With the pedigree of one of Tokyo’s most iconic hotels, Palace Hotel Tokyo’s management arm will open Zentis Osaka, the first property of a bold new brand.

Set to open in Q3, Zentis Osaka, the new hotel’s interiors will be created by Tara Bernerd of Tara Bernerd & Partners. An entirely new build, the 16-storey property’s contemporary yet laid-back feel flows from a natural colour palette of raw materials, including exposed brickwork and timber beams. A stone staircase anchors a lobby wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows where a double-sided fireplace creates a focal point and connects an intimate lounge space with the surrounding landscaped green space.

Taking inspiration from the modular design and intuitive functionality of bento boxes, the hotel’s 212 guestrooms feature the same fresh palettes that are found throughout the hotel. Polished wooden floors, muted tones, and splashes of mustard as well as art on the walls commissioned from a local Japanese artist define spaces that make ingenious use of otherwise snug square footage.

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Café Co., the esteemed Japanese operator behind one Michelin-starred CRAFTALE in Tokyo, will develop
and operate the hotel’s restaurant, bar, and lounge. These concepts include an outdoor terrace featuring a lofty 7-meter-tall ceiling, and UP STAIRZ, which will be helmed by executive chef Shinya Otsuchihashi, who, after having honed his culinary skills over the last two decades in both Japan and France, will be closely overseeing the eatery’s concept and menus from his base at CRAFTALE.

The menu will draw from Otsuchihashi’s extensive background and incorporate seasonal ingredients sourced from the length of Japan, from Hokkaido scallops to premium Japanese beef. Breakfast and lunch service will feature à la carte options, with lunch selections including some popular Japanese comfort food as well as a prix-fixe presentation. For dinner service, the menu will feature both Japanese and French dishes – as the chef adds his own refined, personal touch to Osaka’s unique culinary culture.

Also on the second floor is the hotel’s fitness center – outfitted with Life Fitness equipment and accessible 24 hours.

A top-flight team of seasoned staffers from Palace Hotel Tokyo, the first Japanese-brand hotel to achieve the prestigious Forbes Five-Star rating, will guide the standards of service of the new Design Hotels member hotel.

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“We see an opportunity to really elevate expectations for service, accommodations, and F&B in the upper reaches of the select-service category,” says Daisuke Yoshihara, president of Palace Hotel Co. Ltd. “We believe those critical aspects of the stay experience are what will emerge as key standouts to our guests, truly differentiating our brand from those already in the market.”

Zentis Osaka is situated where the picturesque, riverside area of Dojimahama, and the high-end business entertainment district of Kita-shinchi meet. Nakanoshima, an islet home to some of the city’s premium attractions – including the Osaka Science Museum and the National Museum of Art, Osaka – is a leisurely three-minute stroll from the hotel while Osaka Station, the city’s main rail hub, is a mere five-minute taxi ride away.

The two major airports that service Japan’s third-largest city – Kansai International Airport and Itami Airport
(Osaka International Airport) – are located less than an hour’s drive away.

Zentis Osaka will be taking bookings for stays from 15 July onwards. Rates for its entry-level ‘Studio’ category will begin at JPY 18,300 (US$170).

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