Sleek and subtle design hotel offering a calm refuge from the busy streets of Osaka

Zentis / Osaka / Japan

When we had the chance to visit Japan we asked one of our Norwegian friends, Trond Olav, who is a true Japan aficionado, about how to best plan our trip. One of the places he said must not be missed was the town of Osaka. A city famous for its vibrant food scene. That was enough of a selling point for us. And when I started to look for hotels to stay at, the one that caught my eye was this one, Zentis.

Zenits is a fairly large hotel with 212 rooms spread over 16 floors. The hotel opened in July 2020 and is located a short walk from the main train station in an area laden a lot of great restaurants, bars and shopping.

When entering the hotel the first thing that strikes you is the tranquility and the softness. The contrast from the world on the other side of the hotel doors is huge. The design is gentle and subtle where the main color scheme is beige, soft grey and creamy white paired with marble and wood. Basically very kind to the eye which makes the few pops of color stand out even more The design of the hotel has been created by Tara Bernerd, a London-based designer who is one of world renowned designer Phillippe Starck’s proteges.

Some of the features that stand out at the hotel is the lounge next to the reception with the statement staircase, where you can get a complimentary cup of coffee whenever you need one. There is a generous use of plants and vintage local pottery which is a welcome contrast to contemporary, subtle design. In addition to this, there is also a leafy courtyard if you want to sit outside and relax.

Our room was on the 13th floor with great views of the surroundings. The room was designed with the same kind of paired back, soft tones as the reception and lounge area. The look is a combo of traditional Japanese features mixed with more generic elements. I know this word sometimes has a negative connotation but here I am referring to a kind of international design that feels generic in the sense that those features could just as likely have shown up in a design hotel in Helsinki, LA or Buenos Aires.

Osaka is a town that should be experience via food. There is so many great places to eat at that the most stressful decision is to decide where to go and to not eat too much in order to be able to sample as many different places as possible. One place we really liked was the Time Out Street Food Market where you can eat your way through the Osaka food scene, one stall at a time.

I appreciate how they have brought in vintage local pottery in the design to mix with he otherwise modern design.

There is a sheltered courtyard next to the reception where you can hang outside if you wish.

The design of our room was subtle and paired down, just like the rest of the hotel.

Zenits is a member of international community Design Hotels so you’ll find their magazine, Directions, in the room.

This is highly unusual these days, non-branded bathroom products.

Let’s look at how a perfect day could look in Osaka. M enjoying a complimentary coffee in the lounge before heading out to explore town.

Australian restaurant Bill’s (or Granger’s as it is called outside the country) has an outpost close to the hotel and is a great place for a hearty. delicious breakfast.

Strolling through town, doing some shopping.

Stopping for coffee at one of our favorite places, Brooklyn Coffee.

One of the most popular sights in town is the Osaka Castle, well worth a visit.

Everywhere you go in Japan there are clean, free of charge toilets. And often they are real design gems. Like this one, close to Osaka Castle.

There is art to be found everywhere in Osaka. Like these covers.

Returning back to the hotel for a session in the hotel gym.

Heading back out for dinner. We decided to try Time Out Market that opened in Spring of 2025.

M enjoying some great local food and some sake.

Heading back to the hotel, as night life is starting to pick up.

I love this feature. There were two pajamas in the room. First time I ever seen this.

RG inside info

Date of RG stay:

April 2025

This place is perfect if you…

…are planning to go to Osaka and you are looking for a design hotel (actually a member of Design Hotels) with a contemporary look and calm vibe, perfectly located within walking distance from the main train station and the some of the most interesting parts of the city. If this sounds good to you, then you know where to book.

My favorite thing about this place…

…was something I have never experienced in a hotel before, there were two pajamas in our room which was such a cozy detail. I also want to mention the complimentary coffee in the lounge. This is something I wish more hotels would offer.

What not to miss when staying here…

…is a good question. There is so much to see and do in this mega city, so where to even begin. There is a great food court-style restaurant. Time Out Market, that was great for dinner, especially when traveling with another family like we did. There is a great coffee culture in town and there are several great places for coffee. One of my favorites is Brooklyn located within walking distance from the hotel. One of the more traditional sites worth a visit is the Osaka Castle which is the most popular sights in town.

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