Cinquecento, Osaka-Shi

when my friend and i walked in the door of this comfortable little bar, we were greeted with smiles from not only the staff, but the other guests too. within moments we felt relaxed and part of the friendly but non-invasive atmosphere of the place. in some bars, it takes a while or a few visits to really feel at home, but due especially to the outgoing nature of the staff, we felt at ease very quickly. i feared the 500 yen martinis might be too sweet or not properly mixed, but they were consistent and delicious, even when made by the new guy. there was a good mix of japanese and foreigners, and no creepy guys in sight. the staff was attentive...in most places i've been, especially in japan, if you order a water it gets empty and no one gets around to refilling it again. however, i never even had to ask for a refill, and our martinis were never empty long either! cinquecento is an easy walk to clubs like joule, triange, and pure. by the time we left, i felt like a regular, welcome and appreciated. i only wish i lived in osaka so i could actually be a regular!