As one of Japan’s major cities, Osaka is home to plenty of unique bars and drinking spots. In this guide, I’m sharing 8 of my favorite Osaka bars, including sake bars, beer bars and cocktail bars, so you can pick based on what you like to drink. Every place on this Osaka bar list is a spot I’ve personally visited, so you can follow along without worrying about duds and make your Osaka nightlife even better.
👉 You can check my 45+ Osaka food guide here!
Blog catalog
Osaka Bar Recommendation #1｜Sake Republic
Sake Republic is a sake bar in Shinsaibashi, tucked away on the fifth floor of an office building. The hallway looks like a regular office space, but once you bravely push open the door, you’ll find a warm, minimalist bar with large corner windows overlooking Shinsaibashi’s night view. The bar’s owner really knows his sake and offers many rare or unique bottles you don’t often see elsewhere. If you’re not sure what to order, just tell him your preferences and let him recommend something for you.
There’s no fixed printed menu here. Instead, the sake is divided into four categories: daily specials, recommended bottles, curated selections and premium rare sake. Prices per glass range from ¥500–¥5,000 (approx. $3–$33 USD). If you don’t drink sake, they also have red and white wine, beer and more. I especially have to recommend the Sichuan-style mixed cold cuts platter — it’s amazing on its own and even better with sake. I still can’t forget how good it was even after coming back to Taiwan.
💰 Average spend: ¥500–¥5,000 per glass (approx. $3–$33 USD)
📍Address: 5F Ookini HOPETREE Shinsaibashi Building, 1 Chome−13−1 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka 542-0086, Japan
Osaka Bar Recommendation #2｜Sake no Bijutsukan (The Museum of Sake)
Sake no Bijutsukan (literally “The Museum of Sake”) has branches all over Japan, with 19 locations just in Osaka. Their concept is to “bring bar culture into everyday life,” so many branches are located directly inside FamilyMart convenience stores. You can grab some snacks from the shelves and pair them with a few glasses of whisky, whether you’re drinking solo or hanging out with friends. Prices are very reasonable too.
The main focus here is whisky, ranging from affordable pours to rare bottles. I went to the Osaka Ekimae Daiichi Building branch, which is on the same floor as Craftroom (introduced below). This branch is a standing bar, and every spot has its own power outlet — perfect for resting your feet after shopping, having a quick drink and charging your phone at the same time.
💰 Average spend: ¥500–¥2,000 per glass (approx. $3–$13 USD)
📍Address: Basement level 2, Osaka Ekimae Daiichi Building, 1 Chome−3−1 Umeda, Kita Ward, Osaka 530-0001, Japan
Osaka Bar Recommendation #3｜Craftroom
Craftroom made it onto the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list and is the only Osaka bar included. It’s located on the basement second floor of a busy commercial building in Umeda, and the sign is quite subtle so you’ll need to look carefully. They don’t take reservations and the space is fairly small, so you may need to wait during peak hours. The menu is divided into classic cocktails and house originals, and they also serve small bites like wagyu jerky, pickles and other snacks that go well with drinks. Their monthly pie specials are also very popular.
This time I ordered three cocktails, from a classic Negroni to a signature Earl Grey Martini — all of them were excellent. Sitting at the counter watching the bartender craft each drink with care is an experience in itself. If you’re into cocktails, this Umeda bar in Osaka is definitely worth a visit.
💰 Average spend: ¥1,300–¥1,500 per glass (approx. $8–$10 USD)
📍Address: B2-70 Osaka Ekimae Daiichi Building, 1 Chome−3−1 Umeda, Kita Ward, Osaka 530-0001, Japan
Osaka Bar Recommendation #4｜Bible Club Osaka
Bible Club Osaka is a speakeasy-style bar in Shinsaibashi and the sister bar of Bible Club PDX in Portland. You first push open an unassuming wooden door and walk down the stairs to the basement, and then step into a completely different world.
The interior is dimly lit with vintage decor, giving off strong American Prohibition-era vibes. Retro details and antiques create a very atmospheric space. The stars of the menu here are whisky and cocktails. If you love whisky, there are tons of bottles to choose from, and the bartenders are very knowledgeable (and speak decent English). If you can’t decide, just tell them what you like and let them surprise you.
