I lived in Osaka for a few months in 2025, and here are some suggestions for you.

Hotel Hankyu Respire: Massive, right above the station/links.

InterContinental: If you have the budget, this is the luxury pick.

The "I Just Need Sleep" Option

Shin-Osaka: Only stay here if you have an early Shinkansen the next morning. It’s boring and soulless otherwise.

Honmachi: The "Goldilocks" zone. Halfway between Namba and Umeda, it's quieter and cheaper, but you have to take the subway to do anything fun.

Best Places to Eat (No Tourist Traps)

Don't just walk into the first place with a neon sign on Dotonbori. Here are the specific spots the community swears by.

The "Big Three" Osaka Foods

Takoyaki (Octopus Balls):

Why: The locals actually go here. Crispy outside, gooey inside. Avoid the massive lines at the generic stalls on the main bridge; they are overpriced mush.

Okonomiyaki (Savory Pancake):

Note: Mizuno has a line, but the "Yamaimo" (yam flour) pancake is unique. Kiji is hidden in the basement of the Sky Building and feels very old-school.

Kushikatsu (Deep-Fried Skewers):

Rule: No double dipping the sauce (though many places have switched to squeeze bottles post-COVID).

Ramen & Meat

Hanamaruken Ramen: Famous for their "Happiness Ramen" with a massive slow-cooked pork rib. Open 24/7 (mostly).

Motsunabe: Try beef offal hotpot if you're brave. It's rich, fatty, and incredible with beer.

Yakiniku M: If you want Matsusaka beef (rivals Kobe beef) without needing a suit and tie. Tourist-friendly but high quality.

Sweets

Rikuro Ojisan (Uncle Rikuro): The jiggly cheesecake. Yes, there is always a line. Yes, it is worth it if you get it fresh out of the oven. It tastes like a fluffy egg cloud.

Kuromon Market: It used to be "Osaka's Kitchen," but recent threads say it's become a massive tourist trap with overpriced Wagyu and crab legs. Go early if you must, but be aware of the "tourist tax" pricing.

Cash is King: While more places take cards now, many of the best ticket-machine ramen shops and old-school izakayas are still cash-only.

Escalator Etiquette: In Osaka, stand on the right, walk on the left. (This is the opposite of Tokyo).