Ōkami Loft in Little Tokyo, Blok M, is quite literally hidden from plain sight. Blink and you might miss it. But that’s very much on brand for the Japanese-inspired highball and cocktail bar by Lawless Jakarta, which takes cues from the intrigue of Japan’s bar scene and its warren of concealed gems and speakeasies.
Sitting on the floor above Koi No Yokan, a yakiniku eatery also by Lawless Jakarta, Okami Loft builds its appeal through the laid-back, living room–style setting that overlooks the shophouses of Japanese eateries and bars in the surrounding area. The elongated, roomy bar evokes the ease of sitting at a kitchen island, as if one is casually ordering a drink from a friend who can mix some mean cocktails. Except here, it’s the friendly head bartender, Hadi, manning the station.
But what makes it quite homey is probably the drinks themselves; easy-going and unfussy, yet strong enough for those looking to reward themselves after a long day. The highlight here is the Japanese-style highball, which is characteristically clean, crisp, and refreshingly subtle. The simplest of all on the menu is the Classic Okami Houseblend, an old-fashioned serving of soda and whisky (they have a selection from Scotch, American, Irish and Japanese whisky).
Meanwhile, another Okami’s signature highball, Vanilla Noir, can be quite deceptive: think chugging the sweet-tasting, innocent root beer fortified with chocolate vanilla bourbon and chocolate bitters. Perfect, perhaps, for unsuspecting lightweights who think they’re in for a mellow, soft drink, only to be hit by a surprise buzz.
And which bar isn’t tinkering with specialty cocktails these days? Here, Okami has fun with the format, exploring the surprises and inventiveness of reimagining two classics into one. As a result, you get something like the Koko Tini, one of Okami’s crowd-pleasing cocktails, that puts together the classic gin-based Dry Martini with the sweet vermouth depth of Manhattan in a dark chocolate twist.
Safe to say that Okami feels less like a bar and more like a personal space you’d want to claim as your own: highballs flow easy, the Gyū Smoke Croquette keeps you snacking casually, and a living room-like atmosphere accompanied by a rotating easy-listening tunes makes you want to linger longer—proof that sometimes the most enjoyable bars are the ones that feel like home.
