Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association | JSS
London has always been a hotspot for setting trends in music, fashion, and even the culinary world. Some of the world’s best restaurants sit unassumingly just off the winding streets in this vibrant city. Japanese food and drink carved out a place in this diverse food culture and Londoners embraced them with open arms. Today, sake is a beloved beverage that Londoners enjoy not just at restaurants, but also at home. However, finding shops with a robust sake inventory and knowledgeable staff to help navigate it can still be rather difficult. In fact, it is a challenge facing sake lovers around the globe.
In recent years, sake importers and distributors have worked relentlessly to make sake more accessible abroad. Some places even boast their own sake breweries to celebrate sake culture with their own local spin. Here is an extensive list of shops in the greater London area where you can buy sake.
For many years, sake only seldom appeared on drink menus in specialty restaurants. However, now that more people have discovered the drink, sake has found its way onto the shelves of London’s liquor stores and even supermarkets. The following shops are listed in alphabetical order.
With five different shops across town, Atari-Ya has become a popular franchise to get a bottle of sake in London. The stores are located in Finchley, Acton, Golders Green, Kingston, and Swiss Cottage, conveniently serving different corners of the city.
Originally a fish wholesaler supplying several of London’s most popular Japanese restaurants, Atari-Ya now offers retail shops with Japanese products. Notably, these shops offer Londoners a choice of select sake bottles. Given their connections with the sushi business, Atari-Ya is a great spot to discover sake pairings right from the source.
Check the Atari-Ya official website for your closest shop.
Clapton Crafts is an alcohol retailer specializing in craft beers, natural wines, and local spirits. With the original location in its namesake Clapton, today the store boasts eight London locations and an impressive online shop.
The company primarily showcases beers and spirits from the UK and Europe. However, they also include bottles from small-batch and independent sake breweries in their inventory. Selections include trendy raw sake as well as classic, refined ginjo varieties. Clapton Craft also offers tastings and other educational events announced on their social media and newsletter.
https://www.claptoncraft.co.uk/
Check the Clapton Crafts official website for your closest shop.
Online Shop
https://store.claptoncraft.co.uk/
Franklin’s Wines is a combination wine shop and bar with locations in Notting Hill and Kensington. With a staff of veteran sommeliers, their inventory features an impressive range of hand-selected bottles. Some of these sommeliers are experts not only on wine but also sake.
Franklin’s Wines is a partner of World Sake Imports UK. The shop hosts educational sake tasting events showcasing World Sake bottles with notes on appropriate sake descriptors. The events also include food to showcase the diversity of sake pairings. Currently, they are expanding their inventory to provide long-time and new customers with the chance to discover sake.
https://franklinswineonline.com/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage&q=sake
Franklin’s Wines Notting Hill
305 Westbourne Grove
London, W11 2QA
Franklin’s Wines Kensington
14 Thackeray Street
London, W8 5ET
Established in 2012, Hedonism Wines is a fine wine and spirits retailer in the heart of London’s popular Mayfair neighborhood. It has a reputation as one of the best shops to buy fine wine with about 6,500 wines in its portfolio. However, the shop has also made a name for itself as a haven for sake connoisseurs with its exquisite range of sake.
With over 70 sake brands on their shelves, Hedonism has something to wow any sake lover in London. Their sake offering also includes a great selection of sake accessories, like a wide variety of cups and tokkuri. In addition, they also ship worldwide, making it a great option for gifting sake.
3-7 Davies St
Mayfair, W1K 3LD
020-7290-7870
Monday – Saturday: 10:00am – 9:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm – 6:00pm
HIS Japan Premium Food & Travel is part of a Japan-based group focused on sharing Japanese culture through food. Currently, the company has five shops operating across Europe. The London location, situated in the bustling West End tourist district, features a carefully curated stock of fine Japanese food, goods, and sake.
The sake selection, supervised by Museum of Sake expert Ms. Natsuki Kikuya, includes over 100 different sake brands. These brands represent both popular and lesser-known sake regions across Japan, from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Follow their social media to learn more about sales, regional fairs, and other sake-related events.
HIS Japan Premium Food & Travel London
212 Shaftesbury Ave West End
London WC2H
Monday – Saturday: 11:00am – 8:00pm
Sunday and Holidays: 11:00am -5:00pm
The Japan Centre started operations in 1976 as part of founder Tak Tokumine’s wish to bring authentic Japan to London. Today, the institution boasts three locations, including popular Leicester Square and Westfield Stratford City. In a joint venture with Cool Japan Fund, The Japan Centre also operates the largest Japanese Food Hall in Europe, Japan Centre Ichiba.
