19 must-go cafés, bakeries and pastry shops in Osaka

Furniture and metalworking masters Jozu Works expanded into cooking with this gorgeous, multi-tasking space that houses two eateries fitted with the company’s celebrated artisanal furnishings. Fu specialises in Japanese cooking while Kanjitsu does Western-inspired fare; what they share is a commitment to fermentation, serving up rejuvenating dishes in which local vegetables meet condiments fermented in house.

Set amidst the greenery of Nose, this countryside café is run by a husband-and-wife duo who were both born and raised in the area and source their produce from farmer friends in the community. Grab a seat on the terrace and dig into one of the weekly lunch plates or a dessert, coloured by hyper-local greens and fruits.

Local greens and culinary creativity shake hands at Bonocafe, an Ibaraki institution that celebrates the northeastern city’s produce in the form of an entirely improvised daily set meal built around a random array of fresh, seasonal veg delivered to the shop by local farmers each morning.

Hidden 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. Admire the cosmic imagery – the ‘night sky’ ceiling with lights that resemble stars is a highlight – while exploring a menu that screams ‘classic kissaten’: think hand-drip coffee, fruit sandwiches, ‘Napolitan’ spaghetti and toast.

Home-cooked meals made with quality local ingredients and seasoned to the tastes of those most discerning of gourmands – children – Natt’s Cafe is the kind of eatery every parent wishes they had in their neighbourhood. High chairs are available, of course, and diminutive diners are welcome to enter in prams, too.

Tucked away in the mountainous village of Chihaya-Akasaka in rural Minami-Kawachi, near the border of Osaka and Nara prefectures, restaurant, café, hair salon and art gallery Bum juggles its many roles with effortless flair. At the restaurant, the multicourse meals spotlight traditional South Indian cuisine, taking diners on a meditative journey through seasonal flavours and produce as well as a multitude of enticing spices. The restaurant is reservations only, but walk-ins are welcome at the café.

Churning out Breton galettes of the very highest order, On pairs its pancakes – made entirely from domestic buckwheat flour – with vegetables sourced from local farms. Be sure to check out their seasonal specials; on one of our recent visits, we were left floored by a galette filled with a combo of ground meat, Malabar spinach and miso butter. You’ll also find a nice selection of fruity drinks on the menu, with both cocktails and mocktails well represented.

A historic red-brick silk mill in the town of Tarui houses Rojica, a real multitasker of a destination that started out as a shop dealing in Southeast Asian furniture and sundries but now also encompasses an event space – and, crucially, a tranquil café serving some of the most lip-smacking cakes in all of Osaka.

The bustle of central Osaka feels a world away amidst the tranquillity of rural Kumatori. Gaze out at the pond in front of this cosy café while treating your taste buds to a healthy and filling lunch or some homemade sweets, ideally combined with the bright greenery of early summer or the golden foliage of autumn.