Beer in Sapporo: 4 Spots to Drink Like a Local
Beer in Sapporo, four Tabelog-rated spots: a red-brick beer garden, Hokkaido's oldest beer hall, a craft taproom and a lamb counter, with prices and payment.
Beer in Sapporo comes in four useful flavors: a red-brick beer garden next to the old brewery, Hokkaido's oldest beer hall, a craft taproom with 10 beers on tap, and a lamb counter where a draft is part of the ritual. I picked one of each from Tabelog data, using rating, review volume and what repeat customers actually order. Ratings and prices below are as of November 2026.
A note on "with a local": I'm not claiming a local's insider tips here. What the data shows is where people who live in or regularly visit Sapporo keep coming back, including one reviewer on their eighth visit to the beer hall. Three of the four spots sit within a few minutes' walk of each other around Susukino and Tanukikoji, so you can combine them in one night.
Why beer in Sapporo is different
The story of beer in Sapporo starts in 1876, when the Kaitakushi, the Meiji government's Hokkaido Development Commission, opened a brewery here as part of its push to develop the island. That brewery grew into Sapporo Beer, and its red-brick buildings are still the city's best-known beer landmark. The Sapporo Beer Museum sits in a red-brick former sugar factory from 1890 that was later converted into a brewery.
The classic pairing is jingisukan (grilled lamb on a domed or flat hot plate, named after Genghis Khan), and you'll see it at almost every spot below. The other local habit is the second stop: Tabelog reviewers regularly describe having a beer at the beer garden in the afternoon, then moving on to Susukino for the evening.
Quick picks
| Spot | Best for | Tabelog | Dinner budget | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapporo Beer En Kaitakushi Kan | Beer garden and lamb all-you-can-eat | 3.59 (1,259) | ¥5,000–¥5,999 | Cards, IC, QR |
| Beer Hall Lion Tanukikoji | Draft Sapporo in a classic hall | 3.49 (210) | ¥2,000–¥2,999 | Cards, IC, QR |
| #Sakanoba Craft | Craft beer and smoked snacks | 3.37 (47) | ¥3,000–¥3,999 | Cards, IC, QR |
| Itadakimasu. | Lamb counter with draft beer | 3.68 (1,688) | ¥5,000–¥5,999 | Cash, cards only |
The 4 best spots for beer in Sapporo
1. Sapporo Beer En Kaitakushi Kan (サッポロビール園 開拓使館), Higashi Ward
This is the touristy classic, and it earns it. Kaitakushi Kan is a 620-seat beer hall inside a red-brick building with brewing kettles on view, right beside the Beer Museum. It scores 3.59 on Tabelog (1,259 reviews), which is high for a place this size.
Order a Sapporo Five Star, a premium draft that one source says is now available only at the Beer Garden, and a lamb platter. Reviewers mention the five-cut lamb assortment (shoulder, chuck eye roll, loin, leg and spare ribs) and the "King Viking" set. A November 2026 reviewer who paid ¥4,000–¥4,999 at lunch took the 14:00 slot after evenings were fully booked, then walked next door to the museum.
Two practical points from reviews: service slows as the hall fills, so order food early, and drinks use a glass-exchange system where you hand back the empty to get a refill. Tabelog says lunch reservations go through Tabelog, while dinner, private rooms and groups of five or more book through the official Sapporo Beer En site.
Tabelog: 3.59 (1,259 reviews) · Budget: ¥5,000–¥5,999 dinner, ¥2,000–¥2,999 lunch (reviewers paid ¥4,000–¥7,999) · Pay: cash, card (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX, Diners, UnionPay), Suica and other IC cards, PayPay and other QR · Reservations: accepted · Seats: 620 · Closed: open daily except December 31, 11:30–21:00 (last order 20:40) · Getting there: 8 min walk from JR Naebo Station (north exit); bus from Sapporo Station north exit, platform 2
2. Beer Hall Lion Tanukikoji (ビヤホール ライオン 狸小路店), Tanukikoji
The cheapest and most central pour on this list. Beer Hall Lion bills itself on Tabelog as Hokkaido's oldest beer hall and says it has served Sapporo since 1914. It's a big, old-fashioned hall in the Sapporo Building, with Sapporo Black Label and Sapporo Classic on draft.
Reviewers split the two: one found the Classic smooth without sharp bitterness and the Black Label richer. The boot glass gets a warning from the same reviewer: keep the toe pointing down or air will push the beer out. Food is hall standard: roast beef salad, sausage, pizza and potato dishes, plus jingisukan. A repeat visitor praised a potato salad with smoked mackerel and says beer and Hokkaido potatoes match well. Not every order lands; one lunch reviewer found a steak and garlic fried rice disappointing.
It's popular with visitors, and a reviewer noted many foreign tourists at lunch. Go off-peak and orders come quickly, per a repeat customer. An all-you-can-drink set exists.
