SAMGHA

At salon&bar SAMGHA, an apéritif can mean comparing Japanese wines and nibbling on Japanese sweets and cheese. One customer ordered the “Discover Japan 3-variety set” with wine only, and reportedly tried two glasses each of white and red. It came with Japanese sweets, Tsurui Gold cheese, yamabudo cream cheese and thinly sliced baguette. Wines by the glass are available sparkling, white or red, and you can ask for help choosing. Whether you start with a single glass or opt for a tasting, there is room to suit the evening’s mood.

Sometimes it is a small bite of food that lingers in the memory. One group of diners singled out the yamabudo cream cheese as a favourite. Alongside wine, the bar serves light bites and meals, so you can settle in over something to eat rather than stopping by for just one drink after dinner. One customer, for instance, mentioned the Koshu wine beef stew. Cocktails and Japanese whisky are also available, and some diners say they asked for recommendations based on their tastes.

The menu includes the Paradise, made with gin and apricot brandy, and the Ki no Bi Martini, which uses gin from Kyoto. For a drink without alcohol, options include hojicha latte from Wazuka in Kyoto and herbal tea blends. The owner is a Buddhist priest, and the casual-modern interior, with its warm wood finishes and table seating, has an elegant feel. It is a relaxed setting for a glass of Japanese wine or a meal with a few snacks.