Kansai Independent Travel | Osaka Bars | CRAFTROOM (クラフトルーム) | A Small Bar Hidden on the Second Basement Floor of a Shopping Complex | Asia's 50 Best Bars 2023 No.62 | Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024 No.28
This time I spent very little time in Osaka — most of it was spent in Kyoto. With only the last afternoon and early evening left, I headed to one of the bars on my must-visit list - "Craftroom".
Craftroom's owner, Mr. Takashi Fujii, took second place in the World Class global competition back in 2016, and this year Craftroom was also named No. 62 on Asia's 50 Best Bars. It was a bar I had bookmarked before setting off for Kansai, and it was also on the list of places recommended by friends.
📜 Information
- Address: 530-0001 Osaka, Kita Ward, Umeda, 1 Chome−3−1 B2-70 Osaka Ekimae Daiichi Building
- Opening hours: 16:00–00:00 (closed on Sundays)
- Prices: ¥1,000 ~ ¥1,800 per drink, plus a seating charge of ¥500 per person
- Official website: https://craft-room.jp/
📍 Location & Interior
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| The understated, minimalist entrance |
Craftroom isn't far from Osaka Station; the nearest JR station is Kitashinchi, and if you come by subway you can get off at Nishi-Umeda Station. This time, after wandering around near Osaka Station, I made my way over from there. The underground malls are actually all connected, so you can walk through them straight to the commercial building where Craftroom is located. But the underground in Osaka is genuinely complicated, and I was afraid I'd get lost and never make it, so I chose to walk at street level instead — it takes only about 5 or 6 minutes, so it's really close.
Craftroom is on the second basement floor of a mixed-use commercial building. The building is home to all kinds of izakayas, restaurants, convenience stores and other shops — just check the store directory posted on the wall and you'll have no trouble finding Craftroom!
Craftroom is a small space, with just a six-seat bar counter and a small round table for five in the back area. The lighting is dim and soft, and on the day I visited they were playing relaxing Japanese jazz — the overall atmosphere was quite lovely. The bar opens as early as 4 p.m.; when I arrived at five there were no other customers yet, and it wasn't until after six that regulars slowly began to appear.
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| There's a coat rack at the back for your jacket |
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| The small round table area seating five |
📜 Menu
The payment system is like most Japanese bars: there's a seating charge (¥500 per person), which comes with a small plate of snacks to go with your drinks. Besides classic cocktails, the drink list also features some signature creations, priced between ¥1,300 and ¥1,500 — at the exchange rate at the time, that works out to roughly NT$260–$300 per cocktail.
🍸 Cocktails
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| Owner Mr. Takashi Fujii |
Signature G&T (¥ 1,000)
House Gin, Australian Tonic, Grapefruit, Juniper
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For my first drink I chose the Signature G&T — extremely refreshing and delicious. It uses a blend of two gins, which not only strengthens the body but also adds more floral freshness, paired with the aroma of fresh grapefruit. Overall I really liked this one!
Citrus Sprits (¥ 1,200)
Vodka, Riesling, Tea, Local Citrus, Tonic
This one also goes down the refreshing route. The dominant flavor is that of the Riesling wine, but paired with tonic water and citrus, the taste becomes softer and crisper. It's well suited as one of your first drinks or as an aperitif.
Oriental Farm (¥ 1,500)
Rum, Jasmine Kombucha, Grapefruit, Celery, Herbs
Next I ordered a signature, and this one had a very interesting flavor. Built on a rum base, it uses jasmine kombucha paired with "celery" — beyond the original kombucha flavor, there's a subtle hint of celery. The taste is quite unusual and nuanced, yet it's a smooth, easy-drinking glass.
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| This one was prepared using the rolling technique |
Overall the experience at this bar was quite good. Although I only ordered three drinks, all three were excellent. Because the place is small, the atmosphere is warm and cozy, and owner Mr. Takashi Fujii and the other bartender on staff are friendly and happy to chat with you — their English is also very good, so conversation flows easily.
It's a shame that most establishments in Japan still allow smoking indoors. That day, when other customers came in and started lighting up, I gave up on ordering another drink and left. If I get the chance to return to Osaka in the future, I'd consider a second visit.
More bar records from around the world:
Bar List | Bar surfing around the world | A record of bars around the globe
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