Not to miss in Osaka

Run by a 2023 World Barista Champion and ranked 24th on the 2026 world top-100 list. Try a pour-over of a house-roasted micro-lot.

Open 8am-6pm; small, few seats

Brunch-leaning café in a retro Nakazakicho house. Order the katsu sandwich or avocado and poached-egg tartine with a matcha or Okinawa sugar latte.

Expect a queue at weekends

Ground-floor coffee bar in the Conrad hotel. Staff ask your taste preferences, then pick a single-origin bean to brew for you.

Cups can top 1,000 yen

Showa-style kissaten serving charcoal-roasted sumiyaki coffee. Pair it with the morning set of toast and eggs.

Go for the morning set

Long-running okonomiyaki counter. Order yamaimoyaki, made with grated mountain yam instead of flour, or the pork-and-egg classic.

Lunch avoids long weekend queues

Famous for deep-fried skewers and the no-double-dipping sauce rule. Try the beef, Iberico pork and marinated tuna sold only here.

Never double-dip the shared sauce

Thai restaurant newly added to the 2026 Michelin Guide Osaka selection, in the Nakazakicho neighbourhood just north of Umeda.

Book ahead; check hours first

Dotonbori takoyaki stall for hot octopus balls with scallion and ginger. Eat them fresh beside the canal in the evening.

Bring cash; go 6-9pm

The lit-up Glico billboard over the canal is Osaka's signature shot. Shoot from Ebisu Bridge once the neon switches on.

Come after sunset, free

Stone walls, moat and the main keep make strong frames. Best in cherry blossom season and autumn foliage.

Park free; keep costs extra

Retro neighbourhood with giant signs and the Tsutenkaku tower at its centre. Photograph the street at dusk when lights come on.

Visit at dusk

Shrine with a huge lion-head stage building that frames portraits well. Quiet, central and open around the clock.

Visit early morning for quiet