A Sake Sommelier is the beverage specialist responsible for elevating the guest experience through expert sake selection, service, education, and pairing guidance. In a restaurant, club, or lounge, this role blends product knowledge, hospitality, and salesmanship to create memorable moments, support beverage revenue, and reinforce the venue’s premium standards.
- Purpose of the role:
The Sake Sommelier ensures guests receive informed, confident, and engaging recommendations on sake styles, serving temperatures, regions, brewing methods, and food pairings. The role helps position the venue as knowledgeable and distinctive within the market, while driving guest satisfaction, repeat visits, and beverage sales.
- Organisational position and reporting line:
This role sits within the Bar & Beverage function and works closely with the wider front-of-house and culinary teams. Depending on the venue structure, the Sake Sommelier typically reports to the Beverage Manager, Bar Manager, Head Sommelier, or Food & Beverage Manager. The role also supports service teams by coaching staff on sake basics and menu confidence.
- Key areas of responsibility:
- Curate, maintain, and promote the sake list in line with the venue concept and guest profile
- Recommend sake based on flavour preference, occasion, cuisine, and budget
- Serve sake correctly, including glassware, temperature, presentation, and timing
- Educate service staff through tastings, briefings, and product training
- Partner with chefs and beverage leadership on pairings, promotions, and seasonal offerings
- Monitor stock rotation, product quality, and storage conditions to protect integrity
- Support upselling and premiumisation through thoughtful guest engagement
- Stay current on sake categories, producers, trends, and industry standards
- What success looks like / type of person who thrives in the role:
The ideal candidate is personable, polished, and naturally service-led, with deep curiosity about Japanese beverage culture and a disciplined approach to detail. They communicate clearly, build trust quickly, and can translate technical knowledge into approachable guest recommendations. Success depends on confidence without pretence, strong teamwork, commercial awareness, and the ability to deliver exceptional service consistently in a fast-paced premium environment.