Designed as a sister venue to our established kaiten sushi venues of the same name, Sakura is conceived as a moody, intimate Izakaya. Set in Melbourne's historic Wesley Place, the venue, designed by Bergman and Co, reworks traditional Japanese influences with a contemporary hand – fusing roughly hewn finishes, expressed junctions and diffused light to explore tensions between precision and rawness. 

Sakura places the revolving sushi train at the centre of the patron experience, dramatically set against glowing rice paper screens, inspired by traditional shoji room dividers. Walls and ceilings are saturated in deep olive render, while Japanese ceramic tiles line the floors throughout, enlivened by dancing shadow and light.

On arrival, a linear bench, finished in end grain timber, stretches the length of the sushi train, where a bespoke 'bullet train' theatrically delivers menu items to patrons. A central dining space offers intimate raised booths, separated by delicate, timber-framed screens finished with hand-drawn illustrations. 

A compact cocktail bar nestles into a prominent corner of the venue, with a veil of bottle shelving bolstering Sakura's cocktail and saké offer to the street. Beside, a sumptuous leather lounge area offers a relaxed setting to drink or dine. Pebbled granite, raw bluestone blocks, end grain timber and raw leather upholstery lend depth and tactility, while maintaining an approachable feel from day to night.