Planning night out in Osaka, but not sure where to begin? Sick of finding outdated lists while searching for a place to drink? Not sure which bars are foreigner friendly? I got you.
For this post I'm going to show you my top three bars in the Shinsaibashi area of Osaka that are great for a night out. Generally people in Osaka won't stay at the same bar all night, but rather go bar hopping to a few different bars. I'll mention my favourite Shinsaibashi bars for right now, that are definitely open and that I can personally vouch for. These bars are all within close proximity, and are probably a maximum five minutes walk from each other, so why not visit all three and decide which you like best? Best of all, these bars are located in the nightlife district of Osaka, so you can easily visit another bar during or after this little pub crawl.
Here's the list from most expensive to least expensive. Hope you find it helpful!
Mixology＆Factory Bar Gear (Osaka Cocktail Library Akashic Records) $$$
This bar just moved into its newer, and much bigger premises a few weeks ago, officially opening on June 1st, 2022. Let me tell you that the attention to detail here is absolutely amazing. Despite the cost, the attention to detail and delicious personalised drinks are the reasons this bar has made it onto my best bars in Shinsaibashi list.
Mixology & Factory Bar Gear has a kinda gothic vibe to it, starting from the entrance, and continuing into the bathrooms. In terms of seating this place has plenty of counter seats plus some tables for bigger groups.
I recommend sitting at the bar if possible, so you can see the fun stuff the bartenders are mixing up.
The staff at Mixology can make you drinks that you never dared to dream of. They have an extensive drink menu, but unfortunately it's only available in Japanese - same with the food menu. However, there are some staff here that can speak English, so don't let the language put you off visiting.
If you're unsure of what to drink, I suggest asking for your old favorite with a twist and leaving it up to the bartender. Or, do what I do sometimes and ask for something that is visually impressive. Feel free to order off the menu and ask for your own creation. I don't want to spoil to much for you, but the drinks here are an art form, as is the presentation.
This place is DEFINITELY worth a visit if you have a bit of money to spare. You won't regret it.
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Suggested access: Shinsaibashi station, Nagahoribashi station.
Address in English: 〒542-0085 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Shinsaibashisuji, 2 Chome−1−32, Is・・・, 3F
Name in Japanese: ワッフルカーン道頓堀
Address in Japanese: 〒542-0085 大阪府大阪市中央区心斎橋筋２丁目１−32, Is・・・, 3F
Planning a visit to Universal Studios Japan while you're here? Be sure to buy your tickets in advance to minimise waiting time on the day. |
The Australian Pub $$$
I know, I know. Why would you want to visit Japan and go drinking at an Aussie bar? Well, to be honest, I dunno. Maybe you're feeling a little homesick, or maybe you have a craving for a Coopers beer. Personally, I like The Australian Pub for its drink menu, its fish and chips and general vibe. If you're into sports then this bar is a good option, as they play rugby, Australian football, and soccer games live on TV. I know hearing the word "sports bar" can sometimes be off-putting, but I'm honestly not a sports fan and I love this place.
The drinks are reasonably priced for the quality, and they have a decent selection available, including some Australian options and Japanese options. The fish and chips here is some of the best I've had in Osaka, so if you have a fish and chip craving then I definitely recommend this place. I hear the chicken parmi (or is it parma?) is also good.
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There are counter seats and tables available inside, or plenty of seating outside. Food and drink menu is available in English or Japanese, and the owner speaks fluent English so no need to worry about your Japanese language ability here!
Suggested access: Shinsaibashi station, Nagahoribashi station.
Address in English: 1 Chome-16-30 Higashishinsaibashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0083
Address in Japanese: 〒542-0083 大阪府大阪市中央区東心斎橋１丁目１６−30
Looking for somewhere to eat lunch in Osaka? Suggested reading: Trying Osaka's Best Fish Burgers at Burger Lion | Hommachi, Osaka | Japan Pizza Lunch at Garb Weeks | Kitahama, Osaka | Japan Osaka's Most Instagrammable Brunch | Northshore | Kitahama, Osaka | Japan |
Cinquecento $$$
Wanna party? On a tight budget after spending too much money on sushi? Look no further! Cinquecento is an Osaka institution. Anyone who likes to party and lives in Osaka will know this place and likely have some ridiculous story about a night out here.
This place serves 500 yen martinis that vary in strength. There's a handy little legend on the bottom of the menu to help describe the drinks a little, so you can easily find a sweet drink, or a milky drink, a strong drink etc. Anything other than a martini will cost extra - usually 600 or 700 yen per drink, but check with the staff if you plan to order something not listed on the menu. I usually come to Cinquecento at the end of a night out and am often starting to get a little hungry. The food here is basic but good for the price, and I've heard good things about this chicken parmi also!
Counter seating here, otherwise there are a couple of tables available on the right towards the kitchen entrance. The Cinquecento menu is available in Japanese and English, and staff speak both languages.
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Suggested access: Nagahoribashi station, Shinsaibashi station.
Address in English: 〒542-0083 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Higashishinsaibashi, 2 Chome−1−10 松宮ビル 1階
Address in Japanese: 〒542-0083 大阪府大阪市中央区東心斎橋２丁目１−10 松宮ビル 1階
Final thoughts on the best bars in Shinsaibashi for foreigners!
That's it for this post on my recommendations for best bars in Shinsaibashi, Osaka for foreign visitors. This list is certainly not extensive, but lists three bars that I've been to several times and I know are welcoming and accommodating to foreigners. Keep in mind that there are many more bars out there that will happily welcome foreigners, and many will even have an English menu. Staff English ability can vary a lot between bars, but you should have no issue ordering a basic drink at most bars in English. Why not simply pop into a bar that looks interesting and see how you like it?
Let me know in the comments below what other top 3 posts you'd like to see in the future.
Thanks for reading! Hope you have a great night out in Osaka!
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Those cocktails look yummy! Can’t wait to try them out when we visit Japan!
I’m always on the hunt for a good cocktail bar when I travel and these all look like great options! Love how unique they all look too.
Looks very cool!
These drinks all look like so much fun! This is the first time I have seen a drink served with a feather.
I’ve never been to Osaka but it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to explore, so I could really live vicariously through this post haha.