The best nightlife spots in Osaka

Hidden away among factories and warehouses in the industrial wilderness of Kitakagaya, some 10 minutes on foot from the metro station, is one of Osaka’s premier temples of deep beats and all-night parties. Daphnia is a labour of love built from the ground up by its duo of owners, whose attention to every detail from acoustics to lighting has made their club one of the city’s most in-demand venues for both Japanese and international artists.

Among the big names who have thrilled audiences here in the past are minimal techno pioneer Moritz von Oswald and YPY, the techno-focused alias of Osaka-based experimental multi-talent Koshiro Hino. Daphnia’s bimonthly signature event invites partygoers to lose themselves in techno for 30 consecutive hours from Friday night to Sunday morning. The uncompromising programming is complemented by reasonable pricing.

Audiophiles from all around Japan make pilgrimages to this Shinsaibashi record bar stocking a collection of some 2,000 titles, from Brazilian beats and jazz to mellow hip-hop, including classics and new releases alike. Owner and bartender Keiji Maki picks every track himself, pulling records from the shelf one after the other and playing songs that match the moment’s atmosphere, all while conversing smoothly with patrons seated at the counter. Watching him work is all the entertainment you’ll need here.

As for drinks, you’ll find the bar well stocked with spirits and liqueurs, but we’d be remiss not to recommend Jazz’s house wine – a perfect companion to the laid-back tunes – made with grapes harvested by Maki himself at his vineyard in southern Osaka.

A five-minute walk from Tanimachi 6-chome Station takes you to this unique bar at the end of a narrow alley. Shinka was built to resemble a submarine, complete with steel and steampunk elements covering the front door, interior and even the bathroom. Besides U-boat aficionados, the cosy boozer seems to attract both members and fans of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces. Lean back with a gin and tonic and appreciate the otherworldly atmosphere.

Bright and welcoming coffee shop during the day, audiophile oasis after dark – Euca on Nagahori-dori, near the Tamatsukuri metro station, attracts a discerning crowd with varied tastes. The record bar, tucked away behind a hidden door in the back of the space, is where owner-bartender Keisuke Nakagawa plays exclusively vinyl from his 1,500-record collection, covering hip-hop and American and Japanese indie tunes from the ’90s onward, occasionally interspersed with tracks by Fujii Kaze and other contemporary J-pop artists.

The bar stocks some 50 varieties of craft gin, around half of which are domestic. Rarities include ten different bottles from Gifu’s artisanal Tatsumi Distillery and Osuzu Gin from Miyazaki, all served at reasonable prices.

Having originally occupied a building next to Sankaku Koen (Triangle Park) in Amerikamura, this enduringly popular club moved to its current location in 2009 and received a comprehensive facelift in 2016. The three-storey space centres on a dancefloor with room for some 800 partiers, with a mezzanine above it and a VIP floor and rooftop terrace up top. 

The programming is eclectic: hip-hop and reggae nights alternate with house and techno events, complemented by the occasional party dedicated entirely to anime music. Major international artists who have performed at Joule include Steve Aoki, Calvin Harris, Fatboy Slim, Paul Oakenfold and the Avalanches.

Conveniently located in the heart of Dotonbori, Gala Resort – formerly known as Giraffe Resort – is one of the largest clubs in the Kansai region. You’ll find plenty of musical variety across the four dance floors on any given night, though hip-hop is usually best represented – past shows have featured the likes of Iyaz, Jnr Choi, Anarchy, MC Tyson, Red Eye, Rykey Daddy Dirty and ¥ellow Bucks.

A wine and record shop complete with its own secret bar, this Tenma gem is the kind of place we’d love to live next door to. Entrance to the bar is through a hefty bookshelf in the back, which serves as a ninja mansion-esque hidden door to a luxurious lounge-style space.

Owner and sommelier Kazutomo Noguchi pays equal attention to the quality of the wine and the crispness of the tunes. The former is mainly of the natural variety, including around seven kinds available by the glass (from ¥900) at any given time, hand-picked by Noguchi and pairable with simple, home-cooked Japanese dishes. The music encompasses mainly jazz, soul and Brazilian tunes from the 1960s to the ’80s with a bit of J-pop mixed in here and there.

Closing time is 10pm, so bar-hoppers might want to make Salvis the first stop on their round.

The venerable Rihga Royal Hotel on Nakanoshima boasts more than eight decades of history and has welcomed many a celebrity and head of state over the years, including some actual royals. Hidden away on the hotel’s ground floor is the Leach Bar, opened in 1965 and named after the British potter Bernard Leach, who lived in Japan for more than a decade. Leach’s design for the bar’s layout was turned into reality by architect Isoya Yoshida.

Functioning as a shrine of sorts to Leach and related artists such as Kanjiro Kawai, Shoji Hamada and Shiko Munakata, whose art is displayed here and there throughout the space, Leach Bar is an impeccably classy boozer. Be sure to order the gin tonic, served in a copper mug, as has been customary here since the ’60s.

As far as post-party meals go, many locals swear by Osaka-style udon, a bowl of flat, soft noodles served in a slightly sweet broth. One of the best examples of this simple but satisfying dish can be savoured at Furusato, an eatery that’s been in business for half a century and has hardly changed since the smokiest days of the Showa era.

Though time may seem to stand still at Furusato, the staff certainly don’t – the restaurant takes pride in lightning-fast service tailored to the city’s famously impatient population. But no matter how hurried it all may seem, you’ll be hard pressed not to feel relaxed when the dashi, prepared fresh every morning, soaks into your body.

Remarkably, Furusato stays open 24 hours a day, 364 days a year (their lone holiday is New Year’s Day). Visit in the morning and you’ll be rubbing shoulders with both suit-clad businesspeople grabbing breakfast and students recharging after a long night of partying.

If you’re craving a cool dessert after a meaty feast at one of the many yakiniku restaurants in the Tsuruhashi area, make a beeline to ice cream parlour Rita. Doubling as a bar, they serve an array of fruity flavours including peach, grape and melon until midnight – perfect for night owls.