A travel and lifestyle blogger based in Okinawa, @owncolorstravel, sharing recommended areas and travel tips for your Okinawa trip. This time, it’s all about Okinawan cuisine!
Let me introduce a newly opened French-Italian restaurant where you can enjoy wine, located in the Sunabe area of Chatan Town, Central Okinawa, known for its large American community.
・SUNABE SEAWALL , Chatan Town, Okinawa Main Island
I’ve also written about the Sunabe area on my blog. This neighborhood, including Hamagawa, Sunabe, and Minato, is home to many Americans living in Okinawa due to its proximity to Kadena Air Base. The long seawall along the coast is perfect for walking or jogging, and the area is filled with stylish and unique spots that almost make you forget you’re in Japan. From American-style cafés and restaurants to bars housed in foreign residences, it exudes a distinct international charm.
The area is also popular among ocean lovers, as Sunabe’s waters are prime spots for diving and surfing, with plenty of dive and surf shops to explore.
And now, a French restaurant and a wine bar have finally opened in this area—both in the same building and around the same time!
・Dining Nakamoto
Dining Nakamoto 1-56 White Mansion, Miyagi, Chatan-cho, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa 904-0113
Just around the corner from the coastline, you’ll find the building with a surf shop called SOURCE on the ground floor—an easy landmark. Head up to the third floor via the stairs!
On the second floor, there’s a wine bar that I’ll introduce later. After enjoying your meal before the 10 PM closing time, I recommend spending a quiet evening downstairs at this bar. With a glass in hand, you can listen to the sound of waves from the balcony—a perfect way to end the night.
Now, let me tell you about Nakamoto-san. This brand-new restaurant just opened in early December, and the chef behind it is a former chef of a renowned hotel in Okinawa who decided to venture out on their own.
The interior of the restaurant is adorned with celebratory flowers, including elegant orchids, marking the fresh start of this establishment.
Currently, reservations can only be made via Instagram direct messages.
From the restaurant’s Instagram, you can see that the interior exudes a sense of luxury with its modern and tranquil design, reflecting the serious commitment to quality.
There’s also a counter seating option, making it a great place to enjoy a quiet meal even if you’re dining solo.
We were warmly welcomed by the lovely smiles of the female staff. On this particular day, we used the restaurant for a girls’ gathering and were seated at a table.
At Dining Nakamoto, both lunch and dinner are available, with the dinner menu typically centered around courses. However, during our visit, they accommodated us with an à la carte option. Upon the chef’s suggestion, we were treated to a selection that included lobster, bonito, Okinawan fish such as gurukun, and a delightful seafood pasta.
We started with a toast of Pinot Noir.
The water was served in beautifully unique glasses I had never seen before, adding a touch of charm. The appetizer platter, featuring fresh seafood, had a light and refreshing taste that would pair perfectly with white wine as well.
The background music in the restaurant was calm and soothing, complementing the ambiance perfectly and making it a very comfortable place to relax.
The chef, originally from Okinawa, has a friendly and approachable personality, influenced by having spent a long time in Kansai and picking up the Kansai dialect. Choosing this restaurant for our year-end girls’ gathering was a hit, and my friends thoroughly enjoyed it.
Incidentally, I discovered this restaurant through a recommendation from the owner of the wine bar located on the floor below.
・40’s Craft Beer & Natural Wine Bar
40’s Craft Beer & Natural Wine Bar White Mansion, 2F, 1-56 Miyagi, Chatan-cho, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa 904-0113
After finishing our meal, we moved downstairs to the bar.
This bar, called 40’s (Forties), specializes in natural wines and, like Nakamoto, is a newly opened establishment.
Until now, there were hardly any wine-focused spots in this area, making this bar a truly anticipated addition to the local scene.
Whenever you drop by for a drink, you’ll always find wines that suit your taste.
In addition to the bar counter, this bar offers a private room available for use at a rate of 500 yen per person per hour. The private room is equipped with darts and karaoke, allowing guests to enjoy a more personalized and entertaining experience.
The clientele here leans toward an older crowd. True to its name, 40’s, the bar seems to target people in their 40s. This focus is a standout feature, as there haven’t been many bars in the area catering specifically to that age group.
The female staff are all cheerful and leave a positive impression, making conversations enjoyable. It’s truly an ideal wine bar designed for adults.
If you’re planning to visit the establishments mentioned here by car, the area along the coast offers parallel parking, which is quite convenient.
However, be aware that ropes are put up at 10 PM, so it’s important to keep that in mind when parking.
So, what did you think of the dining and wine options in the Sunabe area?
This neighborhood offers a rare combination of a French-Italian restaurant and a natural wine bar.
Why not take a break and enjoy some heartfelt conversations in these cozy, hidden gem-like spaces that feel just like home?