You wouldn’t expect to find an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria in a shopping mall – least of all in one sitting right on top of a massive railway terminal – but we’re sure happy we came across Échi Ponte Vecchio, especially as its unlikely location comes with some perks.
An offshoot of storied Italian eatery Ponte Vecchio in Kitahama, Échi has occupied a corner of the tenth floor inside the Lucua Osaka complex next to Osaka Station since 2011. Its thin, light and perfectly puffy Naples-style pies are served from a woodfired oven imported from Italy, where the flour and several other key ingredients also come from.
You can’t go wrong with any of the competently executed classics, from margherita and marinara to quattro formaggi, but it’s hard to resist ordering at least one more amply topped pizza on the side. Tip: go for one with salsiccia – the sausages used at Échi are masterful.
Besides pizza, the restaurant does a solid selection of appetisers, around half a dozen pastas and essential sweets like tiramisu and gelato. And the upside of its perch? Some seriously impressive views of Umeda, especially after dark. Head over on a weekday to avoid the worst queues.