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In a bright, softly lit alcove of Clinton Street, RokuNana arrives with a quiet sort of confidence. It is not simply another Japanese restaurant in Manhattan’s Lower East Side — the kind diners expect to be small, loud or a bit chaotic. Instead, RokuNana is a two-level experience that houses two distinct personalities under one roof: a modern sushi izakaya downstairs and a moody Japanese speakeasy upstairs that feels purposely built for whispered conversations. The team at Ao Hospitality says they wanted the space to “feel discovered,” and it does.
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The décor on the ground floor is restrained in the best possible way. Light wood, clean lines, soft greens and carefully calibrated lighting create an atmosphere that invites customers to exhale upon entry. The energy is unmistakably that of a modern izakaya — approachable, warm and quietly self-assured.
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Climb the stairs and the tone shifts dramatically. Velvet seating curves around sculptural tables; aged mirrors reflect soft amber light. Nana, the upstairs speakeasy, feels like something between a private salon and a cinematic dream sequence. It sets the stage for cocktails that are as intellectual as they are sensory.
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Ao Hospitality describes Nana Speakeasy as a highly creative Japanese cocktail bar — one that works not only with Japanese ingredients such as Japanese whisky, Nikka Coffey Gin and yuzu, but also focuses on offering guests a fully multi-sensory drinking experience.
Take The Ume Shiso Margarita, a drink that begins like a familiar tequila cocktail but takes a considered detour through Japan. Built on Patrón Reposado and layered with ume plum, shiso-lime, agave and a dusting of yukari salt, it’s both recognizable and surprising — bright acidity meeting soft, earthy plum sweetness. The shiso adds a cooling herbal lift, almost perfumed, turning each sip sharper, greener and more vibrant than the typical margarita. It’s a refreshing cocktail for anyone who thinks they know the drink well, only to discover they didn’t.
If the Ume Shiso Margarita is the warm-up, the Crystal Peach Oolong is the headliner — the one that stops customers mid-sip and makes them realize Nana is playing an entirely different game.
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Presented like its own elegant calling card, the cocktail is built on Nikka Coffey Gin and brightened with St-Germain. It’s clarified into a crystal-clear milk punch, delivering that silky, polished texture Nana favors. White peach adds a soft, fragrant sweetness, while lemon and oolong create a clean, aromatic edge. It’s gentle but confident, fruity without ever tipping into cloying. A drink that looks delicate but tastes refined — perfect for sharing with friends and comparing notes between sips.
