A guide to sake in Melbourne: styles and how to order
Learn three label terms, choose one of four styles, and let our team pour you a glass from over 100 sake varieties.
Not sure which sake to order? A simple way into sake in Melbourne is to start from what you already like to drink, learn three label terms (Junmai, Ginjo and Daiginjo) and choose one of four styles. At Izakaya Miyazaki in Melbourne CBD, our team will then help you choose from over 100 sake varieties, most of them imported directly from Japan.
What do Junmai, Ginjo and Daiginjo mean on a sake label?
On a sake label, Junmai means no distilled alcohol was added, Ginjo means the rice was polished to 60% or less of its original weight, and Daiginjo means 50% or less. All three are among the 8 special designations in Japan's sake labelling standard. Together they tell you whether distilled alcohol was added and, for most of them, how far the rice was polished before brewing.
Junmai 純米
Rice & kojionlyBrewed from rice and rice koji only, with no added distilled alcohol. Plain Junmai has no polishing-ratio requirement.
Ginjo 吟醸
60%or lessMade from rice polished to 60% or less of its original weight.
Daiginjo 大吟醸
50%or lessMade from rice polished to 50% or less.
Honjozo 本醸造
70%or lessA fourth designation you will see on lists, made from rice polished to 70% or less, with a small amount of added brewer's alcohol.
The polishing ratio is the share of each grain that is left. A ratio of 60% means 40% of the rice has been polished away. In Ginjo, Daiginjo and Honjozo, added brewer's alcohol must stay within 10% of the polished rice by weight. A label that reads Junmai Ginjo or Junmai Daiginjo meets both tests: rice and koji only, polished to the Ginjo or Daiginjo limit.
Sources: Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, How to Read Sake Bottle Labels, and the National Tax Agency (Japan), 「清酒の製法品質表示基準」の概要 (in Japanese), both read 11/11/2026.
The four styles on our Sake Taste Guide
The Sake Taste Guide on our drinks menu sorts much of our sake into four styles by aroma and finish. The menu pairs each style with the dishes it suits:
Aromatic & Crisp
Delicate floral aromas, a light palate and a crisp, dry finish.
Aromatic & Rich
Floral and fruit aromas, a fuller body and a soft texture.
Clean & Dry
A subtle aroma and a clean, dry, refreshing finish.
Smooth & Umami
A gentle aroma, a rich umami character and a silky texture.
The style letter sits beside most of the sake on our list. You can choose a style first and leave the label to our team.
How to order and drink sake at an izakaya
Tell our team what you usually drink and what you are eating, then ask for a sake to match. We pour sake by the 180ml glass and by the bottle, so you can try a glass before you choose a bottle. Our Miyazaki Premium Sake also comes in a 90ml pour. To compare a few side by side, ask our team about a sake tasting flight.
Three details help our team narrow the list:
- What you usually drink. If you like a crisp, dry white wine, say so. If you prefer something fruit-led and aromatic, say that instead.
- What is on the table. Order the food first, or tell us what you plan to have. Our team matches the sake to the dish, from sashimi to yakitori grilled over binchotan charcoal.
- A label you know. Name a producer or a region, and we will tell you whether it is on the list tonight.
The Sake Taste Guide is part of the drinks menu on our Japanese Whisky, Sake & Cocktails page. The dishes are on our Japanese Restaurant Menu, Melbourne CBD page.
To pair sake with A5 Miyazaki wagyu, tell our team which way you are having it. We serve it as nigiri, as a chargrilled sirloin steak, or in our shabu shabu or sukiyaki set, a hot pot simmered at your table.
big shoutout to the staff for actually knowing their sake list ask for recommendations to pair with the wagyu and they nailed it .the balance between the richness of the beef and the lighter sake worked so well.Mimi Z., Google review, February 2026
Not drinking tonight? We also pour non-alcoholic Japanese yuzu, peach and mango sparkling drinks.
Sake in Melbourne CBD at Izakaya Miyazaki
At Izakaya Miyazaki in Melbourne CBD, our list runs to over 100 sake varieties, from crisp Junmai to refined Daiginjo. Most of our sake is imported directly from Japan, including labels such as Juyondai, Jikon and Hanaabi that are hard to find in Melbourne.
Had a great time here, excellent food and a really good selection of sake, including some that we haven't seen outside of Japan.Time B., Google review, September 2026
Our current drinks menu draws on sake from more than 20 prefectures. When they are on the list, Juyondai comes from Yamagata and Jikon from Mie. Stock changes, and our team can tell you what is pouring on the night. The regions and sake houses behind the list are on our Sake Bar in Melbourne CBD page.
Impressive sake list with knowledgeable staff who are happy to recommend pairings.Ltl, Google review, October 2025
You will find Izakaya Miyazaki in the basement at 114 Russell St, Melbourne CBD, on the corner of Little Collins Street. Look for the large sign with our logo on the door on Russell Street, then take the stairs down.
FAQ
Can I do a sake tasting in Melbourne CBD?
Yes. At Izakaya Miyazaki in Melbourne CBD, you can taste sake by the 180ml glass, and our Miyazaki Premium Sake also comes in a 90ml pour. Ask our team about a sake tasting flight, and tell us what you usually drink so we can start from there.
Where can I try sake in Melbourne CBD?
You can try sake at Izakaya Miyazaki, Basement, 114 Russell St, Melbourne CBD, on the corner of Little Collins Street. We pour by the glass or the bottle. The Sake Taste Guide on our drinks menu sorts much of the list into four styles.
Is there a sake bar in Melbourne CBD that takes walk-ins?
Yes. At Izakaya Miyazaki, in the basement at 114 Russell St, Melbourne CBD, walk-ins are welcome, subject to availability. Our sake list runs to over 100 sake varieties. We are open for dinner every night and for lunch Friday to Sunday, 12pm to 3pm.
Good to know
- We serve alcohol responsibly under Victorian liquor laws and may ask for photo ID.
- With notice, we can prepare vegetarian, gluten-free, nut-free, shellfish-free and dairy-free options. Our menu is pork-free, but our meat is not halal certified. Some dishes are cooked with sake. Please tell us about any allergies or dietary needs when you book.
- Our menu changes with the seasons, so dishes may vary.
Raise a glass beneath Russell Street
For more on the sake list and the bar at Izakaya Miyazaki, visit our Sake Bar page. When you have a date in mind, book a table online.