These stores have become dream destinations for sake lovers in London. Their inventory includes a great selection of sake, with everything from fruity Ginjo to cloudy Nigori. Moreover, they famously offer these products at a very fair price. In addition, they offer other Japanese goods as well, making it a one-stop solution for all your Japanese needs. Japan Centre Ichiba in particular also hosts regional food and drink events that include sake tasting seminars
Japan Centre Ichiba
Unit 0220 Relay Square
Westfield, W12 7HB
0203-405-9423
Monday – Saturday: 10:00am – 9:30pm
Sunday: 10:00am – 9:00pm
Japan Centre, Leicester Square
35b Panton Street, SW1Y 4EA
0870 820 0055
Sunday 10:00am – 9:00pm
Monday – Thursday: 10:00am – 9:30pm
Friday – Saturday: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Japan Centre, Westfield Stratford City
Umai, 1 Fresh Food
Great Eastern Market, E20 1GL
0870 820 0055
Monday – Saturday: 10:00am – 9:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm – 6:00pm
Japan House London is not a typical sake shop. Instead, it serves as Japan’s cultural home in the city. As part of a global initiative by Japan’s Foreign Ministry, Japan House offers visitors a close look at some of Japanese culture’s finest foods, art, and technology.
As a cultural ambassador, the Japan House also showcases Japanese sake. The Shop at Japan House hosts sake tasting events and sells their featured bottles in-store. Moreover, Japan House has vast educational resources on the history and cultural importance of sake in Japan and around the world.
https://www.japanhouselondon.uk/
101-111 Kensington High Street
London, W8 5SA
+44 20 3972 7100
Monday – Saturday: 10:00am – 8:00pm
Sundays and Holidays: 12:00pm – 6:00pm
Founded in 2016, Kanpai Sake is the first sake brewery operating in the UK. Their mission is to use traditional techniques rooted in Japan to produce custom sake suiting the local market.
Kanpai sake also offers customers the ability to enjoy their sake in the taproom above the brewery. Customers get a chance to try fresh namazake sake on tap, as well as a rotating selection of sake, both from Japan and fellow international breweries. Visitors can also buy the sake brewed on-site in their shop or online.
Unit 2A.2 Copeland Park
133 Copeland Road
London, SE15 3SN
Wednesday and Thursday: 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Friday: 5:00pm – 11:00pm
Saturday: 12:00pm – 11:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm – 7:00pm
Moto is the first independent specialty sake bar and shop in the UK. Located in London’s Covent Garden, the company founders want to provide Londoners with the ability to truly appreciate Japanese drinking culture. Notably, Moto stocks only sake previously unavailable in the UK, making them a hot destination for avid sake lovers.
Sake newbies can appreciate Moto’s Sake 101 and other educational guides online and in-store. Curious customers can sign up for the Moto Sake School while experienced sake drinkers can book group sake tastings. With an onsite kitchen, visitors can also enjoy Japanese food and other pairings with their sake.
7 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden,
London, WC2E 7NA
020-8076-9512
Tuesday and Wednesday: 12:00pm – 12::00am
Thursday – Saturday: 12:00pm – 12:30am
Sunday: 12:00pm – 10:00pm
Natural Natural is a community-based organic supermarket focusing on Japanese products. A local favorite for over 20 years, two the company has two shops: one on Finchley Road and another in Ealing Common. Here, customers can find essential ingredients for Japanese and Asian cooking along with a great selection of sake.
Featuring 60 sake from all over Japan, Natural Natural is the perfect place to discover new sake. In addition, the shop regularly holds events showcasing regional Japanese food and sake. Customers can also order their sake from Natural Natural online.
Natural Natural Finchley Road
1 Goldhurst Terrace, NW6 3HX
020-7624-5734
Monday – Saturday: 9:00am- 7:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am – 7:00pm
Natural Natural Ealing Common
21 Station Parade
Uxbridge Road, W5 3LD
020-8992-0770
Sunday – Saturday: 10:00am – 7:00pm
Philglas & Swiggot is an independent wine merchant representing some of the UK and Europe’s finest wines. Founded in 1991, the shop on Northcote Road quickly became a cultural institution for the neighborhood.
Now with two brick-and-mortar shops and an impressive online store, Philglas & Swiggot has introduced sake into its lineup. Experienced staff can guide newcomers to the world of sake aromas and flavors at either location.
Philglas & Swiggot Marylebone
22 New Quebec Street
London, W1H 7SB
020-7402-0002
Wednesday – Saturday: 10:30am – 10:00pm
Sunday – Tuesday: 10:30am – 7:00pm
Philglas & Swiggot Clapham Junction
21 Northcote Road
London, SW11 1NG
020-7924-4494
Monday – Saturday: 10:00am – 8:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Rice Wine Shop is a Japanese food shop located in the heart of London’s trendy Soho neighborhood. They offer a modest range of sake as part of their Japanese beverage portfolio along with shochu, umeshu, and other Japanese drinks. Furthermore, they sell serving tools and drinkware for customers to create an authentic Japanese experience at home.
