Swissôtel Nankai Osaka — Hotel in Osaka

Firstly, if you are arriving by train, you may struggle to find the hotel. Somewhat ironically it should be super easy to locate, as it sits on top of a train station (don’t let that put you off, you hear & feel nothing, & does make getting about Osaka easier).

But google maps will send you wrong and then you have to locate the Swissotel lift and head to the 6th floor where you exit and then wander about to locate the lobby to check in, and then take a completely different set of lifts to your room. And then when going out, you go down to the hotel lobby on 6th floor, walk back to find the original lifts, and take them down to the ground… you get used to it, just all rather annoying and easily helped with better signage.

The room was a fair size with 2 chairs and a small table to sit at, as well as a desk, and good amount of plugs. At first glance it appears to have a built in sofa, but it’s not, just fabric covered solid area which we used to dump bags etc.

Lights on both sides of the bed, and had all the usual… kettle, fridge, hairdryer, iron, safe, etc. with nice coffee machine.

And now for the buts… after what I have mentioned above, things get very average. You wouldn’t know you were supposedly in a ‘luxury’ hotel. The bathroom felt rather cheap, no character, colour or special touches. The shower was ‘inside’ the bath which we were not expecting, and when we queried this we were advised that only the suites had separate showers - which would have been fine if we had been advised when booking, and none available to upgrade to. No matter, the pressure was good, the water hot.

But the towels were ghastly. Truly. Small, thin, and am guessing any fluffiness vanished years ago. The hotel PJs (which seem to be standard in Japan), were also very much past their use by date, and the sizings were clearly mixed up.

And now we come to the bed, as I consider it one of the most important features, as can make or break your holiday! It was too hard for me. I didn’t get a decent nights sleep and felt bruised and sore every day.

We did go to see the concierge after the 1st night, however we were told we would need to contact housekeeping to see if they could assist, and no, they could not contact housekeeping for us as they were a different department.

I am not even joking when I tell you that is what they said to us.

Anyway, housekeeping did do their best, and added a duvet on top of the mattress which did help a little, but nonetheless this issue is something I personally can’t get around, as I want a decent nights sleep, especially when on holiday!

But maybe you like firm beds…. ;)

And so, I shall now tell you about some positives….The breakfast…oh my heavens! Best buffet breakfast EVER! Seriously the options were endless and all fabulous; Japanese, British, Continental, Italian, pancakes, fruit, nuts, porridge, salmon, yogurt, doughnuts, vegetable shots, you name it…even ice-cream for the parents who want happy kids on their family holiday.

And - served from 6:30am to 10:30 - so you can even have a lie in first if you want! And all this from the top floor of the hotel, with glorious views in every direction- I can honestly say, the best way to start each day of your holiday.

And the staff, with the exception of one concierge who was maybe having a bad day, everyone else was lovely, and always doing their best.

I will also mention that no only do you have the train station below, you also have Namba Parks next door, which you can walk directly out the front door (on the 6th floor) to - 5 minutes walk, extremely handy.

So would I recommend Swissotel, honestly this is a hard one to call, as 2 out of 3 of the ‘issues’ I had, were quite easily fixable and may change next month…so yes I would (if only for their breakfast) but with a proviso… if you prefer a soft mattress to sleep on, fluffy towels, and a separate shower, then you may wish to stipulate these as...

