Osaka
With its worn leather couches, big wooden communal table and industrial fittings, this is a little slice of Brooklyn in Osaka and the perfect pit stop…
Must-see nightlife in Kansai
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Osaka
With a waterfall and a grand, spiralling staircase out front, the Misono Building (built c 1956) was once a symbol of the high life. It's now fallen into…
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Osaka
This small club is the heart of Osaka's underground electronic scene. The dance floor is nonsmoking. It's open on Friday and Saturday nights and sometimes…
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Nara
In a small, wooded, brookside clearing between Nigatsu-dō and Kasuga Taisha, this quaint thatched-roof teahouse is one of Nara's most atmospheric spots…
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Kii Peninsula
Along the Nakahechi trail halfway between Hosshinmon-ōji and Kumano Hongū Taisha – about an hour's walk from each – is this inviting pit stop run by a…
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Kōbe
This standing bar has a daunting selection of 90 kinds of sake, including about 50 from local brewers, on its (Japanese-only) menu. Anticipating your…
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Osaka
Frenz Frenzy calls itself a 'rainbow haven' and it means that literally: the whole place is awash in colour (including the front door, thankfully, because…
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Osaka
Beer Belly is run by Osaka's best microbrewery, Minoh Beer, and features Minoh's award-winning classics and seasonal offerings (pints from ¥930). Pick up…
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Kōbe
A big chain wouldn't normally be worth listing, but this Starbucks is different: it's housed in a beautifully preserved former ijinkan (foreigners' house)…
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Osaka
With its 1940s interior intact and waitresses in long skirts, American is a classic jun-kissa – a shop from the first wave of cafes to open in Japan…
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Kansai
This cafe is in one of Oharai-machi's beautifully maintained wooden buildings, but set back from the street, with window- and terrace-front views over the…
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Kansai
Small-batch-chocolate speciality shop Dandelion serves decadent hot chocolates (¥580 to ¥630), along with cookies and brownies (¥330 to ¥450); the stylish…
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Osaka
This cafe in a restored wooden building was the first of its kind in Nakazaki-chō – and it set off a wave of followers. Run by local performing artist…
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Osaka
Serving the music-loving community since 1995, Rock Rock has a history of hosting after-parties for international acts and attracting celeb visitors…
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Osaka
Crammed with vinyl and knick-knacks, Phoebe looks like a drinks counter operated out of an old hippie's storage closet (we mean that in a good way). The…
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Osaka
In the bustling maze of restaurants and bars in the ultra-local area of Ura-Tenma (behind Temma station) is this branch of Beer Belly from the Minoh…
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Osaka
This tiny takeaway stand – the vintage Probat roaster takes up half of it – raised the bar for coffee in Osaka when it opened in 2016. The owner speaks…
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Osaka
If heights aren't your thing, you'll need a stiff drink once you've peered down over the city from the 40th floor at this ultrasuave hotel bar. Service is…
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Kansai
Inside one of the farmhouses in Kayabuki-no-sato, this cafe serves handmade local specialities like dango (soft rice-flour balls; ¥520 for a set with tea)…
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Nara
Drop in on this small standing bar in Naramachi for tastings (¥200 to ¥600) of sakes produced in Nara Prefecture (120 varieties from 29 makers, also…
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Osaka
Sitting pretty in a small, whitewashed building next to the Kyū-Yodogawa, Moto serves quality coffee drinks (from ¥450), along with cakes and pastries, on…
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Kansai
With convenient early hours and open generously late, this simple spot serves pour-over coffee, with beans from cult-fave Tokyo roaster Onibus, and local…
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Osaka
In the shadow of the Umeda Sky Building, this bar and bottle shop specialises in local and international craft beers. Order and enjoy around the counter,…
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Osaka
Pop in for a drink at this cosy, mellow bar with a beach-shack vibe, Southeast Asian and Okinawan munchies and a big window for bang-on views of the…
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Kōbe
This large and lively bar draws an international crowd with a rotation of salsa dancing, live bands, open-mic events, acoustic nights and sport broadcasts…
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Kōbe
With a hushed atmosphere and no menu, this is the kind of bar that feels intimidating to enter – but actually the staff are welcoming, speak some English…
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Osaka
Have a Guinness or two and relax in the friendly atmosphere of this Irish-style pub, popular with local expats and Japanese for after-work drinks and the…
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Osaka
This popular, dimly lit bar in the Kita-Shinchi district is a short walk from JR Osaka Station and draws a good crowd of expats and Japanese. The staff…
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Osaka
On the 35th floor of the Hilton Osaka, this upscale yet slightly dated bar has excellent views and a good wine and whiskey list. Drinks cost about ¥2000…
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Osaka
This is one of the oldest Irish-style pubs in Japan, and a good place to rub shoulders with expats and Japanese; enjoy free live music; catch sports…
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Nara
Fresh fruit smoothies are just what you need on a hot day of temple touring. The seasonal ones (melon in summer or persimmon in fall, for example, are the…
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Osaka
In the Rihga Hotel, this warm wooden bar has an interior designed by legendary potter Bernard Leach (who spent significant time in Japan). A few of his…
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Kii Peninsula
Get coffee (¥300), castella (Nagasaki-style sponge cake; ¥250) and a seat on the terrace, across the street from the Kumano Hongū Heritage Centre.
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Osaka
Running for 70 years, Madura is a glorious time capsule of retro-future styling, with tulip chairs, mirrors and chrome, and also vintage pricing – coffee…
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Osaka
This small, long-running gay bar in Dōyama-chō is welcoming to locals and visitors alike. There's no cover charge and drinks are reasonably priced.
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Kansai
For when you need your latte and wi-fi fix. It's across from Kinosaki Onsen Station.
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Osaka
Zerro has a good range of drinks (from ¥500) and food, energetic bilingual bartenders, and a street-level location ideal for a spot of people-watching…
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Osaka
The name is Italian for '500', appropriate since everything at this small cocktail bar costs ¥500. It's not far from the corner of Sakai-suji; look for…
