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Flor de Manzana from Chotto Matte
Chotto Matte [official photo]

Where to Sip the Top Sake Cocktails in South Florida

Time to get to drinking

by Alona Martinez
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Flor de Manzana from Chotto Matte
| Chotto Matte [official photo]
by Alona Martinez

Sake has come a long way since it was only known as an acerbic beverage to be sipped hot while munching on California rolls. Today, it is the darling of many bars, and rightfully so— the Japanese rice wine can take on many notes, from floral to fruity to spicy, making it an easy playmate for creative cocktails. Here are some top spots getting in on the fun.

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Kuro (in Seminole Hard Rock)

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Casino enthusiasts and non-gamblers alike flock to Kuro, a contemporary Japanese restaurant tucked away inside the mammoth Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. A meal here is a winning culinary experience regardless of how the slots behaved, and it gets even better with a drink involved. While the cocktail selection is vast, regulars know the evening should begin with Jyu Go cocktail, made with matcha-infused shochu, falernum, and passion fruit.

1 Seminole Way, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314
(954) 327-7625
(954) 327-7625
Matcha-infused Shochu, Falernum, and passion fruit.
Kuro [official photo]

Also featured in:

Monkitail

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Chef and restaurateur Michael Schulson’s Japanese restaurant in the Diplomat Beach Resort offers a unique twist on the classic pina colada. The Monki’s Fist is made with sake, coconut, lime, and pineapple. Pair it with edamame dumplings or dive into the Chef’s Tasting Menu for a full experience.

3555 S Ocean Dr, Hollywood, FL 33019
(954) 602-8755
(954) 602-8755
Sake meets Piña Colada with Monki’s Fist.
Monkitail [official photo]

ETARU Hallandale

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Sipping a cocktail oceanside is always a good idea, and this modern Japanese restaurant on pristine Hallandale Beach fits the bill. The Tokyo Lowrider, made with mezcal, plum sake, sweet vermouth, and Campari, is Etaru’s go-to sake cocktail.

111 S Surf Rd, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009
(954) 271-3222
(954) 271-3222
ETARU’s Tokyo Lowrider
ETARU [official photo]

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Il Mulino New York - Miami

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Head to the AQ Bar and ask for a Tomi Gooseberry, made with muddled gooseberries, sake, vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice, and gooseberry bitters. Tom is the word for “wealth” in Japanese, and taking in the bar’s upscale ambiance and hard-to-beat ocean view certainly ties in with the theme.

17875 Collins Ave, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160
(305) 466-9191
(305) 466-9191
Tomi Gooseberry with a view.
Il Mulino New York [official photo]

Also featured in:

Makoto

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Bal Harbour’s elegant Japanese has been drawing fans for its fresh sushi and binchotan charcoal robota grill for years. There’s an extensive sake selection to choose from as well as numerous cocktails, including a sake-themed nod to the martini, the Sake-tini, featuring Manabito Sake, yuzu, and cucumber.

9700 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33154
(305) 864-8600
(305) 864-8600
The bar at Makoto.
Makoto [official photo]

Also featured in:

Dragonfly Izakaya & Fish Market

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The delicate Sake Blossom cocktail, made with nigori sake, peach liqueur, cranberry, and mint, seems fitting amid the trendy, modern Japanese setting in bustling Downtown Doral. The space is perfect for enjoying the many small plates (here’s looking at you, crispy pig ears) or perusing the extensive menu with a cocktail in hand.

5241 NW 87th Ave, Doral, FL 33178
(305) 222-7447
(305) 222-7447
Sake Blossom kicks off the night at Dragonfly Izakaya & Fish Market.
Dragonfly Izakaya & Fish Market [official photo]

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Jaya at The Setai

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Easily one of the most seductive spots in Miami, beginning with the walk through the lobby of the Setai Hotel, Jaya draws on Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese, and Chinese influences. Get things started with the cucumber martini, made with Dassai 50 sake, vodka, lemon juice, and cucumber.

2001 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(855) 923-7899
(855) 923-7899
Cucumber Martini
Jaya at The Setai [official photo]

Also featured in:

Pubbelly Sushi

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This self-proclaimed sushi tavern serves several inventive sake-based drinks, beginning with the Teasy Bear (lime, ginger juice, honey syrup, salty lime foam, ginger beer, and sake) and the Lucky Kat (lime, Thai basil, simple syrup, watermelon puree, salty lime foam, and sake, topped with pomegranate bubba). For those seeking some heat, opt for the Fu Manchu, which includes jalapeno syrup, lime, pineapple puree, yuzu, lime and salt foam, cilantro, compressed diced pineapple, and sake.

1424 20th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 531-9282
(305) 531-9282
The adorable Teasy Bear.
Pubbelly [official photo]

Also featured in:

NaiYaRa

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There’s a lot to enjoy at this energetic, fast-paced Sunset Harbor Thai street food spot, where guests can take in the action happening in the open-air kitchen or head over to the cozy bar for a Mekong Mule, made with vodka, sparkling sake, ginger-lemongrass syrup, lime, and ginger beer.

