LO : "last order"
: Open late  : Open Sundays  : Notable decor
By neighborhood
By feature
|
Brewpubs & Japanese Microbrews
Osaka: Chayamachi -- Artemis. 06-6377-0707 This old-fashioned hideaway bar is notable for their excellent Japanese real ale (Yona Yona) on draft as well as their single-malt scotch collection. The food is mainly pastas and other light items.   Chayamachi 1-5, Chayamachi Chabindo Bldg. B1F. (on the little street running between EST and Ings, about 1 min. past Ings on the left, just past a soccer shop and downstairs from a large karaoke establishment) Open 4pm-1am. Closed Mondays. | |
Osaka: Chayamachi -- Peko. 06-6371-3321 This quiet, well-hidden bar has plenty of space spread out over three floors, and they offer a good selection of whiskey and bourbon, cocktails and a few Japanese craft beers, as well as an inexpensive food menu. Chayamachi 13-9. (walk N on the street running along the E side of Umeda sta about 3 min. N of the station, turn R (just before Chayamachi Applause and the Hotel Hankyu International)) Open 6pm-2am (5am weekends) daily. | |
This small specialty beer bar is managed by Minoh Brewery, which is well represented at the taps. They offer seven other Japanese craft beers as well, all on draft, along with a small but tasty food menu. Tosabori 1-1-30, Osaka River Building 1F. (on the N (river) side of the little road that runs alongside the river, between Higobashi (bridge) and Chikuzenbashi (bridge), 4 doors E of the latter) Open 5-midnight. Closed Sundays. | |
This new branch of Beer Belly is quieter, more spacious and more gently lit than the original Higobashi branch. They offer a weekly rotation of fifteen Japanese craft beers plus the full line of Minoh beers, with an emphasis on higher gravity beers. Highlights on the ever-changing food menu include beef tongue udon and broccoli-cheese udon. Edobori 2-1-21. (from the West Exit of Higobashi Station, walk 8 minutes on Tosabori-dori, and then turn left at Trajal College of Hospitality and Tourism) Open 5pm-1:30am (LO). Closed Sundays. Osaka: Tamatsukuri -- Masamichi. 06-6977-4466 Craft beers from Japan and elsewhere along with Japanese food. There's also a good selection of sake and shochu (over 140 varieties). [See FULL REVIEW.] Higashi-Obase 1-1-15, Shinko Bldg 1F. (1 min. E of JR Tamatsukuri sta.) Open 6-10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
This casual "comfort maze cafe" has a relaxed, rustic-chic atmosphere (rough wooden beams and posts everywhere). The original food menu features small-farm produce and meats (like the excellent Berkshire pork from Kagoshima), while drinks include hand-pumped real ale from Minoh, a local microbrewery. Dinner runs around Y3000. Lunch is served until 2:30pm. Yariyamachi 1-1-10. (1 min. from Tanimachi 4-chome sta. exit 3.) Open 11am-10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
Kyoto: Karasuma-Oike -- Yoramu. 075-213-1512 You'll find a fantastic trove of unusual, limited-edition sakes in this off-the-beaten-track sake pub. The food menu is just as eclectic, and well suited to the drinks. [See FULL REVIEW.] Nijodori Higashinotoin Higashi-iru. (on Nijo, 2 blocks north, 2 1/2 blocks east of Karasuma Oike intersection) Open 6pm-midnight. Closed Mondays, 1st Sunday. | |
Kyoto: Kyoto City Hall -- Bar K6. 075-255-5009 A pleasant, medium-sized bar with a serious selection of single-malt Scotch whiskies and one very good Japanese microbrew beer (Yona Yona real ale on tap). Nijo Kiyamachi Higashi-iru, Valls Building 2F. (across the street from Hotel Fujita) Open 6pm-3am (5am weekends) daily. | |
This charming Kobe landmark serves a full range of Sapporo beers, and a huge, 150-item food menu. The small brewery in the basement produced two craft beers - a somewhat fruity wheat beer and a Vienna-style beer that uses Saaz hops. English menus available. Lunch served to 2pm. Sannomiya 2-5-18. Open 11am-11pm daily. | |
World Beers
This conveniently located cafe is part of the popular chain of Osaka Belgian beer bars, and stocks around 100 beers, mostly from Belgium. Unfortunately the food menu is rather lackluster, and even Belgian specialties like mussels and frites are only average. The main dining area is lively but it can get smoky. Shibata 1-5-2. (on a small alleyway 2 blocks north of New Hankyu Hotel) Open noon-12:30am (LO) daily. | |
