This is Auckland’s answer to a Harajuku-style bar, and it’s a whole heap closer than Tokyo. This small, wacky little shochu spot in the heart of Britomart is the perfect place to start the night.

The interior is a mix of clean lines and polished timber with a bit of waxed concrete thrown into the mix. The cocktails are straight out of left field, and fit right in. Try the 1841 (raisin-infused shochu with lime, ginger beer, Angostura and Appleton Rum.) A sly twist on an all-time favourite classic, their Gimlet features three types of citrus-infused shochu, simple syrup and lime, finished off with a lemon zest.

If you want to ease yourself in more gently, then hit the cracking sake list or selection of Japanese beers and whiskies. Need something to soak up your sins? Try the snacks, brought to you by Ebisu, the sister restaurant that connects up through a passageway featuring a fusion of modern Japanese and New Zealand cuisine.

What to order/what’s their signature drink?
sho ̄chu ̄, anything and everything with sho ̄chu ̄.