Saké Restaurant & Bar Southbank

Hunter St Hospitality has built Saké into a mini-chain. There’s one in Brisbane, two in Sydney and one in Melbourne, Dining here is fun – not only the menu, but the atmosphere itself. Despite its prime location and high profile, Saké brings a light-heartedness to contemporary Japanese cuisine.

From a simply written menu that teaches diners the Japanese words for different varieties of fish, to waiters who encourage you swap your chopsticks for a spoon at the end of meal to scoop up those last delicious bites, Saké is an educational and unpretentious experience.

There are 12 options for nigiri and sashimi. Start with a few of these carefully assembled bites before moving onto sushi rolls, tempura, and proteins cooked over binchotan (odourless coal) on the Robata grill.

A variety of seating options – from booths to private dining rooms, bar stools and outdoor tables – mean each visit is a slightly different experience.