Note that this Osaka bar charges a seating fee of ¥800 per person (approx. $5 USD), which includes a small snack. Compared with other cocktail bars in Osaka, this makes it a slightly pricier option overall.
💰 Average spend: ¥1,500–¥2,000 per glass (approx. $10–$13 USD) + ¥800 per person seating charge (approx. $5 USD, includes toasted bread as a snack)
📍Address: B1F Benyondcool Building, 2 Chome−1−11 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo Ward, Osaka 542-0085, Japan
Osaka Bar Recommendation #5｜Umineko
If you love beer and can only choose one craft beer bar in Osaka, I’d say go for Umineko. I found it thanks to a recommendation from the staff at Bible Club, and it did not disappoint. The bar itself is tiny with no seating — it fits around 7 people standing. If it’s full, you can always grab your beer to go.
Umineko usually has around 8–10 rotating taps featuring different styles of craft beer from across Japan. The menu clearly shows bitterness levels, ABV and other details for each beer. On the night I visited, I practically tried every tap and liked all of them, and even ended up chatting with other bar-goers nearby — it turned into a really fun evening. They also serve a few simple bar snacks like curry rice and beef rolls. It’s definitely a craft beer bar in Osaka that I’d happily return to.
💰 Average spend: three glass sizes available
・Small: ¥800–¥1,100 (approx. $5–$7 USD)
・Medium: ¥1,000–¥1,300 (approx. $7–$9 USD)
・Large: ¥1,400–¥1,700 (approx. $9–$11 USD)
📍Address: 2 Chome-2-11 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo Ward, Osaka 542-0085, Japan
Osaka Bar Recommendation #6｜cafe & beer Arca→Archa
This craft beer bar happened to be near where I was staying. The wooden entrance and cute retro decorations immediately caught my eye. Inside, there’s space for around 20 people, and the outdoor seating looks like it would be lovely on cool evenings.
The bar serves around 8 different draft and canned craft beers, and there’s also a three-beer tasting flight if you want to try multiple styles. Besides beer, they offer a few simple mains and bar snacks, and you order everything via iPad — very introvert-friendly.
Osaka Bar Recommendation #7｜Bar Nayuta
Bar Nayuta is a speakeasy-style bar hidden in Amerikamura (America-mura) in Osaka. It’s located on the fifth floor of a residential-looking building, behind a metal door that honestly looks a bit like an abandoned entrance — but don’t hesitate, just push it open. Inside, the space is dark and moody with graffiti-covered walls, creating a distinctly gritty, Japanese underground vibe.
There’s no menu here; you simply tell the bartender what kind of flavors you like, and they’ll create something tailored to your taste. The bar seats around 15 people and does not accept reservations. Both the guests and the bartenders give off cool, laid-back vibes. I randomly asked for a strong, spirit-forward drink with tea notes, and the bartender nailed it perfectly.
Do note that smoking is allowed inside, and even the bartender smokes, so if you’re sensitive to cigarette smoke, you may want to consider this before visiting.
💰 Average spend: around ¥1,500 per glass (approx. $10 USD)
📍Address: 5F Mario Building, 1 Chome−6−17 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka 542-0086, Japan
Osaka Bar Recommendation #8｜Sake Sai
For sake lovers, besides Sake Republic, another great Osaka sake bar is Sake Sai. Here, everything is sold by the glass, and the prices are clearly labeled on each bottle so you can see at a glance what fits your budget.
They stock lots of rare and high-end sake, so if you’ve always wanted to try something special but don’t want to commit to a whole bottle, this is the perfect place to do it. I even managed to drink Juyondai (十四代) here twice, a sake that many shops are often sold out of. They also serve simple snacks to pair with drinks. The owner and staff don’t speak much English, so if you don’t know Japanese, you’ll have to rely on simple gestures and pointing. Also, the entire bar is standing only — there are no seats.
💰 Average spend: varies widely by bottle; around ¥500–¥2,000 per glass (approx. $3–$13 USD)
📍Address: 14-2 Nanbasennichimae, Chuo Ward, Osaka 542-0075, Japan
These are my 8 recommended bars in Osaka — I hope every fellow drink lover finds a favorite spot among this Osaka bar list.
For more travel ideas, feel free to follow me on Facebook and Instagram 🙂
Facebook: Wen the Travel Begins
Instagram: @wen_the_travel_begins
