Among the hustle and bustle of Osaka’s busy neighborhood Shinsaibashi, there lies a hidden haven for those who would like to enjoy some drinks in a tranquil and elegant setting. This is the Bible Club. A sister bar of the famed Prohibition-era bar Bible Club Portland, the Osaka branch promises the speakeasy experience of the Prohibition. And it delivers.

After finding the unadorned and medieval-looking door of the Bible Club in Shinsaibashi, you go down the stairs and have to open another door by turning the knob left and pushing (I almost fell to the ground in my first time). One step into the bar, and you are in a different era. Dim lights reveal the beauties of antique pieces covered in shadow while low-key chamber music plays in the background. The decorations feel well-thought and deliberate at every corner. It is a spacious bar with a counter and a good number of table seats. The ambiance is serene and calming, allowing one to concentrate on the drink they are sipping.

The Penicillin.   Source: Cem Ertul

As for the drinks, cocktails are where the Bible Club shines. It has a prohibition-inspired menu that includes classics like the Penicillin but also some unique and well-crafted recipes. Flower Conchita is a tequila cocktail mixed with St.Germain liqueur and Fino Sherry, topped with grapefruit and lemon (plus an antique hairpin that clips the dried grapefruit to the glass). A thoroughly aromatic concoction that offers a pleasant and refreshing experience. Among the whisky cocktails, do try the “Barn Burner” if you like smoky flavors. This one is made with Jhon E. Fitzgerald Larceny Bourbon, honey, Bridge City bitters, and then infused with hay smoke. A punchy drink that goes great with a plate of mixed nuts, which are covered with a special spicy&sweet coating whose recipe was created by the bar master after several trials.

Barn Burner.    Source: Cem Ertul

If you are not in the mood for cocktails, Bible Club has one of the most extensive whisky shelves in town. There are a good variety of Japanese and Scotch single malts here, but Bourbon is the category where the bar really excels at, staying true to its Prohibition-era roots. You can enjoy the classics such as Russel’s 10 or Elijah Craig for around $13 a glass, or if you are feeling like it, you can go for the ultra-rare Pappy van Winkle 23y for $920. There is something for everyone at Bible Club.

Maybe because it is exceptionally calm during Corona times, Bible Club feels like the kind of bar where you can unwind after work with a book in your hand and a bourbon in the other. It is class through and through, infusing a Japanese sense of quality and luxury to the speakeasy spirit of the Prohibition era.

Address: 〒542-0085 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Shinsaibashisuji, 2 Chome−1−11 B1F

Web: bibleclubosaka.jp

Phone: 06-4708-1238