The Osaka Expo is set to open on April 13, with the theme ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives.’ The event will feature 158 countries and regions, seven international organizations, and eight signature pavilions, showcasing the latest technologies and creations from around the world. As Osaka prepares to host the Expo, hotels are also adding creative touches to welcome guests from both Japan and abroad. In anticipation of the event, we’re excited to highlight some of Osaka’s must-visit hotels with incredible dining and bars you won’t want to miss during the Expo.
A Fusion of Japanese Cuisine and French Fine Dining: Sushi L’Abysse Osaka Yannick Alléno
Sushi L’Abysse Osaka Yannick Alléno
Sushi L’Abysse Osaka Yannick Alléno, which opened in August 2024 at the Four Seasons Hotel Osaka, has been making waves in the culinary world. This sushi dining experience was created in collaboration with Yannick Alléno, a three-Michelin-star French chef.
Yannick Alléno is a star chef who currently oversees 19 restaurants worldwide and has earned a total of 15 Michelin stars. His love for Japanese cuisine has led him to open fusion restaurants in Paris and Monte Carlo, but bringing it to Japan has been a significant challenge. Partnering with Executive Chef Itaru Yasuda, who has over 30 years of experience, Sushi L’Abysse has gone beyond expectations, blending French haute cuisine with the art of Edomae sushi to create an entirely new dining genre in Japan.
Yannick Alléno
The Dinner Omakase (35,000 yen) begins with an appetizer selection called ‘Emotion.’ Inspired by sushi, dishes like the ‘Layered Endive and Marinated Radicchio’ are served in a shape that can be eaten with one hand. Next is the ‘Sasanishiki Rice Dome with Consommé of the Sea,’ where rice is transformed into a marshmallow-like texture and drizzled with consommé sauce. Other surprises include ‘Egg and Caviar,’ featuring tuna tartare, and ‘Oysters Stiffened in Its Juice with Sansho Pepper and Hakushu Whisky,’ where Japanese whiskey Hakushu is used in the distinctive broth. Each dish is creatively inspired by Japanese ingredients, offering a series of delightful surprises.
1st Image：Layered Endive And Marinated Radicchio Salad
2nd Image：Nigiri
3rd Image：Sashimi Aloe Vera, Rum Flavored Berry Sauce
The sushi is crafted with the highest quality ingredients, carefully selected and prepared by Chef Yasuda. On top of that, innovative touches like pairing ginger and apple with gari pickled ginger or adding fried shallots to tuna are ideas introduced by Yannick.
For dessert, there’s ‘Sashimi Aloe Vera with Rum-Flavored Berry Sauce,’ designed to resemble tuna using berry sauce, and ‘Modern Shiso Tempura,’ finished with liquid nitrogen. Every detail is executed to perfection.
Chef Yasuda’s refined sushi, combined with Yannick’s adventurous spirit and world-class French techniques, creates a dining experience that can’t be found anywhere else.
A standout feature of the hotel is the bar, located just steps away from the dining area. Adjacent to Sushi L’Abysse is the main bar, Bar Bota.
Bar Bota
Traditional Osaka craftsmanship is thoughtfully incorporated into the interior design, and the distinctive lighting above the round counter symbolizes Osaka, known as the ‘Water City.’
The name Bota is derived from the word ‘Botanical,’ referring to the fragrant elements used to infuse spirits. In addition to botanicals used in drinks like gin, the bar offers a selection of cocktails that emphasize aromatic experiences. Inspired by Osaka, cocktails such as the ‘Dotonbori Slider,’ and ‘Osaka Iced Tea’ are featured, while a must-try cocktail during the spring cherry blossom season is the ‘Sakura Dreams.’
1st Image：Sakura Dreams ¥2,500
2nd Image：Bar Manager Andrei Marcu
The pale pink sakura-colored drink combines white port wine, gin, sakura liqueur, sakura syrup, and soda infused with sakura leaves. Created by Head Bartender Andrei Marcu, who has a deep love for Japan, this drink captures the essence of sakura in a glass. It will be available exclusively from March 20th to April 10th.
We invite international visitors to Osaka to experience Japan’s flavors while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
The Four Seasons Hotel Osaka Sushi L’Abysse Osaka Yannick Alléno https://www.fourseasons.com/osaka/dining/restaurants/sushi-labysse-osaka-yannick-alleno/ Bar Bota https://www.fourseasons.com/osaka/dining/lounges/bar-bota/
Hotel Hankyu GRAN RESPIRE OSAKA Introduces All-Day Dining by Chef Kaneko of L’AS
MAISON VERTE
The Hotel Hankyu GRAN RESPIRE OSAKA, is set to open in March in the Umekita area. Currently under development in front of JR Osaka Station, it offers a refreshing atmosphere that blends nature with urban life. Situated in the ‘Osaka MIDORI LIFE’ area, which includes the expansive 45,000㎡ Umekita Park, the hotel is surrounded by outdoor spaces overflowing with greenery.
