If you wander through the alleys of a Japanese city, you might be so lucky as to stumble upon a jazz kissa, a café-bar where patrons savor records as intentionally as one would a fine, stiff drink. Now, Seattle’s Hillman City gets its own take on the tradition with Sake Noire—a sleek sake and jazz bar that celebrated its official opening on July 1. With a rotating sake list, a cool vibe reminiscent of the iconic jazz kissa, and an unexpected menu of Japanese-Italian fare, the bar is a novelty in the south end.

Co-owners Quan Liang and Yael Silverman both come to the project with a deep knowledge of sake and Japanese cuisine. The pair met while working at another sake bar—Fremont’s Hannyatou (sister bar to Kamonegi)—and Liang previously served as the sake specialist for a distribution company, a role that brought her to Japan, where the seeds of Sake Noire were first planted.

Sake Noire co-owners Quan Liang and Yael Silverman.

Courtesy of Sake Noire

“There are all these small, intimate, jazz-focused bars where the owners have thousands of records, and it’s like one person running the bar,” says Liang. “Because I love the culture so much, and of course have a big passion for sake and music, I really wanted to bring that dream over here.”

Before even entertaining the idea of a brick-and-mortar bar, Liang began Sake Noire as a pop-up concept in 2024.

“I was basically running around the city showcasing Japanese sake and working with different jazz musicians to put on shows, develop menus, and have people come and enjoy the experience,” says Liang. “It was kind of like my ode to the Japanese jazz bars.”

The pop-ups were eclectic and creative. Sometimes they were invite-only speakeasies, other times they featured pizza or tiki drinks, and some paid tribute to a single musician such as Thelonious Monk. While producing these events, Liang learned of an open space next to Hillman City’s Mimi Bar and saw the possibility of a permanent location. She brought on Silverman, who has experience with both Japanese and Italian cuisine, as the executive chef and co-owner.

There is a long tradition of Japanese-style Italian cuisine known as itameshi, which the menu at Sake Noire builds on. The menu at Sake Noire builds on this tradition.

“You’ll see things like variations of carbonara and katsuobushi (bonito flakes),” says Silverman. “That kind of flavor overlaps with bacon, so I’ll put bonito flakes on my lasagna. And I’ve swapped out my traditional bolognese with shiitake and ground pork, so it’s a little richer, a little smoky.”

The miso fra diavolo shrimp, served with aonori butter garlic bread.

Courtesy of Sake Noire

The goal is to show people that sake pairs with more than just sushi and other traditional Japanese foods. Liang wants to introduce guests to a wider world of sake, knowing that most Americans still have a narrow idea of the beverage. “My program is a little funkier. There are’s some styles that are not talked about as much, a little bit more wild, a little bit more esoteric. It’s meant to pair with bold food.”

The just under 700-square-foot bar is snug and inviting. It’s not a place for the whole family—it is 21 and over—but in an area that already has many kid-friendly restaurants, that’s likely not a downside. They plan to have themed listening nights, and to continue to infuse events with that creative pop-up energy. At the soft opening party, JRock Studios provided hand-thrown sake cups for guests to glaze themselves. Those interested in learning more about sake can also join Sake Noire Club to receive a premium, hand-picked bottle each month, along with tasting notes and early access to events. Bottles will be available for pickup at the bar.

While both Liang and Silverman are Seattle transplants—Liang hails from Boston, and Silverman worked and lived in New York City—they’ve embraced the city as home. 

“I think I was always meant to be a West Coaster,” says Silverman. 

Founding a bar is one way to dig roots even deeper into the area, and they hope people see how much they’ve put of themselves into the space. 

“Our art is everywhere; things that we’ve collected throughout our lives,” says Liang. 

So far, they’re feeling warmly welcomed by the area, which already attracts jazz fans at places such as The Royal Room.

“I love all of our neighboring businesses,” says Liang. “Everyone’s so freaking nice. Local people are on the street, they’re visiting their local businesses, and they’re peeping into our door and asking when we’re opening; they want to support.”

That sense of camaraderie is likely aided by the fact that Liang and Silverman are not merely owners but the daily operators of the business. 

“You will see Quan behind the bar every night, and you will see me in the kitchen every night,” adds Silverman. “We’re really connected to what we do.”