In October 2025, I checked into the King Premier Room River View at Waldorf Astoria Osaka. Opened in April 2025, the 252-room property is set within floors 28-38 of the new Grand Green Osaka mixed development in the Umekita district. The hotel offers easy access to a variety of shopping and dining options within the development (including Time Out Market Osaka food court with its collection of well-rated concepts) as well as the open-air Umekita Park popular with pet owners, picnickers and buskers. JR Osaka Station is just steps away, while Kansai International Airport (KIX) is 45 minutes by car or train.
Nearby notable hotels include Patina Osaka which opened the same year; InterContinental Osaka; The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka; Hilton Osaka; Conrad Osaka; and Canopy by Hilton Osaka Umeda.
As a Hilton Honors Diamond member, I received ¥4,000 dining credit as part of my stay privileges.
The UTW (“Under Ten Words”): Timeless New York glamour meets Japanese elegance in Umekita.
The must-dos (if any): Enjoy the comfortable guest rooms with Le Labo Santal 33 shower amenities, take a dip in the infinity pool and hot tub at Waldorf Astoria Spa, have a teppanyaki dinner at Tsukimi, use the well-equipped fitness centre, have cocktails at Peacock Alley or Canes and Tales.
WALDORF ASTORIA OSAKA
Designed by Andre Fu (behind Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, Dusit Thani Bangkok, Capella Singapore, The St. Regis Hong Kong and Upper House Hong Kong), the hotel draws design inspirations from the iconic Waldorf Astoria New York for its public spaces, most notably at the buzzy social lounge Peacock Alley with its elegant Art Deco architecture, grand staircase, soaring ceiling and panoramic city views, peacock motifs, dramatic chandeliers and centrepiece bronze clock created in collaboration with Japanese watchmaker Seiko. Past a pair of walkways with timber archways, bronze frames and wall-mounted lamps, you transition into an area with a decidedly more Japanese feel – beautiful Tsubaki tree gardens encased in glass flank the entrance to the check-in area, set within a cylindrical rotunda with a central stone fountain bathed in a warm orange glow which resembles a giant traditional Japanese lantern.
The hotel’s facilities are set within levels 28-30, with the hotel reception located on level 29. Dining concepts on levels 28 and 29 include Peacock Alley; the French-inspired brasserie Jolie; the F. Scott Fitzgerald-inspired speakeasy bar Canes and Tales; and Tsukimi, the Japanese restaurant which offer intimate and premium sushi and teppanyaki experiences. Elsewhere, the 30th level houses a private library; the Waldorf Astoria Spa; a fitness centre fitted with Technogym equipment; a 25m indoor swimming pool; luxurious changing areas with sauna and steam room facilities; and a particularly regal and ethereal hot tub that required a dramatic ascension of steps before thermal pleasure is to be bestowed.
KING PREMIER ROOM RIVER VIEW
Decked in cool shades of cobalt blue and jade green against light wood textures, the 53sqm Premier Room River View boasts calming views of the historic Yodo river through floor-to-ceiling windows, with a window-side chaise lounge being a cosy nook to take in the sights. Kumiko wood screens, painted washi paper panels and shoji-style lampshades add a richness of Japanese flair, while modern technological touches such as the smart tablet with intelligent lighting and automated drape functionalities and the provision of USB-C wall outlets were much appreciated.
A spacious walk-in closet provides ample space for your new shopping purchases, while the spacious king bed is optimally comfortable to relax after said shopping (those pillows!). Elsewhere, the pantry offered Nespresso Vertuo coffee and Organic Tea Kyoto-tea making facilities, while the minibar is handsomely stocked with a variety of snacks, bottled beers, sakes, juices and wines, including Veuve Clicquot champagne. The large marble bathroom offers double vanities, a walk-in rainfall shower as well as ensuite bathtub, with Aesop shower amenities lending that extra touch of spa-soothing pamperment.
Platters of large, juicy Japanese grapes as well as beautiful macarons with an origami crane greeted us on the windowside table upon arrival.
