Our Mission
“The Koji Club is a safe space to celebrate, learn about and drink really good sake. Our goal is to reframe Japanese sake from an esoteric, hangover inducing, sushi companion (insert sake bomb here) to an approachable everyday beverage choice through nontraditional partnerships, unique learning experiences and New England's first and only sake bar.”
About Us
The Koji Club is a community of sake enthusiasts who love to sip sake together all over the world.
Our values are: Celebration, Education and Access and they are deeply steeped into our brand.
The club launched virtually on June 1, 2020 in Boston and in Brooklyn as a pop up monthly subscription service and grew to an International level before we opened our bar.
In 2022, we built a 250 sq ft (yes!) bar at the Charles River Speedway, a vibrant, dynamic community. The historic, newly restored buildings and central courtyard called to us, steeped with details that reminded us of Kyoto and a unique layout designed to build community.
Since opening the only Japanese sake bar in New England in 2022, we have won numerous accolades for our little jewel box sake bar including Conde Nast Traveler’s International Hot List and being named one of Esquire’s Best Bars in America. See More Press
FAQs
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What is The Koji Club?
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The Koji Club is Boston's first sake bar and a safe space to celebrate, learn about, and drink really good sake. We believe sake should be approachable, delicious, and part of everyday life and not reserved for sushi restaurants or special occasions. Whether you're a sake expert or trying your first sip, you're in the right place.
What is sake?
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Sake is a Japanese alcoholic beverage made from rice, water, yeast, and koji. It can be crisp, fruity, savory, sparkling, rich, delicate, or anywhere in between. If your only experience with sake involved a tiny, wicked hot, ceramic carafe at a sushi restaurant, prepare to have your mind blown.
What is koji?
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Koji is a beneficial mold (Aspergillus oryzae) that transforms starch into sugar and makes sake brewing possible. It's also responsible for many beloved Japanese foods including miso, soy sauce, mirin, and shochu. We named our bar after this magical ingredient because it sits at the heart of Japanese fermentation culture.
I do not know anything about sake. Is the club for me?
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Absolutely. In fact, most of our guests arrive feeling exactly that way. We love introducing people to sake and pride ourselves on creating tiny, personalized experiences that help everyone feel comfortable asking questions and exploring new flavors. No prior knowledge required.
How should I order?
Tell us what you normally drink. Love Sauvignon Blanc? Hazy IPAs? Martinis? Bourbon? We'll guide you toward something you'll enjoy. Our goal isn't to test your sake knowledge, it is to help you discover something delicious and then maybe share the why behind it.
Is sake served hot?
Sometimes, but not usually. Most premium sake is served chilled, much like wine. Certain styles can be wonderful warmed, and we're always happy to explain why a particular serving temperature was chosen. We tend to serve warm sake in the Winter, but are happy to warm anything up for you any time of year if you ask.
Is sake stronger than wine?
Generally, sake falls between wine and spirits. Most sake ranges from 14%–18% alcohol by volume, which is slightly higher than most wines (with only ½ of the acidity) and much lower than most spirits.
Do you serve food?
Yes! We offer a small menu of snacks and seasonal dishes designed to pair beautifully with sake. Our offerings change regularly based on the season, our culinary collaborations, and whatever we're excited about at the moment.
Do I need a reservation?
Reservations are available, but walk-ins are always welcome. We are a very small bar, so reservations are recommended if you have your heart set on a specific time. That said, we always save room for spontaneous sake adventures.
How big is the bar?
Tiny. Very tiny. The Koji Club is approximately 250 square feet, making it one of the smallest bars in New England. What we lack in square footage, we make up for in hospitality, storytelling, and sake.
We do have a gorgeous patio that triples our capacity to host guests in the Summer months!
Do you offer sake tastings?
Yes! We regularly host guided sake tastings, educational classes, sake brewer meet and greets, pairing experiences, and special celebrations throughout the year. These experiences are designed for both beginners and seasoned sake enthusiasts. Check instagram or sign up for our newsletter to be in the know first.
Is sake gluten-free?
Most sake is naturally gluten-free because it is made from rice. However, some specialty products may contain additional ingredients. If you have dietary restrictions or allergies, please let us know and we'll happily guide you.
What is the difference between sake and soju?
Sake is brewed, much like beer or wine, while soju is typically distilled. The two beverages have different histories, production methods, alcohol levels, and flavor profiles. If you are interested in learning more about soju, Boston has it’s own local soju distillery: https://www.namudistilling.com
Can sake pair with foods other than Japanese foods?
One hundred percent! One of our favorite things to do is demonstrate that sake pairs beautifully with oysters, cheese, barbecue, fried chicken, Thai food, pizza, desserts, and just about everything else. Exploring unexpected pairings is part of the fun.
Why should I visit The Koji Club?
Because life is more fun when you're learning something new. Whether you are celebrating a promotion, catching up with friends, planning a date night, or simply curious about sake, we want you to leave feeling like you've discovered a new favorite drink, a new favorite place and made some new like-minded friends.
In the beginning…
2020 to 2022
Monthly Sake Kits.
The Koji Club launched as a monthly virtual subscription service and pop-up based in Boston, MA and in Brooklyn, NY. We would launch new sake kits every month with seasonal but non-traditional themes like “The Beach Kit” “The Oyster Kit” “The Thai Kit” etc to help folks recontextualize what sake can pair with… everything.
This was research and development for our seasonal menu at the bar.
Club Meetings.
After purchasing a kit, you would gain access to a zoom session with Alyssa who would tell stories about the bottles and explain the theme and how to use it in everyday life.
We have continued these tastings in person on a weekly basis at the bar.
Education Everywhere.
Due to its unique nature, folks from all over the country and even in Europe were reaching out for sake lessons. We partnered with sake shops all over to execute virtual sake tastings and build connections.
We continue to provide this virtual sake tasting service as well as a robust private events program.
