Why book?
Smack bang in the centre of fun-filled Shinsaibashi and just around the corner from nightlife hotspot Dotonbori, the W makes a playful, memorable place to crash right in the thick of the action.
Set the scene
Fair warning: if you’re a bore, don’t stay here. Once you head through the glittering colour-changing entrance tunnel – the hotel’s most Instagrammed spot – and into the neon-backlit lift (glowy pink lights flick on one-by-one as you go up each floor), you're immediately transported into a rainbow-toned playground, from which point onwards your only goal is to have fun. You can get started straight away in the Living Room, which houses a co*cktail bar, stand-up comedy stage and squishy colourful sofas, from where you can enjoy seasonally-themed afternoon teas and punchy zero-waste co*cktails. A young, stylish crowd gathers, ready for a good time. And they’ll find it:partying is built into the fabric of this hotel's DNA – there are DJ decks in the Living Room, by the pool and even some of the suites.So bring your dancing shoes.
The backstory
Marriott has recently turned its attention to upgrading some of the hotels in its W chain to provide a more consistently luxurious experience. Hence the W Osaka, which comes with bedlinens and fixtures akin to those you’d find at a Ritz-Carlton, while maintaining – or perhaps amplifying – that W joie de vivre. This is reflected in the sleek black Tadao Ando-designed facade, which sits chicly and unobtrusively on classy Midōsuji Avenue, carefully concealing the eclecticism within. We are told that this design choice nods to the kimonos worn during wartime. In centuries past, clothing in this period had to be black, so rebellious fashionistas sewed in colourful inner linings instead.
The rooms
Highly photogenic – an Instagram influencer's dream. There are nine room types, including 50 suites, the largest of which –fittingly named the Extreme WOW Penthouse – has a DJ station, double-height ceiling and colossal chrome bowl-shaped bathtub (where else to keep all your champagne at parties?). All the rooms come furnished with co*cktail-making stations, so you’re sorted for both pre-and post-outing tipples, and the majority have wow-factor floor-to-ceiling views of Osaka’s dense urban skyline. Stay on a higher floor, and you’ll be especially spoiled: the W was built after a rule imposing height restrictions on buildings on Midōsuji Avenue was scrapped, giving you unfettered far-reaching views across the rooftops. Something we liked: when flicking through the lighting options, all of a sudden, our room was awash in a pink neon glow, an unexpectedly fun touch in a hotel full of unexpectedly fun touches.
The food and drink
There are four restaurants. Svelte French-inspired Ooh La La bistro is where you'll find breakfast – try the omelette – and save room for dessert at pastel-pretty patisserie Mixup. Most buzzy is teppanyaki spot MYDO, headed up by executive chef Yoshiaki Hayami, formerly of the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto. The vibe is eclectic, with walls adorned with haphazard scribbles by Osaka native illustrator Seitaro Kuroda, who spent four days drawing directly onto the walls to create the final look. Around the corner, there's sushi spot UKIYO, along with a private room replete with secret tunnel access for VIP guests to take up residence discreetly.
The spa
While not exactly sedate, the spa is more muted than the rest of the W. The treatment menu lists all the usual suspects, but there’s a nod to the hotel’s irreverent MO when we head in for our essential oil massage when we selected the ‘cheeky’ oil blend, which is less descriptive but more fun than just calling it ‘lavender and ylang ylang’. The pool area feels like an 80s synth-wave dream, with a run of pink neon lights on the ceiling glowing against the glassy water and deep blue walls, and there's a Japanese-style deep jacuzzi bath that runs gloriously hot. In the warmer months, this space opens up onto a central courtyard with its own co*cktail bar and DJ decks –the parties are fabulous, we are assured.
The neighbourhood
The W sits on upmarket Midōsuji Avenue, Osaka’s genteel luxury shopping street. But in two minutes, you’re in the bustling heart of the city: quick and dirty and wild, with the iconic 390-year-old Shinsaibashi-Suji shopping street directly ahead, and a near-endless selection of bars, tiny eateries (some so small there isn’t even seating) and boutiques at your disposal. You’ll almost immediately see the famous Glico running man from his spot on the side of a skyscraper, best snapped via the bridge over Dōtombori canal. After dark, take a walk along the water with something hot and sticky you’ve picked up from one of Osaka's famous street food stalls – you’ll know the ones to try by the queues that start forming from midday.
The service
Friendly, upbeat and welcoming, never performative or stuffy. A 24/7 service is available via the W’s signature Whatever/Whenever button in all the rooms. I was offered a new seat at breakfast when the sun started shining in my eyes before I had a moment to ask, and the champagne in my room was never without a fresh bucket of ice for long.
For families
A stay here is more geared towards an extroverted Gen Z crowd than families seeking a relaxed break. So don’t expect anything special for little ones,unless they happen to be of a more furry persuasion. Those with dogs will find a doggy robe neatly hung up and ready in the bedrooms, and you can order special meals for pets upon request. But if you’ve come to Osaka to play, you’ll be well served. It is basically impossible to not have fun here. In the summer, there’s a regular rotation of pool parties at the Wet (pool) bar, plenty of events throughout the year and the odd stand-up comedy show. We visited at Halloween, and around 6pm a steady stream of costumed guests started disappearing through the sparkly entrance tunnel, bunny ears firmly in place. Next time, we're packing our best fancy dress outfit.
Eco effort
Currently, guest room amenities are made with 95 per cent recyclable materials. When we stayed, there were some plastic amenities, but the hotel has set its sights on moving away from using this material completely in its rooms going forward. There are combination refuse/recycling bins in all the rooms, with signs encouraging guests to do their bit and sort their rubbish properly before the hotel whisks it away. There is an extensive zero-waste co*cktail menu and, in the restaurants, local ingredients are prioritised wherever possible.
Accessibility
This is a fully accessible hotel. All rooms, suites, restaurants and meeting spaces are serviced with wide corridors and lifts, and there's wheelchair-friendly on-site parking. In the rooms, there are accessible vanities, grab rails in the bathrooms and lowered electric outlets.
Anything left to mention?
This outpost very well balances the W’s signature irreverent style with attentive service and quality finishes. If you’re a work-hard-play-hard type, we can’t imagine there’s anywhere in Osaka better to roll in post-3am. Just one note: if you want to try the restaurant Mydo, make your reservations upon booking to avoid disappointment. It’s popular with guests and locals alike, so it fills up quickly, especially at popular times. Despite our best efforts, we missed out.