Tabelog: 3.49 (210 reviews) · Budget: ¥2,000–¥2,999 dinner, ¥1,000–¥1,999 lunch (reviewers paid ¥2,000–¥3,999) · Pay: cash, card (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX, Diners, UnionPay), Suica and other IC cards, PayPay and other QR · Reservations: accepted · Seats: 120 · Closed: open daily, 11:30–22:00 Mon–Sat (last order 21:30), 11:30–21:00 Sundays and holidays (last order 20:30) · Getting there: 3 min walk from Susukino Station or Hosui-Susukino Station, 5 min from Odori Station
3. #Sakanoba Craft (#サカノバクラフト), Tanukikoji
When you've had enough lager, this is the craft stop. #Sakanoba Craft opened in May 2023 per Tabelog and keeps 10 beers on tap. Four are original, including a collaboration with Obihiro Beer. Its rating is 3.37 on only 47 reviews, so treat it as promising rather than proven.
Reviewers mention a golden Nelson Sauvignon beer and a coffee-flavored black beer. A small 200 ml pour was ¥825 in a March 2026 review, which lets you taste several. Food leans meaty and smoky: the low-temperature-cooked liver, a smoked platter where you pick three items, garlic chive sausage and cod fish and chips (¥700). Staff explain the beers, which one reviewer called friendly to beginners.
Check the happy hour. A reviewer in April 2026 reported 30% off beer until 18:00 on weekends and holidays. Also note the ¥350 service charge, and that smoking is allowed inside, so guests under 20 aren't admitted.
Tabelog: 3.37 (47 reviews) · Budget: ¥3,000–¥3,999 (reviewers paid ¥2,000–¥4,999) · Pay: cash, card (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX, Diners), Suica, iD, QUICPay, PayPay, d Barai, Rakuten Pay, au PAY · Reservations: accepted · Seats: 40, counter and sofa · Closed: open daily, 16:00–23:30 Mon–Fri, 12:00–23:30 Sat, Sun and holidays (last drinks 23:00) · Getting there: 1 min walk from Hosui-Susukino Station, 5 min from Odori Station
4. Itadakimasu. (いただきます。), Susukino
Beer is a supporting actor here, but it's the right one. Itadakimasu. is a 21-seat counter for jingisukan with a 3.68 rating from 1,688 reviews, the highest score of the four. Its lamb comes from Hokkaido and New Zealand, and the set at ¥1,480 appears in one reviewer's notes.
The advice from reviewers is to try the rare cuts: hanging tender, liver and the knuckle muscle known as shinshin. Staff recommend salt and pepper over the sauce. One October 2026 reviewer drank a Sapporo Classic draft with it and said it had depth that bottles and cans lack. Tabelog's drinks list names sake, shochu and wine, so confirm beer on the day.
Book ahead: the restaurant takes reservations for one to eight people by phone (011-552-4029), and one reviewer found the Hokkaido lamb mostly sold out, so go early. A vegetable charge of ¥330 applies. This is the cash-and-card-only entry: no IC cards, no QR codes.
Tabelog: 3.68 (1,688 reviews) · Budget: ¥5,000–¥5,999 dinner, ¥2,000–¥2,999 lunch (reviewers paid ¥4,000–¥9,999) · Pay: cash, card (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX, Diners); no IC or QR · Reservations: accepted by phone, 1–8 people · Seats: 21, counter only · Closed: irregular, open Mon–Sat 11:30–14:30 and 16:00–23:00, Sundays dinner until 22:00 · Getting there: 2 min walk from Susukino Station, Exit 4
How to drink beer in Sapporo like a local
- Plan the day in order. Reviewers do the beer garden in the afternoon (14:00 slots are easier to book), then Susukino at night. Tabelog's own reviewers say evenings at Kaitakushi Kan book out.
- Expect a table charge. Sakanoba Craft adds ¥350, Itadakimasu. adds ¥330 for vegetables. It's normal, not a scam. For ordering phrases and cover charges, see our guide to ordering a drink in Tokyo, which applies here too.
- Carry a card and some cash. Three of the four take IC cards and QR payments; Itadakimasu. takes cards or cash only.
- Pace yourself. The beer garden is built around eating lamb with refills, so one reviewer ordered a la carte because they planned to continue to Susukino.
- Dress for November. A November 2026 reviewer visited Kaitakushi Kan in heavy snow. Our winter food cities guide covers what else to eat when it's cold.
Find more beer in Sapporo
Browse the TabeDog map to filter Sapporo by payment method and opening hours, or start with Sapporo's top-rated restaurants and Sapporo izakaya for the next stop after your beer. For the bigger picture, read why TabeDog works for food in Sapporo.
Frequently asked questions
Do Sapporo beer spots take credit cards?
Yes, all four do. Kaitakushi Kan, Beer Hall Lion and #Sakanoba Craft also take IC cards and QR payments. Itadakimasu. takes cards and cash only.
Do I need a reservation for beer in Sapporo?
For Kaitakushi Kan, yes: reviewers say evening slots were fully booked, and dinner bookings go through the official Sapporo Beer En site. Beer Hall Lion and #Sakanoba Craft accept reservations. Itadakimasu. takes phone bookings for one to eight people.
What is the cheapest place for beer in Sapporo on this list?
Beer Hall Lion Tanukikoji has the lowest budget band on Tabelog: ¥2,000–¥2,999 for dinner and ¥1,000–¥1,999 for lunch.
Where can I try craft beer in Sapporo?
#Sakanoba Craft has 10 taps, four of them original beers. Its Tabelog rating rests on 47 reviews, so check recent ones before you go.