1854 Bay Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(786) 275-6005
(786) 275-6005
NaiYaRa’s Mekong Mule is made with sparkling sake.
NaiYaRa [official photo]

Also featured in:

Sushi Garage

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As the name alludes, this Sunset Harbor restaurant used to house an auto-body shop. In its place diners can now find contemporary fare with an eye toward delivering simple, traditional Japanese dishes. Yuzu, the citrus fruit that is the current darling in Asian dining, makes a star-studded appearance in the restaurant’s sake cocktail, Love Yuzu, which includes gin, yuzu sake, grapefruit juice, and honey.

1784 West Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 763-8355
(305) 763-8355
Love Yuzu celebrates Japanese famed citrus.
Miami Eater

Also featured in:

Chotto Matte Miami

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There’s a retractable roof and a pivoting wall that serves as the entrance, so rest assured that this Japanese-Peruvian import will dazzle with its cocktails as well. Its menu features three sake-based drinks, so there’s one for every mood and palate. The Holy Water features sunflower sake, pisco, and citrus extract; the Moshi Moshi is made with Nigori cloudy sake, gin, St. Germain elderflower, sesame and yuzu, or, for a more tropical vibe, try the Flor de Manzana, with Kiku-Masamune Kimoto Junmai sake, mango vodka, St. Germain elderflower, passion fruit, and apple.

1664 Lenox Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 690-0743
(305) 690-0743
Three stellar sake-based cocktails featured here.
Chotto Matte [Official]

Also featured in:

Azabu Miami Beach

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The Miami of this Michelin-starred eatery happens to include a beautiful bar filled with sakes and more than 40 imported whiskies, as well as a sake-based cocktail called Koi made with Soto sake, Elyx vodka, rosemary sherry, strawberry, lime, yuzu, and agave. The cocktail is topped with rosemary as well, giving it a woody fragrant herb scent perfect for fall. 

161 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(786) 276-0520
(786) 276-0520
Azabu’s Koi cocktail is topped with rosemary.
Azabu [official photo]

Also featured in:

Komodo

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Brickell’s swanky hotspot with a cool club vibe is the place to be on the weekend and pretty much any given night (check out the lounge on the third floor). But make sure to start the evening off with a pretty and oh-so-Miami cocktail called the Hidden Dragon, made with vodka, sake, lychee, peach, pomegranate, and yuzu. 

801 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
(305) 534-2211
(305) 534-2211
The Hidden Dragon is made with vodka, sake, lychee, peach, pomegranate, and yuzu.
KOMODO [official photo]

Also featured in:

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Kuro (in Seminole Hard Rock)

1 Seminole Way, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314

Casino enthusiasts and non-gamblers alike flock to Kuro, a contemporary Japanese restaurant tucked away inside the mammoth Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. A meal here is a winning culinary experience regardless of how the slots behaved, and it gets even better with a drink involved. While the cocktail selection is vast, regulars know the evening should begin with Jyu Go cocktail, made with matcha-infused shochu, falernum, and passion fruit.

1 Seminole Way, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314
(954) 327-7625
(954) 327-7625
Matcha-infused Shochu, Falernum, and passion fruit.
Kuro [official photo]

Monkitail

3555 S Ocean Dr, Hollywood, FL 33019

Chef and restaurateur Michael Schulson’s Japanese restaurant in the Diplomat Beach Resort offers a unique twist on the classic pina colada. The Monki’s Fist is made with sake, coconut, lime, and pineapple. Pair it with edamame dumplings or dive into the Chef’s Tasting Menu for a full experience.

3555 S Ocean Dr, Hollywood, FL 33019
(954) 602-8755
(954) 602-8755
Sake meets Piña Colada with Monki’s Fist.
Monkitail [official photo]

ETARU Hallandale

111 S Surf Rd, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009

Sipping a cocktail oceanside is always a good idea, and this modern Japanese restaurant on pristine Hallandale Beach fits the bill. The Tokyo Lowrider, made with mezcal, plum sake, sweet vermouth, and Campari, is Etaru’s go-to sake cocktail.

111 S Surf Rd, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009
(954) 271-3222
(954) 271-3222
ETARU’s Tokyo Lowrider
ETARU [official photo]

Il Mulino New York - Miami

17875 Collins Ave, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160

Head to the AQ Bar and ask for a Tomi Gooseberry, made with muddled gooseberries, sake, vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice, and gooseberry bitters. Tom is the word for “wealth” in Japanese, and taking in the bar’s upscale ambiance and hard-to-beat ocean view certainly ties in with the theme.

17875 Collins Ave, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160
(305) 466-9191
(305) 466-9191
Tomi Gooseberry with a view.
Il Mulino New York [official photo]

Makoto

9700 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33154

Bal Harbour’s elegant Japanese has been drawing fans for its fresh sushi and binchotan charcoal robota grill for years. There’s an extensive sake selection to choose from as well as numerous cocktails, including a sake-themed nod to the martini, the Sake-tini, featuring Manabito Sake, yuzu, and cucumber.

