Hollow Bar — Restaurant in Osaka

Atmosphere: 6/10 Located in Nishishinsaibashi, Osaka, Hollow Bar is a speakeasy hidden down a narrow alley, which makes it a bit tricky to find. Inside, the vibe is quiet, with soft jazz playing in the background and a minimalistic setup around a simple but clean backbar. However, the bar is filled exclusively with Western tourists, and the entire experience—conversation, service, and vibe—feels more international than Japanese. Since it’s fully enclosed and isolated from the outside world, you lose all sense of being in Japan, which hurts the overall authenticity and atmosphere.

Drinks: 6.5/10 Recommended drink: Bartender’s choice There is no menu; the bartender will ask for your base and flavor preferences and create something for you. But despite this setup, the drinks lacked creativity. Even after discussing preferences in detail, the final cocktail was essentially a basic classic with only minor adjustments. Glassware is average, presentation is minimal, garnishes are simple. They do have nice coasters.

Service: 7.5/10 Warm towels were provided. Water was served only on request. The staff is friendly and fluent in English, clearly catering to a tourist-heavy crowd. Prices are...

WHY WAS IT ALL SO GOOD?! Do not hesitate, this is your sign to go.

This was my first time at a bar with no menu. Our first drinks were very good and a spot at the bar opened up, so we moved and decided to order another round. These drinks were EVEN better. Every round, the drinks seemed to get better as the bartender got a better understanding of what we liked. We all agreed that not only were the drinks the best we’d ever had, but the atmosphere of the bar was also perfect. It was peaceful and relatively quiet. The bartender clearly enjoys what he does and so do his customers (one group came back 3 times to check for seats!) We spent 3 hours here and it was wonderful. The only complaint is smoking is allowed, so that can mess with your experience if you’re sensitive to smoke.

I never ever thought I’d enjoy a drink with a pepper in it but WOW. If you think you’d like that too, try asking for a spicy Mai Tai. Some other delicious drinks were the matcha passion fruit cocktail and espresso martini with chocolate liqueur (both in fourth round photo). I wish we would’ve remembered to jot down all the flavors in each drink!! I’d love to...

My favorite bar in all of Japan.

The cocktails, service, and atmosphere are all spectacular.

There is no menu, you just tell Jiro-san the flavors you like and he’ll make something for you. He also speaks fluent English and is always friendly and talkative with his customers.

And just by going once or twice, Jiro-san remembers you when you come back and can even remember the drinks that he made for you the previous time. I remember I asked him to make the same drink that he made for me around 3 months ago, and just by describing some of the prominent flavors, he remembered the exact drink.

The atmosphere inside is great, it’s clean, and they have the cleanest bathroom I’ve ever seen in a bar or even a restaurant.

It’s slightly on the pricier side - maybe 1500 or 1600yen/drink, but I think it’s worth it for the amazing flavors and service that you get.

Definitely go here when you’re in Osaka - you...