Last updated: July 3, 2026
This article reflects information available at the time of writing. Check Google Maps for the latest hours and availability.
Introduction
Horie doesn’t do things the way the rest of Osaka does. While Dotonbori and Namba are loud and tourist-facing, this neighbourhood west of Shinsaibashi runs on a different frequency — fashion boutiques, design studios, and a bar scene that skews local, creative, and genuinely varied. The streets around Yotsubashi and Nishi-Ohashi stations are where Osaka’s designers, stylists, and off-duty chefs come to drink, and the izakaya here reflect that. You’ll find the best food in Osaka isn’t always in the most obvious places.
What makes Horie’s drinking scene worth a dedicated evening is the range. Within a ten-minute walk you can go from a Spanish bar pouring Basque cider to a straw-fire seafood counter, a craft beer tap room, and a candlelit Japanese izakaya with private tatami rooms. The article title says “Spanish to Japanese” and that’s not a stretch — this neighbourhood genuinely covers that ground. Prices are reasonable without being rock-bottom, the crowds are younger and more local than in Namba, and the streets are quiet enough that you can actually hear the person you’re drinking with. Come hungry, come with a small group, and plan to stay longer than you intended. To explore more of Horie beyond the bar scene, the neighbourhood rewards daytime wandering too.
1. AUPA (アウパ)
- 📍 1-2-2 Kitahorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka 550-0014
- 🕐 Lunch 11:30–14:30, Dinner 17:00–23:00 (LO 22:30) (as of May 2026)
- 💰 ¥2,000–¥3,500 (food only) / ¥3,000–¥5,000 (with drinks)
- 🚃 Yotsubashi Station (1 min walk)
- 🗺 Open in Google Maps
- 📋 Tabelog
What to order: Assorted tapas plate (¥935) / Paella of the day (¥1,200–¥1,600)
The name means “go for it” in Basque, and the vibe matches — a lively Spanish bar one minute from Yotsubashi Station with counter seats, terrace tables, and a menu built for drinking. The assorted tapas plate rotates daily through things like Galician-style octopus, Spanish omelette, and carrot rapée. It’s been on TV, it fills up fast, and it’s the most obvious starting point for a Horie bar crawl.
2. Kitahorie Hoozuki (北堀江ほおずき)
- 📍 1-14-24 Kitahorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka 550-0014 (Rapport Yotsubashi B1F)
- 🕐 17:00–23:00; closed Mondays and 1–2 irregular Tuesdays per month (as of May 2026)
- 💰 ¥3,500–¥5,500 (food only) / ¥5,000–¥8,000 (with drinks)
- 🚃 Yotsubashi Station (2 min walk)
- 🗺 Open in Google Maps
- 📋 Tabelog
What to order: Straw-seared bonito tataki (¥1,200) / Tuna rare cutlet (¥1,400)
A basement seafood izakaya that takes its straw-fire cooking seriously — the bonito tataki arrives with a proper char and a clean, smoky finish that you won’t get from a gas burner. The menu also runs to horse sashimi, fugu, and low-temperature-cooked dishes that show real kitchen technique. Tabelog score sits at 3.42, which undersells it; regulars know this place is worth the detour.
3. Horie Toka (堀江燈花)
- 📍 1-19-11 Kitahorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka 550-0014
- 🕐 17:00–23:30 (LO 23:00); open daily (as of May 2026)
- 💰 ¥2,500–¥4,000 (food only) / ¥4,000–¥6,000 (with drinks)
- 🚃 Yotsubashi Station (4 min walk)
- 🗺 Open in Google Maps
- 📋 Tabelog
What to order: Raw oyster from Oki Island (¥649/piece, seasonal) / Banquet course (¥3,500)
Horie Toka is the kind of place you book when you want a proper Japanese izakaya evening rather than a quick drink. Private riverside rooms, seasonal menus that rotate with the produce, and Oki Island oysters shipped direct — the raw oysters alone justify the visit in season. The ¥3,500 banquet course covers sashimi, grilled dishes, and fried items without feeling like a conveyor belt.
4. Osaka-san Ryori Sora Horie (大阪産料理 空 堀江店)
- 📍 1-16-19 Kitahorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka 550-0014
- 🕐 17:00–23:30 (LO 23:00); closed Sundays (as of May 2026)
- 💰 ¥2,500–¥4,500 (food only) / ¥4,000–¥7,000 (with drinks)
- 🚃 Yotsubashi Station (3 min walk)
- 🗺 Open in Google Maps
- 📋 Tabelog
What to order: Seasonal sashimi platter (¥1,800) / Omakase course (¥4,500)
The concept here is Osaka-grown produce — the kitchen sources from local farms and the Osaka Central Wholesale Market, and the menu changes with what’s actually in season. It’s a more considered izakaya than most in the neighbourhood, with a sake list that matches the food rather than just filling a page. The omakase course is the move if you’re here for the first time and want the kitchen to make the decisions.
