Optimus Cafe (Kitahama)

The Optimus Cafe has hearty and delicious vegan fare served up in a great spot with both indoor seating and a lovely riverfront terrace.

The Optimus Cafe shop front is slick and modern, befitting its hip city center riverfront location © Optimus Cafe

For vegans and vegetarians in Osaka’s Kita northern urban core or the central areas around Tenmabashi, Kitahama, Sakaisuji-Honmachi, or western Osaka Castle Park, Optimus Cafe is a must-visit. Combining delightful vegan eats with a great location and stylish yet easygoing riverfront cafe vibes, the cafe is just as suitable for some personal recharge time spent with a book beside the river as it is for a fun lunch or coffee date.

The cafe’s flagship “Optimus Buddha Bowl” is loaded with nutritious deliciousness © Optimus Cafe

The all-vegan offerings at Optimus are fresh, tasty, and delicious. Top notch Buddha bowls, variety plates, curries, salads, and gluten-free baked goods are rounded out by smoothies and cafe drinks. Ordering is done via smartphone, and take-out is available.

Optimus Cafe’s interior dining room is clean and modern © Optimus Cafe

Optimus Cafe’s location is great for a lot more than just convenience: it sits right on the banks of the beautiful Tosabori/O-gawa riverfront, and its cafe’s rear terrace seats provide charming city views of the Nakanoshima area. Here, today’s concrete and glass skyscrapers form the backdrop to a core of historic buildings from the Meiji period (when Japan rapidly adopted European architectural styles of brick and stonework, melding them with traditional Japanese aesthetics).

Iconic buildings and points of interest in this vicinity include the Osaka City Hall, the Bank of Japan, the Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library, the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Nakanoshima Park, and the Japan Mint. The area has always been one of my favorite neighborhoods of the city for its vibes alone – I’ve put plenty of words to paper (or, these days, to screen) in the various cafe terraces up and down the river – but it’s also a great place to spend a slow day of sightseeing, go for a walk, or have a picnic (and people-watch the frequent dance, tai chi, and yoga practice that goes on) in Nakanoshima park.

Optimus cafe also features an outdoor terrace with gorgeous views of the Nakanoshima riverfront area © Optimus Cafe

When planning your visit, it is worth bearing in mind that Optimus is a cafe in more than just name, open only in the mornings and afternoons. There is no dinner service here.

About Angelino Donnachaidh
Angelino Donnachaidh is a Mexican-American father, author, Japanese-English translator, and longtime resident of Osaka, Japan. His works include the middle grade (pre-)historical fiction novel Tamiu: A Cat’s Tale (Winner of the North Street Prize and CWA Muse Medallion), the YA post-cyberpunk heist adventure screenplay Brother (Winner of the HollywoodGenre 2025 Scifi Screenplay Competition), and the upcoming samurai scifi-fantasy action-thriller novel The Mayhem Protocols.

Check Osaka Hotel Availability

Destination

Check-in date

Check-out date

Optimus Cafe Information

Name in English:
Optimus Cafe

Name in Japanese:
オプティマスカフェ

English address:
〒541-0041 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Kitahama, 2 Chome−1−14 KITA2 BLD.

Japanese address:
〒541-0041 大阪府大阪市中央区北浜２丁目１−１４ KITA2 BLD.

Vegetarian & Vegan

Opening hours:
8:30am–5:00pm every day

Non-smoking area: Yes

Nearest transport:
4-minute walk from Kitahama Station on the Osaka Metro (Subway) Sakaisuji line (Exit 1-A)
4-minute walk from Naniwabashi Station on the Keihan Nakanoshima line (Exit 4)
6-minute walk from Yodobashi Station on the Osaka Metro (Subway) Midosuji line (Exit 8)

Website: Official website (English)

Customer Reviews:
:: Read customer reviews of Optimus Cafe on TripAdvisor.

Near To Here:
Optimus Cafe is located in Osaka’s Minami district. See our complete list of things to do in the Minami district, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.

Best Osaka Restaurants
See our list of the best Osaka restaurants for even more ideas about great places to eat in Osaka.

Where Are These Places Located?

See these places on the Inside Osaka Google map:

• Open the Osaka map
• You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
• Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
• Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
• If you’re using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.

Osaka District Map

• Shin-Osaka Area
• Kita Area
• Central Osaka Area
• Minami Area
• Tennoji Area
• Osaka Castle Area
• Osaka Bay Area