CLOSED: Cafe Atl

Vegan

Japanese

Western

Beer/Wine

Bakery

Vegetarian cafe turned vegan in 2014. The lunch menu consists of a few set meals plus baked goods and espresso drinks. Menu includes bagel with hummus, risotto, salad, curry, soup, and vegan cakes. Emphasis is slow food using local produce. Quiet for the noisy Shinsaibashi area, on a side street off of the main drag. Cafe is located on the second floor, above a shop currently under renovation. Last orders 5pm. 2014年にベジタリアンからヴィーガンカフェに変わりました。ランチメニューにはセットでおかずやパンなどのメイン、ドリンクなどを選ぶことが出来ます。フムスとベーグルのセット、リゾット、サラダ、カレー、スープまたケーキなどがあります。またスローフードを利用しているのも特徴です。心斎橋筋商店街から少し抜ければ、しばし都会の喧噪を忘れることができます。カフェは2階にあります。ラストオーダーは17時。 Reported closed, Dec 2019.

121 Reviews

First Review by kat.ross

Results

Swish

Points +41

Vegetarian

01 Aug 2014

Friendly place, perhaps a bit expensive - Edit

Nice place for a vegan lunch. We took a chance, since we were close, even though some earlier reviewers mentioned that you had to have a reservation and that this cafe was not for families with kids. However, the staff was very friendly (especially to our daughter), and no reservation was required. Only con was that it was a bit expensive, but only in comparison to other vegan restaurants in the city (and this is one is much closer to the central shopping district, so we were not surprised).

Pros: Friendly

Cons: A bit expensive

zebsu

Points +297

10 Jul 2014

Absolutely delicious vegan food, friendly service! - Edit

I went here last night for the first time, and for 2,000 yen, had an absolutely delicious dinner, which consisted of a vegan quiche with Japanese pickles, a savory quinoa/pumpkin/potato pastry, a delicious plate of edamame/soy bean curry, and organic coffee/tea at the end of the meal.

Totally satisfying, and I would go back anytime for dinner. Menu changes daily (there were multiple options to choose from, for both the appetizer and the main dish).

Furthermore, the restaurant is no longer "vegetarian," but is now 100% vegan, which is great! The couple that runs the place are absolutely cool and friendly, and the decor and ambiance of the all-wood traditional rustic Japanese style made the restaurant a pleasure to dine in. I would go back anytime! :)

iokan

Points +1900

18 May 2014

Ticks all the boxes - Edit

"Atl Cafe" is a rare place. It is one of the few restaurants in Japan that is actually easy to find (cross the road towards Nike from the Apple Store, keep walking until you have the pet shop on your left, Atl is opposite on the right). Besides this, I liked just about everything about it. The atmosphere is relaxing, the personnel is very friendly, the menu is available in English and of course the food is both healthy and tasteful.

I went here for dinner and especially the spinach risotto was very tasteful. The very next day I went back and had the hummus bagel, which was even better.

Most tables seat two people, but one can also sit at the bar and watch the food being prepared in the open kitchen. Since this is a low volume place, all food is prepared from scratch so it takes a little longer than usual for an order to be served.

The price for a three course meal (amuse, starter and main dish) might be a bit steep at 2000 yen, but considering the quality of the entire experience I was happy to pay for it. For me Atl ticks all the boxes!

Pros: tasty food, relaxing atmosphere, easy to find

Cons: not cheap (but not expensive either), a little wait for food to be prepared

AlohaEigo

Points +108

Cozy, tasy, and artsy, but not that satisfying - Edit

This is a cozy spot if you are in the area and just need a light meal. When seated, you are given three wooden menus (dinner sets, drinks, deserts) and a nice view of the street below. The meals are tasty, though similar to a French restaurant in artistic presentation of food and small portions. I am personally more of a substance-over-style kind of diner, so I will probably not be returning. Though, if you do prefer a plate that looks like a painter's canvas and are eating light, this place is for you.

Pros: flavor, presentation, environment

Cons: portion size, selection, slow

al30sh

Points +114

30 Mar 2014

Not kid friendly, make a reservation - Edit

We arrived 20 minutes after they opened, excited to try the food. The restaurant was virtually silent and we were practically shooed away by the hostess who said there was no room for us and to come back another day. I wondered if it was because we had a child with us who was noisier than the library like vibe inside. It seemed like there could have been room for us, and I guess they take reservations but the hostess didn't really explain how we could actually come back and eat there.

Cons: need a reservation, overwhelmingly quiet and formal feeling, not kid friendly

elena6324

Points +55

13 Feb 2014

Note: the pin drops a few blocks from where it is - Edit

We went looking for this cafe, and based on where the pin dropped on my map, we were a few blocks off. As we made our way back, we stumbled upon it. Thankfully! It's on that street that it indicates, but only a 1/2 block off the main shopping corridor - just next to Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren. I didn't see the Krispy Kreme other reviews mentioned... I think it has closed. Look for the giant pink gorilla (I've attached a photo).

Fantastic cafe! The woman there (I assume owner) cooked/prepared everything on the spot. We got the lunch set - starter, dish, drink for 1,500 Yen. Great value. Everything tasted so fresh and delicious! I had the soup & risotto and my husband got the salad & bagel with hummus. Truly delicious!!

Also note that this site indicates that they're closed after 2pm. We were there around 3-4pm on a Monday (with a few other patrons), so I think they have expanded their hours.

The cafe is upstairs, but there are plenty of signs indicating where it is, so once you're in front of it (across the street for the giant gorilla), you'll easily find the door you need to go through. This place is clean and cute.

