Tucked away in the basement of a dated mixed-use building a stone’s throw from Osaka Station, this retro-futuristic coffee shop opened in 1970, the year of the Osaka Expo and at the height of the ‘space fever’ that gripped the world after the moon landing of 1969. Besides the cosmic imagery – a ‘night sky’ ceiling with lights that resemble stars – the artisanal wooden wall reliefs are worth a closer look: two hand-carved boards with the exact same design are placed between a pair of plexiglass panels, making for a beautiful solution that allows natural light to flow in.
The menu screams ‘classic kissaten’: think hand-drip coffee, fruit sandwiches, naporitan spaghetti and toast. All food orders can be upgraded to a ‘drink set’ with coffee or tea on the side for ¥200. Alcohol is served at night (Mon-Sat 5pm-11pm), and repeat visitors can even purchase a bottle of Johnnie Walker and have the barkeeper store the opened bottle for later (ask for ‘bottle keep’).