9700 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33154
(305) 864-8600
(305) 864-8600
The bar at Makoto.
Makoto [official photo]

Dragonfly Izakaya & Fish Market

5241 NW 87th Ave, Doral, FL 33178

The delicate Sake Blossom cocktail, made with nigori sake, peach liqueur, cranberry, and mint, seems fitting amid the trendy, modern Japanese setting in bustling Downtown Doral. The space is perfect for enjoying the many small plates (here’s looking at you, crispy pig ears) or perusing the extensive menu with a cocktail in hand.

5241 NW 87th Ave, Doral, FL 33178
(305) 222-7447
(305) 222-7447
Sake Blossom kicks off the night at Dragonfly Izakaya & Fish Market.
Dragonfly Izakaya & Fish Market [official photo]

Jaya at The Setai

2001 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Easily one of the most seductive spots in Miami, beginning with the walk through the lobby of the Setai Hotel, Jaya draws on Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese, and Chinese influences. Get things started with the cucumber martini, made with Dassai 50 sake, vodka, lemon juice, and cucumber.

2001 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(855) 923-7899
(855) 923-7899
Cucumber Martini
Jaya at The Setai [official photo]

Pubbelly Sushi

1424 20th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139

This self-proclaimed sushi tavern serves several inventive sake-based drinks, beginning with the Teasy Bear (lime, ginger juice, honey syrup, salty lime foam, ginger beer, and sake) and the Lucky Kat (lime, Thai basil, simple syrup, watermelon puree, salty lime foam, and sake, topped with pomegranate bubba). For those seeking some heat, opt for the Fu Manchu, which includes jalapeno syrup, lime, pineapple puree, yuzu, lime and salt foam, cilantro, compressed diced pineapple, and sake.

1424 20th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 531-9282
(305) 531-9282
The adorable Teasy Bear.
Pubbelly [official photo]

NaiYaRa

1854 Bay Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139

There’s a lot to enjoy at this energetic, fast-paced Sunset Harbor Thai street food spot, where guests can take in the action happening in the open-air kitchen or head over to the cozy bar for a Mekong Mule, made with vodka, sparkling sake, ginger-lemongrass syrup, lime, and ginger beer.

1854 Bay Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(786) 275-6005
(786) 275-6005
NaiYaRa’s Mekong Mule is made with sparkling sake.
NaiYaRa [official photo]

Sushi Garage

1784 West Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

As the name alludes, this Sunset Harbor restaurant used to house an auto-body shop. In its place diners can now find contemporary fare with an eye toward delivering simple, traditional Japanese dishes. Yuzu, the citrus fruit that is the current darling in Asian dining, makes a star-studded appearance in the restaurant’s sake cocktail, Love Yuzu, which includes gin, yuzu sake, grapefruit juice, and honey.

1784 West Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 763-8355
(305) 763-8355
Love Yuzu celebrates Japanese famed citrus.
Miami Eater

Chotto Matte Miami

1664 Lenox Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

There’s a retractable roof and a pivoting wall that serves as the entrance, so rest assured that this Japanese-Peruvian import will dazzle with its cocktails as well. Its menu features three sake-based drinks, so there’s one for every mood and palate. The Holy Water features sunflower sake, pisco, and citrus extract; the Moshi Moshi is made with Nigori cloudy sake, gin, St. Germain elderflower, sesame and yuzu, or, for a more tropical vibe, try the Flor de Manzana, with Kiku-Masamune Kimoto Junmai sake, mango vodka, St. Germain elderflower, passion fruit, and apple.

1664 Lenox Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 690-0743
(305) 690-0743
Three stellar sake-based cocktails featured here.
Chotto Matte [Official]

Azabu Miami Beach

161 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139

The Miami of this Michelin-starred eatery happens to include a beautiful bar filled with sakes and more than 40 imported whiskies, as well as a sake-based cocktail called Koi made with Soto sake, Elyx vodka, rosemary sherry, strawberry, lime, yuzu, and agave. The cocktail is topped with rosemary as well, giving it a woody fragrant herb scent perfect for fall. 

161 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(786) 276-0520
(786) 276-0520
Azabu’s Koi cocktail is topped with rosemary.
Azabu [official photo]

Komodo

801 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131

Brickell’s swanky hotspot with a cool club vibe is the place to be on the weekend and pretty much any given night (check out the lounge on the third floor). But make sure to start the evening off with a pretty and oh-so-Miami cocktail called the Hidden Dragon, made with vodka, sake, lychee, peach, pomegranate, and yuzu. 

801 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
(305) 534-2211
(305) 534-2211
The Hidden Dragon is made with vodka, sake, lychee, peach, pomegranate, and yuzu.
KOMODO [official photo]

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