Enjoy!
Updated from previous review on Wednesday February 12, 2014

Pros: Delicious & fresh, English menu, Cute & clean

Cons: pin drops in wrong location on map

gorilla on left, Atl on right at Cafe Atl in Osaka

pink gorilla directly across the street at Cafe Atl in Osaka

JesseWaugh

Points +415

Fruitarian

16 Aug 2013

Nice for variety - Edit

I had the curry which was clean and healthy. Wasn't salty enough so they kindly brought me salt.

I agree with semichi. The bagels are dry and I'm not sure why they would concentrate on bagels.

It's a very nice little environment on the second floor. The staff were very nice and the place feels enlightened.

My suggestions would be to offer more substantial meals - especially considering that the prices are fairly high. As with many vegetarian / vegan restaurants, they need to concentrate on offering *protein* - meaning tofu and other beans. After I left I had to drink some soymilk because I felt undernourished.

The dessert was very good if a bit dry.

Would recommend, and hope to return some day.

Pros: clean food, Enlightened, Nice staff

Cons: Not enough protein, Dry food, Not cheap

semichi

Points +25

11 Aug 2013

Not-so-good food, good dessert and soy cappuccino - Edit

I went there for lunch and was disappointed by their food. They had homemade bagels but there was no spread on it. It was very weird to eat a dry bagel. The quiche was not so good and felt like a giant potato paste cake.

The salad dressing and dessert was pretty good. I like their soy cappuccino the most.

Pros: good location, nice vibe, friendly staff

Cons: food was not so good

lemurcat

Points +389

27 Jul 2013

Great desserts! - Edit

I got the bagel plate and my friend got curry. My food was good but she said hers was too salty. The desserts were pretty amazing, some of the best in Osaka. We tried the chocolate tart (amazing), shortcake (very good), and pudding (we agreed the pudding itself was amazing, although my friend didn't like the coffee-flavored topping).

Pros: English menu, Mostly vegan, Awesome desserts

Cons: Vegan options not labeled, Depressing pet store across the street, It's on the 2nd floor, so stairs

Aya

Points +627

07 Jul 2013

A nice place - Edit

Atl Cafe was quite nice. I ordered a bagel set, my partner had a vegan curry. I wouldn't say the food was very special. It wasn't off, but I felt it was 'dead', too sterile maybe.. Everything had been prepared in advance, which wouldn't be bad, but the food lacked vitality. Anyway, in Japan you are happy with what you get.

I also ordered a strawberry cake that looked great in the picture but the taste wasn't anything to write home about.

Even though I don't think this place was very special, I would go there again.

Pros: A nice place to have a hot drink&cake :p

Cons: The food isn't freshly made.

slo0go

Points +2179

05 Dec 2012

Most delicious vegan dessert ever - Edit

This place is really cute. The staff was very friendly, and completely knowledgeable of veganism. We were shown an English menu and told which of the items were vegan. I ordered the bagel lunch set, and my boyfriend got the curry set.

The homemade whole wheat bagel was absolutely delicious, and the soup it came with was so creamy! The set also came with marinated tofu that was very olive oily (yum!). My boyfriend's curry was also very delicious.

The sets come with a drink. I got the soy cappucino and he got the soy latte. The cappucino was fantastic. Then came dessert... I ordered the kugelhopf (sp?), which was like a fruity pound cake. It was delicious, but the chocolate tarte was the MOST DELICIOUS VEGAN DESSERT EVER, and I say that coming from New York City and having eaten all kinds of vegan desserts. What a surprise! I had to tell the staff in (my poor) Japanese how good the dessert was. So chocolatey and rich! Mmmm! And the creamy sauce both desserts came with was so good. The meal was slow, as described on this website, because the staff made everything to order. What a nice, relaxing meal :)

They take credit cards!

Pros: Vegan options, Most delicious vegan dessert ever

Cons: Sort of slow, but worth it

Cappuccino and soy latte at Cafe Atl in Osaka

KirstenLoreen

Points +38

13 Feb 2012

Dinner - Edit

I just got back from eating at Cafe Atl. I was really excited because I've mostly been cooking all of my food, as I've found it pretty difficult to ask for vegetarian items in restaurants. I ordered the curry with cous cous. It was good, but not great. The curry had only a few vegetables, I definitely could have done with more of the curry and veggies. My bill totally for 1600 for the curry and a glass of ice tea. So, in my opinion it's pretty over priced for what you get.
The interior is nice, wood floors and furniture. The staff didn't really speak english but they had an english menu and they seemed to understand most everything I said. I wouldn't mind going back with a friend for lunch or coffee, but I don't think I'll be going back for dinner.

Pros: nice staff, good atmosphere

Cons: small portions, over priced

kat.ross

Points +206

18 May 2011

First day in Osaka for vegan & vegetarian - great! - Edit

I am vegan and my boyfriend is vegetarian. We fortunately printed off a list of veggie friendly restaurants before flying to Japan, as we'd heard eating food without fish would be difficult here. As Osaka was our first destination, we decided to go to Cafe ATL. The directions on this site were very good, as we spotted the Krispy Kreme store straight away. The cafe was lovely inside, and there were only two other people there along with myself and my boyfriend. We don't speak Japanese, however have learned a few key phrases to ask for the type of food we can and can't have, and the staff at Cafe ATL were very accommodating. They complimented us on our Japanese, and said if we were going to Tokyo we'd have to try Deva Deva Cafe. I had brown rice with vegetable curry, which was delicious, and my other half said the dish he had was lovely too. A good start to what we're hoping will be a great trip - thanks Cafe ATL for restoring our hope in finding veggie food in Japan :-)

Pros: Reasonably priced, Good portions, Friendly staff