Hachidori

This cheerful locale in Miyakojima might just cut short your night of bar-hopping because it checks off all the boxes for an exceptional watering hole. Run by a chirpy couple, the space is small and cramped with bottles of sake — which is always a good tell-tale sign that service will be personal, and good drinks are front-and-center. If you had thought alcohol is meant to be enjoyed exclusively cold, toss that notion aside and rely on the owners’ brilliant taste to guide you towards the best way to savor a cup of sake. Among their impressive lineup, which includes bottles from smaller local breweries, steam-warmed sake becomes a regular recommendation. As for the food, think fresh sashimi platters — often a roster of tuna, sea bream, blackthroat seaperch and golden-eyed snapper — and charcoal-grilled fish perfect for nibbles in between sips, served on antique wares. The emphasis also falls on homespun dishes with Shonai-grown vegetables — a nod to the couple's hometown, which they often visit during their days off. Shonai persimmons are tossed with white sauce, while fluffy deep-fried conger eel shares a plate with Shonai taro and is soaked in sweet broth. Warmth comes in the form of kimchi soup, curry, and oden broth. Suddenly, conversations flow like wine and the night stretches pleasantly. Hachidori is a recipient of the Michelin Bib Gourmand Award in 2024.