A Top Choice for Elite Members Location The hotel’s location is exceptional—directly above a major railway and subway hub, making travel incredibly convenient. Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori are just a short walk away. Tip: Namba Subway Station has many entrances. If arriving by subway, use Exit 3, then take the hotel’s dedicated elevator straight to the lobby. Facilities Thanks to a generous complimentary member upgrade, I stayed in an Executive Room that was impressively—almost unbelievably—spacious. Comfortable and convenient in every way. The only minor drawback: despite ample bathroom space, the combined bathtub-and-shower design means showering inside the tub, which I’m not entirely used to. Membership Perks Benefits are remarkably generous: a lavish welcome gift, free minibar drinks, Executive Lounge happy hour, and a special “Platinum Hour” at BAR36—exclusive to members and free of charge. Best of all, late checkout until 4:00 PM at no extra cost. Special thanks to Marco at the front desk—exceptionally considerate, anticipating details I overlooked, always putting himself in my shoes, and handling everything with thoroughness that was almost unbelievable. Without a doubt, the best front desk receptionist I’ve ever met. Dining The hotel offers a wide variety of in-house restaurants: • SH’UN – My first meal here, and a perfect start. Excellent food and service, with kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) especially distinctive—don’t miss it! • TABLE36 – An abundant, diverse breakfast catering to all tastes, reflecting the brand’s “pure and natural” and “healthy and energetic” concepts. The fresh sorbet was memorable. • MINAMI – Flawless food from ingredients to execution, but service felt indifferent, especially from a gentleman in a black suit on Aug 29. When I asked for a beer recommendation, he simply served the one I was pointing at without comment—impatient, even allowing for a language barrier. Later, he asked if I’d already had my palate cleanser, which felt unprofessional. Small matters, but the overall experience carried subtle neglect. I had no reservation and was casually dressed after a day at Universal Studios, but since there’s no dress code or reservation requirement, I don’t believe this justified different treatment. The food is worth trying, but I recommend making a reservation and dressing elegantly. • BAR36 – After MINAMI, I came here to redeem my welcome drink. Despite the same attire and no reservation, I was treated warmly and given a seat with a great view. This is the Accor and Swissôtel hospitality I know. Signature cocktails are excellent—order more than one! • HANA-GOYOMI – Exquisite food, friendly service, and good value—an elegant Japanese restaurant worth visiting. Overall Outstanding location, comfortable stay, excellent dining, and warm service. Marco, you were truly wonderful! Combined with generous member benefits, I highly recommend this hotel to fellow members. Lastly, the hotel’s LGBTQ+ friendly stance gave me a strong sense of belonging and warmth—for which I am...

I chose Swissôtel Nankai Osaka as a special birthday treat for myself and my elderly parents while we were in Japan. As a long-time Platinum member, I had high expectations for a memorable and elevated stay. The hotel’s location is excellent, right above Nankai Namba Station, though navigating the area can be confusing due to Osaka’s multi-level layout.||The hotel is beautiful, with spacious, modern, and very clean rooms that are stylishly decorated. I appreciated the room upgrade, a perk of my membership. The pool, bath, and spa facilities were excellent and much enjoyed. The lounge staff were the most friendly and genuine employees I encountered during my stay, providing attentive service. Other staff were friendly as well, but given the issues I experienced, their warmth sometimes felt hollow and lacking genuine care.||I was disappointed with the lounge events. The so-called Platinum hour and evening cocktails and nibbles seemed focused mainly on alcoholic drink options, making the offering less meaningful for non-alcoholic drinkers like myself. To add to this, some non-alcoholic drinks, such as Coke No Sugar, were kept separately and had to be requested each time, which was inconvenient and detracted from the lounge experience.||Although we arrived well before the official 3:00 p.m. check-in and were able to check in about an hour and a half early, the hotel was inflexible about how guests could wait for rooms to be ready. I was denied access to the pool and other facilities during the wait an amenity often granted by other hotels I have stayed at.||I was also frustrated with their strict lounge access policy. My membership permits access for myself and one in-room guest. However, I was traveling with two elderly parents, and the hotel’s suggestion that only one parent and I could wait in the lounge while the other parent was excluded was unacceptable. Considering there was virtually no seating available in the lobby, the hotel could have easily accommodated all three of us in the lounge. Since none of us drink, an apparent focal point for this hotel, this would have not been a significant issue for this hotel. This lack of flexibility felt cold and impersonal, especially on this occasion.||I did attempt to seek clarity about the hotel’s policies, but even the night duty manager struggled to provide clear answers. This left me with little confidence that my concerns would be addressed.||I understand that Japan often follows a strict, rules-based culture, but the rigidity I encountered was disappointing and did not align with the hospitality I expected on such a significant trip.||Overall, the hotel delivers on quality and location but falls short in warmth and flexibility. Unfortunately, this is not the first time a 5-star Accor property has let me down, and it consistently happens during my birthday stays. Frankly, I regret choosing to stay here and, at times like this, question my loyalty to Accor. I look forward to moving on from this experience and not...