DINING
Breakfast was a semi-buffet affair served at Jolie Brasserie on the 29th level. Aside from the usual fruits, bakes and cold cuts, the buffet line offered dishes such as Seabream Carpaccio, Wakasagi Fish Escabeche, Miso Soup, Chicken with Genovese Sauce as well as Shrimp and Nampula Sauce Cocktail. Guests can select one choice of main from the a la carte menu, with options such French Omelette, Avocado Toast With Poached Egg, Kyoto Eggs Benedict with Osaka Miso Hollandaise Sauce (with ham or salmon) or Japanese Breakfast, which features the grilled fish of the day along with side dishes such as dashi rolled omelette and steamed Hachidaime Gihey rice from Kyoto.
Definitely go for their Brülee French Toast, served with maple syrup, whipped cream and berries.
The hotel’s 61-seat signature restaurant, Tsukimi, offers teppanyaki and Edomae sushi experiences in a refined setting. During my visit, I had the teppanyaki Kangetsu omakase course menu, the headline star of which was their Crispy Grilled Tsukimi Special Kobe Beef, prepared using purebred Tajima Kuoge Wagyu cows aged a minimum of 36 months and farmed exclusively for Waldorf Astoria Osaka. The beef – from female cows which lend a greater fattiness, sweetness and tenderness – is presented to you by the chef at the start of your meal along with the cow’s noseprint birth certificate to evidence its authenticity. Served with Okinawa sea salt, ume, garlic chips and garlic sauce as well as sweet rice from Mie Prefecture, the Kobe beef was nicely charred on the outside and all sorts of buttery luscious inside. The showstopper was quickly followed up with the Crispy Grill Shrimp Soup Fried Rice which featured thick and sweet chicken broth, hefty prawn chunks and caramelised, smoky and sweet slices of Kobe beef.
Elsewhere, the Hairy Crab And Sea Urchin Soufflé played it fluffy, rich and creamy with an allure resembling lobster bisque, while the Grilled Amadai With Pine Cones, Pumpkin Puree And Basil Oil possessed a delicate crisp of skin and soft chewiness. The Chocolate Sorbet and Figs with Roasted Tea Brûlée concluded the sensational dinner on a fig-fleshy and almond nougatine-nutty note.
Peacock Alley is the hotel’s premier social destination and afternoon tea spot which also happens to serve wicked cocktails, including selections from the Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book such as the Rob Roy as well as more modern, Japanese-tinged concoctions such as the Osaka Rob Roy which incorporates both The Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky as well as Michter’s US★1 Kentucky Straight Rye Whisky with Persimmon infused Mancino Secco Vermouth and shiso bitters.
I also had the Gibson (Roku Gin, SG Shochu Kome, Kishu Nanko Ume infused Mancino Secco Vermouth, The Japanese Sakura Bitters) which was stiff and elegant.
Rounding up the F&B concepts is Canes & Tales, the speakeasy bar hidden behind an unmarked green door on the 28th floor with a cocktail menu inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tales of the Jazz Age. Tipples include the stiff The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (fig-infused Pedro Ximénez sherry, Mancino Rosso Vermouth, Bénédictine DOM and bitters) which requires you to pick your age of Glenfarclas whisky (10 or 25 years) as well as more refreshing options such as the ginger beer-tastic The Camel’s Back and tropical The Diamond As Big As The… (Mezcal Los Siete Misterios Doba-Yej, apricot liqueur, amontillado sherry, corn & coconut soda).
CONCLUSION
The property is a stylish blend of timeless New York glamour and understated Japanese elegance, with an accessible and excellent location in a trendy green district. Peacock Alley is positively and instantly iconic, while the teppanyaki experience omakase at Tsukimi was sensational. One of the best hotels in Osaka.
Waldorf Astoria Osaka
530-0011 Osaka
Grand Green Osaka South Building
5-54 Ofukacho Kita-ku
Japan
Comments are closed.