4 of Osaka’s best restaurants & bars near Nakazakicho & the Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Arcade

Maido! Manabu here!
When you get off the Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line at Nakazaki Station, there is a very relaxed and stylish shopping arcade called Oideyasu-dori just out side the exit. It’s also known as Tengo Nakazaki-dori and the atmosphere is completely different from nearby Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Arcade.
This shopping street is beloved by locals and it features a number of famous shops like the shaved ice specialty restaurant GARuRu KO-RI and the taiyaki (fish-shaped cake filled with bean jam) vendor Naniwaya. These shops are wonderful and bring a lot of charm to the neighborhood. For now though, I’d like to introduce 5 of my favorite drinking spots in the Tengo Nakazaki-dori Shopping Arcade.

Inada Saketen, a classic Osaka tachinomi bar!

The first place you’ll want to stop is Inada Saketen, a liquor shop specializing in local sake and shochu that has been in business since 1930! Everything in their lineup was selected from the many, many varieties of sake and shochu and features over 100 different labels.
It’s a kaku-uchi style liquor store, meaning there is a counter inside and space to drink what you have just purchased from their collection.
They serve oden and other appetizers to go with your drink. It’s a great place to stop in and get your night started!

Kome To Budou, a tucked away bar run by an authentic sommelier!

The owner is a licensed sommelier who traveled to wine cellars and sake breweries throughout the country to select Japan’s finest wines and sakes. The interior is cozy, with counter seating where you can pair your sake and wine with something fabulous to eat!

The menu is a selection of foods that could go well with wine or sake. The choice is up to you! And if you want something professionally put together you can choose a tasting course that will give you a well-balanced selection of wines and sakes.

Sy’s second, expertly designed to make you feel at home!

This casual bar features a menu of home-cooking that changes daily. One of the most popular dishes is their Awajishima Curry.
The cozy atmosphere will make you feel right at home.

On the third floor there is a small wooden outdoor deck and living room area that can accommodate groups of between 4–14 people. This is the perfect place for a home party, except it’s actually a restaurant.
I highly recommend the mackerel sandwich the kitchen has absolutely perfected after a series of trials and errors. Stop in for the delicious sake and stay for the food!

Shinkai BAR THE DEEP, the extraordinary aquarium bar!

So you want to have a drink somewhere that is equally as mellow as it is stylish. Let me take you to the deep, Shinkai BAR THE DEEP…

When you walk down the shopping arcade, you’ll notice the round porthole in the doorway, reminiscent of a submarine. This is Shinkai BAR THE DEEP.
Open the door and you’ll be greeted by rows of glowing aquariums and an otherworldly atmosphere in this unique themed bar.
There are cute fish and strange fish and I guarantee you won’t get bored looking at all the different tanks.

Toast the jellyfish with your cocktail as they float effortlessly in their tank. This is the perfect bar for a relaxing drink or it could bring just the right mood to your romantic date.
Whether you’re in it for the drinks or in it for the fish, I guarantee you’ll like this bar.

Tour Showa style retro streets in nearby Nakazakicho

The Nakazakicho area is only 10 minutes away from Osaka/Umeda by foot although it can be accessed by Nakazakicho Station on the Osaka Metro too. It is a charming retro neighborhood that will capture your heart.
It is one of the few places in the city to have escaped destruction during the war so you can still see houses with some history here.

Even though Nakazakicho is incredibly close to Umeda and Chayamachi, this neighborhood is absolutely something from the past. Seeped in history, the streets are narrow and there are lots of little alleyways and hidden charms. Retro shops, cafes, and boutiques are strewn about the neighborhood which makes it fun to explore.
Some people used to call it the backwoods of Osaka Station. But now it’s full of trendy kominka (traditional style Japanese houses) that have been refurbished and turned into cute shops.
And the Tengo Nakazaki-dori Shopping Arcade is a nice corridor connecting Nakazakicho with Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Arcade. The bars and restaurants I introduced above are all fairly unique establishments, but there are tons more places out there. If you want to have a few drinks, I would recommend walking over here from Umeda.
It’s a great place to visit in the afternoon too since there are lots of popular ramen and takoyaki shops.
If you walk east from Nakazakicho Station you’ll eventually hit Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Arcade, which is a fun place to explore too.
Definitely put this neighborhood on your list when you visit Osaka!

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・Night Out in Osaka? Head Straight to Tenma!!!