Shishou Sake Bar and Eats

The Valley is home to several good Japanese eateries, all with impressive drinks menus, but the 14-seater Shishou Sake Bar & Eats is where to head if whisky and wine are sounding overdone, and you're ready to turn to top notch saké instead. Though small, the vibrant, mural adorned venue (painted by Drapl) is the perfect spot to nibble on izakaya style share plates, sip Japanese-inspired cocktails (or a wine, if you must) and watch the Valley goers stroll by.

Part of the bar and eatery's appeal is the bar-only seating, where you get a front row view of staff expertly mix drinks, plating food and grilling yakitori skewers on the charcoal grill. Those skewers are another reason to make a beeline for the joint—bacon-wrapped cherry tomato and asparagus were our picks, but king prawns with garlic butter and chicken thighs with shallots are equally delicious. Just get one of everything and add a few sides of Japanese potato croquettes, crispy chicken ribs and lotus root chips. Deciding whether to have another sake or beef-wrapped mushroom skewer won't be the hardest thing you'll do all night, leaving will be.

Image credit: Ranyhyn Laine