If you walk into the street on which Go Go Curry is located in the corner from National Route 58 in the area called Kumoji in Naha City, you will find a bar called “Waka,” which has an adult hideaway atmosphere.
Bar Waka (Outside)
When I was looking for a bar around my hotel after visiting Naha for the first time, the owner of an izakaya “Shunsaidokoro Bidoro,” which I wrote about in the previous article, introduced this bar to me. This bar seems quite popular as it ranks first in the Tabelog (Japanese popular gourmet website) ranking of bars in Naha City as of January 2017.
The counter chairs, the ones which are likely to be found in a hotel lobby, are spacious and comfortable. There are some tables other than counter seats.
Bar Waka (Counter)
Recommended drink menus at Waka are Japanese style cocktails using Japanese ingredients such as wasabi (Japanese horseradish) and miso (fermented soy bean paste), as well as seasonal fruit cocktails.
I became curious about Japanese style cocktails, which I rarely find in other bars, but as I couldn’t imagine the taste of them, I decided to order a fruit cocktail first. I had kiwi and banana cocktails, and both of them were elaborately prepared and tasty (the price is 1,000 yen each).
Kiwi Fruit Cocktail
Banana Fruit Cocktail
Of course, they have other drinks such as beer other than cocktails, but if you visit Waka, I recommend you try its original drinks, which you may not find in other bars. I became a fan of Waka’s fruit cocktails, so I visited Waka for three times while staying in Naha City for about a week.
Bass Pale Ale
At most bars in Naha, customers are required to pay a cover charge. The cover charge of Waka is 600 yen per person, and a customer can choose one of three snacks (nuts, chocolates, and pickles) which is included in the cover charge.
I had a dinner at an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) almost every day while staying in Naha, so I didn’t have a chance to try food at Waka, but they have an abundant food menu, and especially a curry rice seems quite popular. I will try it together with Japanese style cocktails next time I visit this bar.
In Naha, which is a quite big city, many of the bartenders look professional wearing a vest and a bow tie. And somehow their conversations are snappy. Besides, many customers were wearing suits, so unfortunately, I felt like drinking in a hotel bar in Osaka and couldn’t feel the atmosphere of Okinawa.
All the staff of Waka are young, in their 20s or 30s, and they are friendly and kind enough to talk to you if you visit this bar alone (though I don’t know if they speak English or not). Maybe this is another secret of its popularity.
Bar Waka location: 2-14-14 Kumoji, Naha-shi