Although they only have a limited variety of sake, locals visit Rice Wine Shop for their extremely affordable prices. With competitive prices across quality ranges, Rice Wine Shop is a great budget option for sake in central London.
http://www.ricewineshop.com/shop/
82 Brewer Street
W1F 9UA
020-7439-3705
Monday – Saturday: 10:00am – 9:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm – 8:00pm
Close to London’s Hyde Park, Sakaya has become a popular spot for sake fanatics. The small bottle shop sits inside Pantechnicon, a concept store dedicated to local eating, drinking, and shopping. Sakaya also functions as a bar and tasting room. With just four seats, the intimate environment gives customers close and friendly access to staff and bartender expertise.
Sakaya sells rare sake, including difficult-to-find and exclusive aged varieties as part of their inventory. They also offer a range of gift boxes of select sake paired with handcrafted glassware and cups.
19 Motcomb Street
London, SW1X 8LB
020-7034-5425
Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00am – 11:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm – 7:00pm
Another well-known London spot is Selfridges, a department-store offering everything from clothes to food, and, of course, sake. Conveniently located on Oxford Street, picking up a bottle of sake in the center of London could not be easier.
Selfridges offers an admittedly small, but fine selection of sake. Customers can explore a variety of styles, sizes, and price points, including popular brands as well as unique and high-end sake. The shop is beginner-friendly for sake newcomers to browse, but also offers enough specialized sake to please sake connoisseurs.
400 Oxford St
Marylebone, W1A 1AB
020-7160-6222
Monday – Saturday: 10:00am – 9:00pm
Sunday: 11:30am – 6:00pm
St Margarets Wines is a wine, craft ale, and artisan spirit retailer operating out of its namesake St. Margaret’s, Twickenham. The shop boasts a friendly environment with in-house expert sommeliers to guide visitors through their unique inventory.
The shop hosts tasting events to showcase their wines, including their selection of sake. Partnered with World Sake Imports UK, St Margarets Wines has a modest range of the popular ginjo variety. The shop also offers a wine club and free delivery within the London area.
St Margarets Wines
40 Crown Rd, Twickenham
London, TW1 3EH
020-8892-2505
Monday and Tuesday: 12:00pm – 8:00pm
Wednesday: 12:00pm – 8:30pm
Thursday: 12:00pm – 9:00pm
Friday and Saturday: 11:00am – 9:30pm
Sunday: 11:00am – 7:00pm
Located in Covent Garden, The Whisky Exchange is a part of a family business dating back to the 1970s. After opening its doors in 1999, the shop became a drink wonderland with over 10,000 products available on their website. Notably, a significant share of this deep inventory packs their physical shelves. Customers love them not just for their variety of excellent products, but also for their fair prices and good service.
Although whiskey may be their main product, the Whisky Exchange has made a name for itself within the sake community. As of 2021, their exquisite lineup has grown to about 50 different labels. The staff is extremely passionate about their drinks. They are eager to help customers find the perfect sake, whether it is one-on-one, in their showroom, or through events and tastings.
http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/
2 Bedford Street
Covent Garden, WC2E 9HH
020-7100-0088
Thursday – Saturday: 11:00am – 7:00pm
Saturday – Wednesday: 11:00am – 6:00pm
TK Trading is an oriental food specialist offering a great variety of Japanese products. Many believe it is one of London’s Japanese community’s best-kept secrets. They sell several original Japanese products exclusive to their location.
The shop itself is compact and tucked away inside a former office building, making it difficult to find. However, it is worth a visit for their well-organized products shipped straight from Japan. Their sake selection is limited compared to other retailers. However, as with their other products, some of these labels are only available here.
The Chase Centre, Unit 6-7
Chase Rd, NW10 6QD
020-8453-1743
Tuesday – Friday: 10:00am – 4: 00pm
Saturday – Sunday: 10:00am – 4: 30pm
With seven stores in prominent locations across London, Wholefoods is a convenient option to pick up sake on the go. They notably offer products only meeting the highest standards. The company’s mission is to help customers eat a healthy diet free of artificial sweeteners, unhealthy preservatives, and more.
Naturally, this company ethos extends to their sake selection. While this leads to a modest product range, they still offer options that both sake newbies and connoisseurs will enjoy. Check the Wholefoods official website for your closest shop.
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.co.uk/
Check the Wholefoods official website for your closest shop.
As the sake community continues to grow, so do the shops serving that community. Offering expert advice on sake in-store, these retailers also often act as educators and ambassadors beyond the sales floor. Now is an exciting time to explore the growing world of sake. It has never been easier to buy sake outside of Japan, and the future holds even greater promises for new sake in London.
