MELBOURNE | Sean Then took a break from the night-time trade when he opened Cafe Tomi in 2024. The call of the bar life was too strong however, and a few months ago he opened CBD sake bar, Bar Kaeru. I was invited in to take a look.
Hidden behind an unmarked door on Little La Trobe Street (not by design, there will be signage once approved by council), you won’t chance upon Bar Kaeru, but you should definitely seek it out. Bar Kaeru’s point of difference compared to some of Melbourne’s other sake bars is a focus on education. Through the doors and behind a curtain, you’ll find an intimate space, focused around a long, U-shaped bar, with some high tables and stools towards the rear. The bar is designed to encourage you to have chat with the bar staff. If you don’t want to be bothered, that’s totally fine too.
There’s over 100 different types of sake on the menu, with options to suit all budgets and levels of knowledge. There’s accessible entry-level sakes, along with rare bottles, and options from some of Japan’s more innovative producers. Sake flights are a great way to experience what Bar Kaeru is all about. An introductory flight, showcases four typical and distinct styles of sake, each explained in detail with passion by the staff. Regional sake flights (what I chose) show you three sakes in the same category, made in different regions. One of these was a very interesting unfiltered sake from Fukushima.
There’s also Japanese beer and spirits, and a selection of cocktails, some of which use sake.
Food is no afterthought here. The menu leans towards snacky items, but you can easily have a full meal here. The set menu option, which I went for, is a great choice. Chef Jayden Chiang blends Japanese and Chinese influences to great effect. I highly recommend the seasonal house pickles, beef tartare tartlet with spring onion and leek nest, and the soup. The latter, a bowl of braised Southern Ranges short rib, spiced bone broth, kohlrabi, and rainbow chard, served with steamed rice, is an umami-driven winter warmer.
Bar Kaeru
62 Little La Trobe Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
Telephone: 0485 666 389
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Thu – Mon: 5:30pm to 1:00am