5. Craft Beer Works Kamikaze (クラフトビアワークス カミカゼ)
- 📍 1-17-28 Kitahorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka 550-0014
- 🕐 17:00–24:00 weekdays; 15:00–24:00 weekends (as of May 2026)
- 💰 ¥1,500–¥3,000 (food only) / ¥3,000–¥5,000 (with drinks)
- 🚃 Nishi-Ohashi Station (3 min walk)
- 🗺 Open in Google Maps
- 📋 Tabelog
What to order: Four-beer tasting flight (¥1,200–¥1,600)
No cover charge, 20-plus taps, and a four-beer tasting flight that lets you work through the range without committing to a pint of something you’re not sure about. Wines and shochu are available for non-beer drinkers, but the taps are the reason to come. Counter and table seats make it equally good for solo drinkers and groups. Three minutes from Nishi-Ohashi Station, it’s a natural anchor for the western end of a Horie bar crawl — and a good place to check in with the MICHI Osaka travel guide before deciding where to eat next.
6. Horie Sakaba horiesakaBAR (堀江酒場 horiesakaBAR)
- 📍 1-2-16 Kitahorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka 550-0014 (Tsurigane Building H, 2F)
- 🕐 17:00–24:00 daily (as of May 2026)
- 💰 ¥2,000–¥3,500 (food only) / ¥3,000–¥5,500 (with drinks)
- 🚃 Yotsubashi Station (2 min walk)
- 🗺 Open in Google Maps
- 📋 Tabelog
What to order: Yakiniku course (from ¥2,500) / Creative izakaya small plates (¥400–¥900)
A yakiniku-meets-izakaya hybrid that leans into the fun of it — karaoke private rooms for two to twelve people, courses from ¥2,500, and a menu that mixes grilled domestic beef with creative small plates. It’s not the most serious food in Horie, but it’s the most reliably good time, especially for groups who want to eat, drink, and make noise without booking somewhere formal.
How to Order
Most Horie izakaya follow the same rhythm: sit down, get handed a drinks menu first, order a round, then tackle the food. At Spanish bars like AUPA, you can order tapas in any sequence — there’s no set order. At more traditional Japanese spots like Hoozuki or Toka, the kitchen will often send out dishes as they’re ready rather than all at once, so don’t panic if your table fills up gradually.
At places with omakase or course options, it’s worth asking the staff to walk you through the menu — even with a language barrier, pointing at the course price and nodding gets you a long way. The phrase osusume wa? (“what do you recommend?”) works everywhere and tends to get you the best thing on the menu that night.
Nomi-hodai (all-you-can-drink) packages are available at several spots including Horie Sakaba and Toka — typically ¥1,500–¥2,000 for 90 minutes added to a food course. Worth it if you’re planning to stay for two or more hours. Most places accept IC cards and major credit cards, but a few smaller spots are cash-only, so carry ¥5,000–¥10,000 in cash as backup.
Reservations are strongly recommended for Hoozuki and Toka on Friday and Saturday evenings. AUPA and Kamikaze are more walk-in friendly, but expect a wait after 19:00 on weekends.
FAQ
Q: Is izakaya dining in Horie expensive?
A: Mid-range by Osaka standards. Budget ¥3,000–¥5,000 per person including drinks at most spots. Craft Beer Works Kamikaze is the lightest on the wallet — a tasting flight and a few snacks will run you ¥2,000–¥2,500. Hoozuki and Toka sit at the higher end, around ¥5,000–¥8,000 with drinks, but the quality justifies it.
Q: Do Horie izakaya have English menus?
A: AUPA has some English on its menu and the staff are used to international visitors. Craft Beer Works Kamikaze is similarly accessible. At Hoozuki, Toka, and Sora, menus are primarily in Japanese — Google Translate’s camera function handles most of it, and pointing at neighbouring tables’ dishes is a perfectly acceptable strategy.
Q: When is the best time to visit?
A: Weekday evenings between 18:00 and 20:00 are the sweet spot — lively but not packed, and you’ll get a seat without a reservation at most places. Friday and Saturday after 19:30 gets busy across the board. Sunday evenings are surprisingly good in Horie; the neighbourhood stays active and several spots are open. Avoid the 20:00–21:00 rush on weekends unless you’ve booked ahead.
Information is accurate as of May 2026. We recommend checking Google Maps for the latest hours and prices before visiting.
