G/F., 2 Sun Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, 2525 2355, [email protected], www.sakebeyamasu.com

With its cosmopolitan izakaya vibe and vast repertoire of succulent chicken skewers, there are countless reasons to spend your night at Yardbird, including its impressive drinks selection. Hong Kong’s most prominent Sake Samurai Elliot Faber is behind the thoughtful beverage list here, so you’re in for a treat. A glass of sake will set you back around $100 to $150 depending on your selection.

Yardbird, G/F, 154-158 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, 2547 9273, [email protected], yardbirdrestaurant.com

Considered the uber-cool, seafood-focused sequel to Yardbird, RŌNIN’s beverage offerings are top-notch. The selection is similarly curated by certified sake expert Elliot Faber, who trains the staff on a regular basis. Opt for one of the flights (between $800-$1,200), which include between four and six well-rounded, handpicked selections of sake from diverse sake-producing prefectures of Japan.

RŌNIN, G/F, 8 On Wo Lane, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, 2547 5263, [email protected], roninhk.com

With graphic illustrations by ero-guro artist Toshio Saeki splayed across the back wall and a punk-leaning playlist put together by chef-owner Max Levy, the atmosphere at Sai Ying Pun’s OKRA is irreverent and neighbourly. Here you’ll find an impressive selection of artisanal unpasteurised sake, starting from around $100 per glass. Pull up a stool downstairs to enjoy your drink with left-of-centre dishes which pop with bold flavours that pull from various cuisines. Alternatively, for an intimate omakase experience, simply head upstairs to the more refined Bar Okra.

OKRA Hong Kong, 110 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, 2806 1038, [email protected], okrahk.com

Well-known in Tokyo for being an “authentic neighbourhood yakitori joint”, Toritama touched down in Hong Kong to much fanfare. Its house sake, brewed in Japan specifically for Toritama, is delicious and light, and pairs well with pretty much everything on the menu. If you’re in the mood for something different, don’t be afraid to experiment with its broad range of sake offerings – you can’t go wrong, we promise.

Toritama, G/F, 2 Glenealy, Central, Hong Kong, 2388 7717, [email protected], www.toritama.hk

Home to a library of over 200 sakes catalogued by region, Goshaku offers up drinks by the glass starting from just $55. If you’re eager to sample a wide variety on a budget, or hesitant to commit to a bottle, this is the place for you. Next time you find yourself in TST, stop by Goshaku for a tipple or two in a fun and lively environs.

Goshaku, 6/F, One Knutsford Terrace, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2687 6565, goshaku.com, www.facebook.com/goshakuhk

To dine at Godenya, you must first navigate a cryptic reservation system (hint: find the code on its Facebook page) before braving the famously perplexing alleyways of Central– but rest assured, the rewards are well worth it. Chef Goshima Shinya is behind Godenya’s supremely seasonal omakase and sake pairing menu (it changes almost monthly) that has customers raving. Goshi-san curates the meal so meticulously that each sake is served at a different temperature to highlight the flavours of the food. It’s said that guests who dined at the former location in Tokyo fly to Hong Kong just for another taste of this oh so exclusive sake experience ($1,750 per head).

Godenya, G/F, 182 Wellington Street (entrance on Kau U Fong), Central, Hong Kong, [email protected], godenya.com