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Craftroom

Osaka

New Entry

It’s not easy for a bar to stand out in a city like Osaka, where the drinking culture has deep roots and, even by Japanese standards, the inhabitants are known for their dedication to epicurean pursuits. It’s even harder if, like Craftroom, you only have 10 seats and are situated two floors below ground in a sprawling, labyrinthine complex. But this diminutive drinking hole is the first bar from Japan’s second city to break into the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, making its mark with a mix of precision classics, inventive contemporary cocktails, fine hospitality and that intriguing location.

The stylish, minimalist entrance to Craftroom is deliberately at odds with the gritty, retro style of the neighbouring bars, cafes and discount ticket shops. Inside − where the tube amp wafts jazz, blues and classic soul − you’ll find Ryu Fujii, who earned his cocktail stripes with 13 years at Bar K, arguably the city’s most esteemed venue for classic cocktails and fine whiskies. His bar treads the fine line between contemporary and classic, serving a refined version of the lowbrow izakaya staple, lemon sour, pairing scotch with koji-fermented lemon, as well as the precision classics you would expect of someone with his heritage. Regulars know to order the Grasshopper. If you’re lucky, that Grasshopper will also be the flavour of the monthly pie made by Craftroom bartender and pâtissier Miku Takezoe.

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