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Restaurant

Bar Kaeru

Level G/62-64 Little La Trobe St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Recommended by 51 people

Updated

Find Bar Kaeru

Level G/62-64 Little La Trobe St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 485 666 389
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 5:30 PM – 12:00 AM Wednesday: 5:30 PM – 12:00 AM Thursday: 5:30 PM – 12:00 AM Friday: 5:30 PM – 1:00 AM Saturday: 5:30 PM – 1:00 AM Sunday: Closed

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Bar Kaeru

Slip down Little La Trobe Street into low lights and bebop jazz—this counter room brings Tokyo nightcaps straight into the CBD. Sake enthusiasts seek out the cellar, navigating a 100-bottle collection of nihonshu that spans small-batch breweries to rare labels like Aramasa and IWA 5. Behind the timber, staff map out flavour profiles on the fly, matching pours to plates built strictly for drinking. Diners lean into the beef tartlet, crispy fried onigiri, and potato salad stacked with house-made crisps, finishing with toasted rice panna cotta beside amazake sorbet.

  • Curated 100-Bottle Sake Cellar: Cellar of over 100 bottles ranging from classic regional styles to unpasteurised nama and rare pours like IWA 5, with guided tasting flights.
  • Izakaya-Style Drinking Dishes: Savoury snacks engineered for pours, including beef tartlets, fried onigiri, and creamy potato salad with house-made potato crisps.
  • Tokyo Listening-Bar Mood: Dim lighting, jazz over the sound system, and an intimate counter setup suited for dates and late-night pours.
  • Inventive Sake Desserts: Light, silky toasted rice panna cotta served alongside amazake sorbet and delicate sake foam.
RestaurantJapaneseSakeBar

What's On at Bar Kaeru

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose Bar Kaeru

Step into Little La Trobe Street’s intimate listening bar for rare nihonshu pours, addictive izakaya bites, and late-night Tokyo energy—reserve your counter seat tonight.

  • Guided Exploration of 100+ Curated Sakes

    Guests navigate an expansive cellar of over 100 sakes, ranging from rare boutique kura labels to cloudy and floral varietals, guided by the team's depth of nihonshu knowledge.

    navigating the 100+ nihonshu list need not be daunting when a recommendation is easily at hand.

    M Y

  • Immersive Flights and Nihonshu Storytelling

    Tasting flights break down nuanced flavor profiles, brewery heritage, and artisanal production styles, transforming every pour into an engaging sensory masterclass.

    They took so much time to explain the world of sake, how it’s made, the different production methods, the flavour profiles, the story behind each bottle, and what made every recommendation unique.

    Ad

  • Unassuming Laneway Sanctuary with Audiophile Vibe

    Tucked off Little La Trobe Street, the room strips away distraction to focus on low ambient lighting, curated hi-fi sound, and an anchoring central bar.

    The room itself is sparse in all the right ways. There is little distraction beyond sake, sound and light.

    Joy Lomasney

  • Intimate Tokyo-Style Late-Night Setting

    Counter-led seating and vinyl bebop jazz cultivate a warm, sheltered late-night enclave suited for date nights or unwinding after hours.

    Intimate with bebop jazz in the background in an unassuming corner of Melbourne.

    Ink

  • Umami-Rich Small Plates Built for Drinking

    The kitchen dishes out thoughtfully engineered small plates like potato salad, cured bonito, and tartlets designed specifically to complement sake varietals.

    The menu is also delicious, with small plates and snacks designed for drinking.

    Quincy

  • Flawlessly Executed Izakaya Bites

    From crispy fried chicken lollipops to savoury rice dishes, each dish delivers balanced, satisfying seasoning that holds up across multiple courses.

    The seasoning was spot on across the board — thoughtful, balanced, and just incredibly satisfying.

    Lydia Tan

Guest favorites spanning staff-guided sake discovery and umami-rich bar snacks.

  • Sake Flights

    We tried several different sake flights and honestly every bottle had its own personality. Some were crisp and floral, others creamy and slightly cloudy with a smoother finish.

    Sylvia Liu

  • Beef Tartlet

    Our highlights of the night were the beef tartlet, Japanese potato salad, and the crispy fried onigiri. All were fantastic, especially the beef tartlet.

    Phoebe Sudargo

  • Japanese Potato Salad

    the Japanese style potato salad was rich and creamy with little chunks of potato and egg, topped with house-made potato crisps which added a nice contrasting texture

    Barry

  • Fried Chicken Lollipop

    Our standout favourites were the fried chicken lollipop (perfectly crispy and packed with flavour)

    Lydia Tan

Other favorites

Complementary sweets, specialty sips, and thoughtful bar snacks alongside the cellar curation

  • Toasted Rice Pannacotta with Amazake Sorbet

    the toasted rice pannacotta with amazake sorbet and sake foam was very tasty; light, silky, creamy and sweet, probably the highlight of the meal.

    Barry

  • Shiso Tonic

    For the mocktails, I had the shiso tonic and the Kyoho grape green tea; I preferred the shiso a lot more as it was more vibrant and sweet.

    Barry

  • Earl Grey Liqueur Tea

    I also highly recommend the earl grey liqueur tea

    Jonas Langhorst

  • Marinated and Smoked Tomato

    Favourite snack was the marinated and smoked tomato which was bursting with flavour; sweet and refreshing with a bit of tartness.

    Barry

Beyond the menu

From educational cellar guidance to an intentional listening-bar soundscape, deliberate hospitality shapes the night. Book your counter seat.

  • Guided Sake Storytelling

    Staff dedicate unhurried time to explain the world of nihonshu, walking diners through regional production methods, flavor profiles, and the story behind each bottle.

  • Comparative Flavour Flights

    Tasting flights are structured across distinct personalities, letting guests contrast crisp and floral pours against rich, cloudy styles.

  • Thoughtful Zero-Proof Pairings

    Non-drinkers are accommodated with thoughtful house mocktails, including vibrant shiso tonic and Kyoho grape green tea designed to pair with food.

  • Audiophile Bebop Soundscape

    A giant stereo system anchors the room with bebop jazz, shaping an intimate listening-bar soundscape that softens the room and draws diners inward.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you expect from the sake selection?

Bar Kaeru maintains a curated cellar of more than 100 sakes, spanning classic bottles to experimental varieties and nama sake. The team guides guests through tasting flights and tailored recommendations suited to both beginners and enthusiasts.

What style of food is served?

The kitchen serves Japanese-style drinking snacks and small plates designed to pair with sake, including house favourites like beef tartlets, Japanese potato salad, fried chicken lollipops, and savoury rice dishes. Dinner and desserts are served on site.

Can you book a table or walk in?

Bar Kaeru accepts bookings, though guests can also secure last-minute tables or stop in for late-night drinks and snacks around the intimate bar counter.

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