Bears serves more than 100 different beers from around the world, along with bar food like nachos, sausages, calamari, and fried chicken fajitas. The stand-up bar is open till 2am weekends; there's also a sit-down dining room across the hall. Chayamachi 10-12, NU Chayamachi B1F. Open 11am-10pm (LO; 2am Fri/Sat) daily. | |
More Belgian beers and inexpensive food from this popular beer-bar chain. Edobori 1-18-27. Open 11:30am-2, 5-10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
Osaka: Honmachi -- Dolphins. 06-4705-0012 The Sekaisuji-Honmachi outpost of Dolphins is the "beer bistrot" branch, with a basic food menu and a large selection of Belgian beers. Honmachi 1-7-1, B1F. (in front of exit 13, Sekaisuji-honmachi subway station) Open 11:30am-2:30, 5-11pm daily. | |
Thick, meaty hamburgers and a good assortment of sandwiches are served at this Hawaii-based shop. There's some terrace seating. Nanbanaka 2-10-70, Nanba Parks 6F. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily. | |
Known as the "beer dining" branch of Dolphins, they offer mussels, frites and other Belgian and French fare along with plenty of Belgian beers. Higashi-Shinsaibashi 1-8-14. (from Shinsaibashi sta. exit 5 walk E about 5 min, just past the Minami-Shogakko (elementary school); also accessible from Nagahoribashi sta. exit 7 - walk W about 1 1/2 blocks) Open 4pm-1am daily. | |
This flagship of the Dolphin group of Belgian beer bars offers a huge selection of Belgian beers along with inexpensive food. Uchi-Hiranomachi 1-2-6. (from Tenmabashi sta. exit 4 walk S, turn W at the Freshness Burger) Open 11:30am-2, 6pm-midnight. Closed Sundays. | |
More of a bar than a restaurant, with counter seating on the main level and lounge-y sofas upstairs. They offer a limited Italian food menu, and serve Belgian beers as well as Italian wines. Dojima-Hama 1-1-9. (on the N bank of the river, just W of Midosuji) Open 5pm-1:30am (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
Oude Kaas's chef worked in Holland for 13 years before he decided to bring the flavors of Dutch cooking back to Osaka with him. There's a good selection of beers (German and Belgian mainly) to go with the unusual food. The latter include excellent stamppot (mashed potatoes with whatever vegetables and seasonings are around the kitchen that day) and over 60 pancake variations (combos like cheese, banana, rum raisin and salami). (Note the new location.) Nishi-Tenma 2-5-6 2F. Open 11:30am-2, 5-10pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Osaka: Yodoyabashi -- Barrel. 06-6233-0455 Good, authentic Belgian cuisine and a nice assortment of Belgian beers, including several on tap. Kitahama 4-7-28, Sumitomo Bldg #2, 1F. Open 11:30am-midnight. Closed Sundays. | |
Located just one minute from Hankyu Nishiin station, this attractively decorated specialty bar is worth seeking out if you're a fan of Belgian beers. The list of brews is impressive, and it's matched up with traditional Belgian dishes like steamed mussels, carbonard (beef stewed in beer), quiches and galettes. Nishiin Nishi-sanzocho 13-1, Mark Bldg B1F. Open 6pm-2am. Closed Mondays. | |
Kyoto: Kyoto City Hall -- Hub. 075-212-9026 This very casual beer bar attracts an assortment of tourists and representatives of Kyoto's foreign community. (Open to 3am weekends.) Kawaramachi-dori Sanjo-sagaru, Kuromachi 71. Open 5pm-midnight daily. | |
This tiny but charming late-night cafe at the edge of Chinatown has a surprisingly big selection of Spanish tapas and Belgian beers. Motomachi-dori 1-3-12. (from Koikawasuji take the first right turn S of the Motomachi arcade; it's on the left, just before Chinatown) Open 11:30am-4, 5pm-midnight. Closed Mondays. | |
This cozy and pleasant beer specialist has seven seats at the bar and a few tables. In addition to four hand-pumped ales they offer more than 100 bottled beers, including a wide selection of Belgian styles and the full line of brews from Baird, one of Japan's best microbreweries. The substantial food menu features pizza, pasta, Shepherd's pie, and several dishes made with beer (try the chicken cooked in Asahi stout). Nishinomiya, Nagatacho 1-15, Liberty 2 Bldg 2F. (3 minutes from the North exit of Hankyu Nishiguchi Station, above a barber shop) Open 1pm-midnight. Closed Tuesdays. One of the few places in town where you can find a multiplicity of Belgian beers, in a convenient location right at the foot of Ikuta Road. Kita-Nagasa-dori 1-1-3. (at the base of the road leading up to Tokyu Hands, at the railroad tracks) Open 11:30am-11pm daily. | |
|