Inside, you’ll find the all-day dining restaurant MAISON VERTE, named after the French word for green ‘Verte’. The menu is curated by the renowned Tokyo-based French restaurant L‘AS in Minami Aoyama, and features inventive and refined course offerings.
Chef Daisuke Kaneko of L‘AS shared, “The first restaurant I ever worked at was in Osaka, and I’ve always dreamed of opening a place here. It’s a dream come true.” Kaneko’s exceptional skills are widely recognized, having been named one of the world’s top young chefs by the prestigious British magazine FOUR and earning a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2025 edition.
Chef Daisuke Kaneko
At MAISON VERTE, the menu includes signature dishes from L‘AS, such as the famous ‘Foie-Gras Crispy Sandwich,’ ‘Hokkaido Snow Crab French Toast, Crab Butter & Egg Yolk, Grana Padano Cheese Sauce,’ and ‘Pan-fried Buttered Spanish Mackerel, Firefly Squid Sauce,’ beautifully garnished with a green sauce. The course delivers a delightful progression of bold flavors, offering a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds. (Menu for March)
March’s course offering
The omakase course is priced at ¥7,800 (tax and service included), and with the pairing at ¥3,000～ (tax and service included), the total comes to just over ¥10,000, making it an an elevated yet everyday dining experience.
1st Image：The original cocktail Verte in the center ￥1,200
2nd Image：The bar interior
Before or after your meal, stop by the bar counter at the entrance to enjoy an original cocktail. Inspired by the hotel’s design themes of ‘green’ and ‘nature,’ the Verte (¥1,200) is a refreshing blend of gin, elderflower, cucumber, and citrus.
If you’re visiting Osaka’s new Grand Green Osaka district, this is the perfect spot to unwind.
The Hotel Hankyu GRAN RESPIRE OSAKA 5F MAISON VERTE https://maison-verte.jp/
Conrad Osaka Presents Cocktails Inspired by the Cities of Kansai
40 Sky Bar & Lounge
Osaka is a popular starting point for those traveling around the Kansai region. With the hope of introducing visitors to the diverse cities of Kansai, Conrad Osaka’s 40 Sky Bar & Lounge offers a selection of cocktails inspired by five major cities in the area.
The cocktail menu is curated by Michito Kaneko, a world-renowned bartender from Nara’s LAMP BAR. Kaneko was named ‘Bartender of the Year’ at the Diageo World Class 2025 Global Final, a prestigious competition with over 30,000 bartenders from around the world.
The cocktail menu was curated by bartender Michito Kaneko.
Drawing inspiration from each city, original cocktails and their unique glassware were created. The theme, ‘Imagine if…’, explores what it might feel like to visit these places. The cocktails capture the essence of each region, including WATER for Osaka, CULTURE for Kyoto, FOREST for Nara, NATURE for Wakayama, and SCENE for Hyogo.
1st Image: Osaka ‘WATER’ ¥4,000 (including tax and service charge)
2nd Image: Hyogo ‘SCENE’ ¥4,000 (including tax and service charge)
For example, Osaka, known as the ‘City of Water,’ is home to 33 rivers, including the Yodogawa and Yamato rivers. The city’s extensive canal network was once referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’ during the Meiji era. Inspired by this, the cocktail combines a mineral-rich tequila base with homemade ramune soda and yogurt, evoking a reminiscent downtown feel. This refreshing drink is light yet layered in flavor, making it a perfect start to a journey.
Another striking drink is Hyogo ‘SCENE,’ inspired by the port city of Kobe. Combining rum with roasted green tea and black bean tea from the Hyogo Tanba region, the rich, smoky flavor creates the illusion of enjoying a real cigar, offering a fantastical, nostalgic experience.
Conrad Osaka F&B Head Bartender, Tasuku Ogasawara
At the counter, bartender Tasuku Ogasawara will guide you through the world of ‘Imagine if…’ as you explore the five cities. Enjoy a unique cocktail experience, made possible by the warm hospitality of 40 Sky Bar & Lounge.
Conrad Osaka
40 Sky Bar & Lounge
https://conradosaka.jp
