Image is AI-generated. From lychee martinis and yuzu spritzes to a Miami-made sake collaboration dinner, these South Florida spots are giving sake a modern makeover for National Sake Day on October 1. Forget the sake bomb. For National Sake Day on October 1, restaurants across South Florida are show ing off a more sophisticated side of Japan’s iconic rice-based drink, mixing it with everything from yuzu and lychee to cucumber, matcha, pineapple and hibiscus. Whether you’re looking for a sparkling cocktail on Las Olas, a sake-forward martini in Miami Beach or a multicourse Japanese dinner built around an exclusive sake release, here are five places worth raising a glass this National Sake Day. Uchi Miami Debuts an Exclusive Sake Collaboration Uchi Miami is putting sake center stage with the launch of Better Together, an exclusive Junmai Ginjo created in collaboration with Brooklyn Kura, New York’s first craft sake brewery. Available beginning October 1, Better Together is produced using domestically grown Yamada Nishiki rice polished to 60 percent. The sake balances a velvety texture with a crisp, dry finish and tasting notes including honeydew, orange peel, cherry, puffed rice, mochi and cream. The collaboration continues later in the month with the Better Together Sake Dinner on Thursday, October 22 at 6:30 p.m. The 10-course tasting experience will pair Uchi’s modern Japanese dishes with Better Together and additional sake selections. Tickets are $175 per person. Uchi Miami 252 NW 25th St., Miami Tropical Sake Cocktails at Mottai At Coral Gables restaurant Mottai, sake gets a tropical twist against the backdrop of the restaurant’s Japanese cuisine and French Japonisme-inspired design. The P.M.P Sour ($16) combines nigori sake, Caravedo, Licor 43, matcha, pineapple and pandan for a tropical cocktail finished with subtle green tea notes. For something lighter and more effervescent, the Yuzu 75 ($16) blends Daiginjo sake with Rémy Martin V, yuzu and prosecco. Mottai The Plaza Coral Gables 2881 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables Uchiko Gives the Martini a Sake Makeover Miami Beach’s Uchiko is bringing sake into familiar cocktail territory with two Japanese-inspired takes on the martini. The Lychee Martini ($18) features Wheatley vodka, nigori sake, lychee and yuzu for a fragrant, fruit-forward drink. Those looking for something more herbaceous can opt for The Uchiko Saketini ($19), made with Ketel One Botanical Cucumber Mint and Yuki No Bosha sake. The result is a crisp, refreshing cocktail that keeps sake firmly in the spotlight. Uchiko Miami Beach 1759 Purdy Ave., Miami Beach Casa Sensei Celebrates With a Limited-Time Yuzu Spritz Fort Lauderdale’s Casa Sensei is marking National Sake Day with a cocktail available specifically for the occasion. The Yuzu Spritz ($16) combines Aladdin Yuzu Sake, lime juice, sugar syrup and club soda before being finished with lemon and fresh mint. The restaurant’s Lycheetini ($15) is also available year-round, blending nigori sake, vodka and lychee purée into a silky, lightly sweet cocktail. Casa Sensei 1200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Suite 101, Fort Lauderdale Pair Sake With Omakase at MILA For diners who would rather explore sake alongside a full culinary experience, MILA Omakase on Lincoln Road offers a multicourse tasting menu accompanied by sommelier-curated sake selections. The intimate Miami Beach experience pairs different sakes with individual stages of the omakase menu, allowing guests to explore how variations in sake complement different flavors, textures and preparations. MILA Omakase was also named “Best Omakase” in the Miami New Times’ 2026 Best of Miami Awards. MILA Omakase 800 Lincoln Road, Second Floor, Miami Beach Raise a Glass on October 1 National Sake Day may have its roots in Japan, but South Florida restaurants are giving the celebration plenty of local personality. From yuzu and tropical fruit to cucumber, lychee and matcha, this year’s options prove sake can be just as comfortable in a cocktail glass as it is in a traditional cup. And if October 1 isn’t enough, Uchi Miami’s sake collaboration dinner later in the month gives enthusiasts another reason to keep the celebration going. The post South Florida Toasts National Sake Day With Creative Cocktails, Omakase and a Special Sake Dinner appeared first on Miami’s Community News. ...read more read less