The vibe: Concrete surfaces, steel plates, portrait art and industrial-style hanging lamps are a bit of a yawn when everyone’s onto the stripped-down, rough-hewn and hipster look. But the small space feels warm and convivial, thanks to the bustling open kitchen.

The food: As it turns out, Spanish and Japanese do make quite the couple—try it for yourself with the sake pairing menu ($180). Japanese ingredients, like momotaro tomatoes on coca bread ($5) and Kurobuta pork in Jerusalem artichoke soup ($16), are used to lift classic tapas recipes. The menu changes daily and according to what’s available in the market, but there are also signatures like the roasted suckling pig ($78 for two) and homemade foie gras and chestnut ravioli ($12) to return for.  

The drinks: Sake, of course, all of which comes from breweries in the Ehime Prefecture. There are four ranges, served in wine glasses, to go along with your tapas choices—blue for seafood, red for tomato and umami dishes and yellow with ham ($15 upwards). Not big on sake? Take your pick from the selection of wines and Champagne ($11 upwards).

Why you’ll be back: The heart that goes into the menus, both food and drink, are obvious and each holds its own. While the tapas-sake concept is still relatively untrodden, the gastrobar has been buzzing since it opened—proof that it must be doing something right.