The 10 Best Bars in Shinsaibashi, Osaka

Moonshine is the perfect place to go if you’re feeling outgoing and want to make new friends; the combination of karaoke, good booze, and the cozy space always seems to bring people together at this popular bar. Both locals and travelers gather here every night of the week for a good time. The bar features drinks based on prohibition recipes and Western food, and on certain nights you can find the owner grilling up cheap and tasty hot dogs outside.

Located just a street away from the Dōtonbori canal, Moon Tower is perfect if you’re looking for a lively night out in the heart of downtown. The bar is reasonably priced with incredibly potent drinks, especially their signature beverage, the Moon Tower. This bar often hosts live events with DJs and other performers entertaining the crowds. With a bilingual staff, good food, and shisha, Moon Tower always attracts a large and diverse crowd.

A tiny little bar among many in Shinsaibashi, rock bar Cherry Bomb stands out with its laid-back atmosphere and rock music scene. American owners Chris and Jesse originally started this place to fill the gap of rock music bars in the local bar scene, and it has since evolved into a gathering place for locals, expats, and travelers, where you can be sure to find English-speaking company. While they don’t have anything fancy in terms of drinks, with a respectable selection of ice-cold craft beers on tap, Cherry Bomb offers what is at the core of the best bars – a fun atmosphere, good music, and most importantly, great company.

Located just adjacent to Triangle Park in Amemura, Bar Nayuta is one of the coolest and most cosmopolitan bars around. The atmosphere is gothic and mysterious, perfectly suited to this ‘nocturnal apothecary’. You can expect to find people from all around the world at Nayuta indulging in shisha and the glorious cocktails, which the owner will concoct for you based on your tastes and requests. The staff is incredibly friendly, there are regular live DJs, and there is no cover charge.

Zerro is an upbeat place to meet new people and hang out with friends before heading to the clubs down the street. The cocktails at Zerro are renowned for being incredibly strong and expertly made by the welcoming staff. The best nights are Fridays and Saturdays; on Friday nights they serve a roast dinner, and the relaxed atmosphere gets shaken up on Saturday nights when they bring in a DJ to get the party started.

Sake is inarguably Japan’s most famous liqueur, but it can be difficult to take your first steps into the world of sampling this oriental rice wine. Fear no more – Hana Sake Bar is an English-speaking sake bar. It is stocked with sake from all over Japan, including ones that are from small breweries. The establishment offers fantastic sake tasting that is the perfect experience to initiate you into the world of sake. Or, if you are a veteran sake drinker, it gives you the chance to try non-chain brands that are difficult to find elsewhere.

Between Namba and Shinsaibashi Stations lies a little jazz bar called Rug Time Osaka. This is a lively location to listen to live music, attend or perform in open-mic nights, and even interact and perform with the house band. The cover charge is around 2, 500 yen (23 USD) most nights, but once inside the venue the prices are reasonable. Be sure to check out their schedule before you head over so you know what’s on for the evening.

An Irish pub right in the heart of Shinsaibashi, The Blarney Stone has events nearly every night, ranging from sporting events to trivia nights. Customers can enjoy free pool on Monday nights, discounts on buffalo wings on Tuesdays, and cocktails are just 400 yen (4 USD) for the ladies on Thursdays. Guests are treated to free live music from Thursday to Sunday evenings.

At Sam & Dave ONE, you’ll find a young, hip, and festive crowd dancing the night away. The newly renovated space has two levels. The first contains a dance floor which can hold up to 800 revelers; the second level is an exclusive V.I.P area with private seating. The large light-up dance floor is packed on music nights, with tunes ranging from hip-hop to EDM. The bartenders serve up great well-shaken cocktails while hanging out in this party place.

Head over to Space Station to experience one of the most unique nightlife experiences in Osaka. Space Station is a video game bar, so you can expect more than just cocktails on the menu; guests can choose whatever game they want from a selection of more than 100 and play on any available console for free. From the original Nintendo to the Sega Dreamcast to the most recent PlayStation and the Wii U, customers can experience excitement and nostalgia in one space.