Restaurant
Sakura House
Basement/82-88 Elizabeth St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Find Sakura House
Basement/82-88 Elizabeth St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Directions ↗*Opening hours may differ during holidays.
Book NowAbout Sakura House
Step past the noren curtains and straight into a subterranean Tokyo drinking den on Elizabeth Street. Sakura House sets the mood with low orb lights, cozy nooks, and late-night izakaya energy running until 2am. Regulars grab stools along the timber bar for plates built to share—crispy chicken karaage, katsu prawn bao, and wagyu tataki dragged through chickpea miso. Cocktails get equal care, from house highballs to a Nagano Sour finished with a spray of wasabi on the ice.
- Subterranean Tokyo Atmosphere: A dimly lit basement hideaway featuring glowing moon orbs, cozy booths, and counter ordering at the bar.
- Elevated Izakaya Fare: Shareable izakaya plates including katsu prawn bao, crispy chicken karaage, and wagyu tataki with chickpea miso.
- Late-Night Pouring Until 2am: A Sydney CBD rarity serving craft cocktails, highballs, and hot Japanese dishes until 2am.
What's On at Sakura House
Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.
Why Choose Sakura House
Why guests descend to this subterranean izakaya for late-night craft drinks, Tokyo styling, and Japanese bites.
Subterranean Tokyo Atmosphere
Descending through noren curtains into the basement reveals an intimate, moody underground izakaya illuminated by glowing moon orbs and sake displays.
Part the noren and descend into Sakura House, a dimly-lit bar inspired by Tokyo. Glowing moon orb lights hover low over a long bar lined with sake bottles.
Jackie McMillan Authentic Transportive Experience
The styling, music, and cocktail craft combine to give guests the distinct sensation of stepping straight into a secluded bar in Japan.
From the moment you walk inside, the atmosphere instantly transports you to a stylish bar in Tokyo—the ambiance is authentic and perfectly curated.
Yvonne Pang Intimate Date-Night Setting
Intimate seating nooks and cozy two-top tables set beneath moody low lighting create an effortless environment for a date night or evening conversation.
Every corner has cute details and the two seat tables inside are perfect for a date night.
Hailey Relaxed Group Gathering Spot
The speakeasy-style space provides a relaxed, cozy underground retreat tailored for gathering with friends over drinks and shared bites.
The vibe of the place is beautiful—very cozy, stylish, and perfect for a relaxed evening out.
rakhi sinha Rare Late-Night Food & Drinks
Open until 2am, the kitchen and bar deliver top-tier cocktails and hot Japanese bar food well into the early morning hours when most CBD venues are closed.
One of the very few venues where the food, drinks and service all remain top-tier well into the early hours of the next day!!
Alex Beatty Dynamic Walk-In Bar Service
An interactive counter setup allows guests to drop in casually without formal bookings, ordering cocktails like the Sakura Martini alongside dishes from the bar.
Amid the flurry of taking orders (ordering is at the bar), chatting with guests, and crafting epic cocktails (the Sakura Martini and old fashioned were exceptional!), they delivered impeccable service with minimal wait time.
Jon B
Most popular items
Customer-favorite savory staples designed to accompany cocktails and sake
Chicken Karaage
The chicken karaage was incredible. Super crispy, tender, flavourful, and honestly something I’d come back again and again for.
Zainab Japanwala Ebi Bao
Ebi bao buns were incredibly soft and fluffy, with a crispy, flavour-packed filling, creamy sauce, and fresh spring onions that made every bite delicious.
maxille Takoyaki Skewer
Plucked from a writhing pile of bonito flakes, a two-ball takoyaki skewer ($8/each) and a plump katsu prawn patty bao ($14) tide me over until my dining companion arrives.
Jackie McMillan Gyoza
The gyoza and skewers were absolutely delicious 🤤
Larissa Isakov
Other favorites
Distinctive cocktails, sides, and sweet finishes to round out your izakaya visit
White Chocolate Matcha Mochi
The white chocolate matcha mochi was also so good and the perfect dessert to finish with.
Zainab Japanwala Stuffed Calamari
stuffed calamari and the karaage chicken. So good
John Rutherford Nagano Sour
With a whiff of wasabi sprayed on the ice, the Nagano sour ($24) is a refreshing way to begin, teaming Espolòn Blanco tequila with apple and sansho pepper.
Jackie McMillan Wagyu Tataki
Artistically smooshed to one side of the plate, wagyu tataki ($26) is a winner.
Jackie McMillan
Beyond the menu
Deliberate hospitality details that elevate Sakura House beyond a standard cocktail bar
Subterranean Entrance & Glowing Moon Orbs
Guests enter by parting traditional noren curtains to descend into an underground izakaya illuminated by glowing moon orb lights over the sake bar.
Highball & Mexican Sake Lore
Bartenders provide engaging hospitality by sharing stories and facts behind beverages, including Suntory water used in highballs and novel styles of Mexican sake.
Wasabi-Misted Ice Cocktails
Cocktails feature culinary-inspired aromatic finishes, such as a delicate mist of wasabi sprayed directly onto the ice before serving.
2 AM Full-Service Late-Night Hospitality
The basement izakaya maintains a rare late-night hospitality schedule in Sydney, serving craft cocktails and fresh hot izakaya dishes until 2am into the early morning hours.
Before you head over
Practical advice for navigating ordering, timing, and late-night visits
Order Food and Drinks at the Bar
Place your orders directly up at the bar counter rather than waiting for table service, and consider ordering drinks and snacks together to avoid queuing multiple times during peak hours.
Arrive Early to Beat Peak Queues
Arrive close to opening or plan for a short wait, as tables can fill up quickly and lines may extend out the door by early evening.
Count on Late-Night Hours
Take advantage of trading that runs until 2am, making this basement izakaya a dependable option for late-night cocktails and hot food when other CBD spots close early.
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