Inside the sleek black monolith-looking building of W Osaka designed by an Osaka-born architect, Tadao Ando, is LIVING ROOM that is known as W Osaka’s club lounge/cafe/bar. Designed by a Dutch company, Concrete Architectural Associates, LIVING ROOM looks like a fancy spaceship equipped with Japan-inspired, futuristically minimal furniture.
Waiters at LIVING ROOM cheerfully welcomed me as if I was invited to my own birthday party, which kind of reminded me of Netflix’s Selling Sunset. The waiter charged me an entrance fee (1500 yen / $11.50) with refined, Japanese-level precision. And I realized that it was neither my birthday nor in America. LIVING ROOM was like an amusement park. So before contemplating anything, I made myself believe that I entered Osaka’s gay club which usually costs 2000 yen / $15.30 to enter. Come to think of it, 1500 yen for Osaka’s extra luxe funky queer hotel club lounge/cafe/bar didn’t seem to be that queer.
LIVING ROOM’s menu.
LIVING ROOM’s thick menu with a holographic cover shows their range as a Japanese yoshoku (洋食/Japanese Western food)-inspired fusion restaurant/cafe: So-called “cafe-food” (by me) such as curry, hamburger, and hummus were on offer. From a “MIXOLOGY” page, I ordered, a mighty, 2280 yen / $17.50 gin and tonic because I felt queer. Then a free popcorn arrived as if it was cheering me.
LIVING ROOM’s lavender-hinted gin and tonic named “Living Room “G&T”” on the menu.
Popcorn in a handsome a paper box.
Let the popcorn do the job, I said.
In hindsight, 3780 yen / $29.00 for a rail drink with no drag shows was extortionate as a queer cafe/bar. But LIVING ROOM is not a gay bar. I was the only gay in the room (according to my apps). And it was kind of a fun place. I might come back if it was free entrance like other gay bars.
LIVING ROOM’s DJ booth with minimal, Japanese lantern-shaped lights.
LIVING ROOM – W Osaka | Menu | 4-1-3 Minamisenba, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 〒542-0081, Japan
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