Hawthorn’s swish new Japanese-style laneway listening bar is more than just a shrine to vintage hifi. Beyond the wall of vinyl and whisky bottles, and the eye-catching seasonal cocktails, is a fridge of ever-changing sake awaiting discovery.
Bar Selecta is at the forefront of a fresh sake experience. Co-owners and sake sommeliers Joey Tai and Masaki Hisaike, along with Kelvin Low (also of Kura in Brunswick), are guiding a shift where sake is appreciated on its own, not just as a food pairing, sparking interest in more vibrant and unexpected flavours.
“There’s more younger generation sake brewers coming up with some non-traditional styles,” Tai says. “It’s exciting… [they’re] quite approachable and really fun.”
Bar Selecta offers 20 sakes on pour. Hisaike says it’s a common misconception that sake must be warm—Selecta serves it chilled, in wine glasses. Their six flavour profiles echo a wine list, with categories like “Sparkling & Cloudy”, “Dry & Savoury” or “Lush, Fruity & Layered”.
Image Credit: Bar Selecta | Website
“We wanted to get rid of all the terminology—Japanese names can be quite daunting,” Low says. “If you don’t know what sake you like, as long as you know what wine you like, we’ll guide you.”
Love a riesling? Something like the elegant Shichida Shunyo Junmai will tickle your fancy. Tai observes more drinkers are curious, with natural wine providing an “in” for many. While Low says traditional sakes could be quite “ricey”, he’d point first-timers to something with freshness and fruitiness. They’ve even started twice-weekly musically-matched sake flights.
But they’re part of a bigger trend. Melissa Mills, sake educator and consultant for supplier Heigo Australia, says Australia’s “surfing the wave of sake excitement”. 2024 saw a 27% increase in the volume of sake exports to Australia, and figures from the Japan Sake & Shochu Makers Association indicate the value of sake reaching us jumped 10% in the first five months of 2025, with more small producers entering the market.
Keen on more from the Land Of The Rising Sun? Check out our favourite Japanese restaurants, cafes and listening bars.
Main Image Credit: Bar Selecta | Website
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