Overview
By Nan
History
Sake, filed by grade, two floors down
The way in was half the fun: through an office-building lobby on a nondescript block of 43rd Street, down two flights of metal stairs, then along the paper lanterns on the cinderblock walls1. In 2006 it was a well-kept secret of Japanese businessmen and the hard-core sake-drinking set, with more than 220 varieties to choose from1.
Sakagura dates to 1996 and calls itself a pioneer in introducing New Yorkers to the world of sake2. When we listed it, we sent readers through the lobby and down after a small gold sign, promising the largest sake selection in the city. Time Out counted 250 types in 2010, categorized by grade, in a quiet room done up in understated bamboo and blond wood3.
It's still in the basement at 211 East 43rd Street2, serving dinner Monday through Saturday2. For a secret, it keeps very regular hours.
Sources
Researched October 2026.