Karasuma-Oike area
[ Open 11:30am-11pm (lunch to 2pm). Closed Wednesdays. ]
Sarasa is all about reasonably priced food in a huge old tobacco shop. The menu is broadly Mediterranean with a Japanese fringe, and most dishes come on large white platters that lend an air of...
[ Open 11:30am-11pm (lunch to 2pm). Closed Wednesdays. ]
[ Open 11:30-2:45, 5-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays. ]
Despite the Indian-inspired decorations, Ganesh specializes in so-called "European curries" - a style of Japanese curry that incorporates Indian spices with a European-style fond de veau. The...
[ Open 11:30-2:45, 5-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays. ]
[ Open 7:30am-7pm (LO). Closed Sundays. ]
Great single-origin espresso is served in this pleasant little shop; they also have a nice house blend. Open 8am-6:30pm Saturdays.
[ Open 7:30am-7pm (LO). Closed Sundays. ]
[ Open 11am-3, 5-9pm (LO) daily. ]
Excellent home-made tofu is the core of the menu here, with tofu-centered set meals at various price levels (Y4000-10,000).
[ Open 11am-3, 5-9pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 11am-10pm daily. ]
By far the hippest beer bar in Kyoto, Dig The Line offers a good selection of imported craft beers and ciders, excellent music (with regular DJ events), and comfortable seating both indoors and out. ...
[ Open 11am-10pm daily. ]
[ Open 11am-2:30, 5-9:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays. ]
Chicken sukiyaki is the specialty of the house here, and they use only the very best heirloom-breed birds - slightly chewy and very flavorful - in all their dishes. Sit in the main dining room...
[ Open 11am-2:30, 5-9:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays. ]
[ Open 11:30am-2, 5-9pm (LO) daily. ]
This popular dining bar balances elegant decor with a casual, lively atmosphere. The kitchen turns out creative Japanese cuisine and offers a well-chosen sake list, all at quite reasonable prices. ...
[ Open 11:30am-2, 5-9pm (LO) daily. ]
Before 9 - Beer bar: Karasuma-Oike [ Open 5pm-1am daily. ]
This stylish two-story bar, located in a converted machiya townhouse, serves both craft beer and artisanal sake. Kyoto Brewing Co, a local brewer, is well represented on the bar's eight taps, and...
[ Open 5pm-1am daily. ]
Yoramu - Bar: Karasuma-Oike [ Open 6pm-midnight. Closed Mondays, 1st Sunday. ]
You'll find a fantastic trove of unusual, limited-edition sakes in this off-the-beaten-track sake pub. The food menu is just as eclectic, and well suited to the drinks.
[ Open 6pm-midnight. Closed Mondays, 1st Sunday. ]
[ Open 9am-7pm daily. ]
This legendary soba shop first opened for business in 1465. A nice introduction to the menu is the Hourai soba with eight toppings, including shrimp tempura, mushrooms, leeks and sliced egg; it's...
[ Open 9am-7pm daily. ]
[ Open 4-11:30pm (LO) daily. ]
Appetizing aromas wafting from the direction of the deep fryer are one of the charms of this lively craft-beer bar, although they occasionally clash with customers' cigarette smoke. Eight taps...
[ Open 4-11:30pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open noon-11pm (LO) daily. ]
This converted townhouse on a quiet back street has the air of a very hip used bookstore - the comfortable chairs and tables are surrounded by shelves upon shelves of books and magazines that you're...
[ Open noon-11pm (LO) daily. ]
Kyoto City Hall area
[ Open 11:45am-midnight daily. ]
Perhaps the Bohemian epicenter of Kyoto, this student-hangout basement cafe features artfully exposed brick, peeling paint and well-worn stone floors. The 75-year-old building also houses a great...
[ Open 11:45am-midnight daily. ]
[ Open 11:30am-9pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays. ]
This traditional shop in a lovely old building has been preparing first-class sukiyaki for 130 years now, and they're still going strong. Budget around Y8000 at dinnertime, or a bit more for their...
[ Open 11:30am-9pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays. ]
Karr - Beer bar: Kyoto City Hall [ Open 3pm-1am. Closed Thursdays. ]
'Good beer! Good ham! Good music!' reads the sign on the wall, and this is a manifesto we wholeheartedly endorse. Pub Karr is a cozy, friendly little spot, well suited to a group outing if you don't...
[ Open 3pm-1am. Closed Thursdays. ]
[ Open 11am-9pm (LO) daily. ]
One of the best of the tonkatsu chains, Kyoto-based Katsukura offers nice side dishes like yuba (tofu-skin) croquettes and excellent Kyoto-style pickles. And they're open all afternoon if you need a...
[ Open 11am-9pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 7pm-2am. Closed Tuesdays. ]
A small sake pub with a fantastic selection of unusual regional sakes from around Japan. The food menu is limited to small snacks, including a wide selection of imported cheeses; if you thought sake...
[ Open 7pm-2am. Closed Tuesdays. ]
[ Open 11:30am-2, 5-9pm (LO) daily. ]
The chef here is from the Kerala region of India, and he prepares a full range of dishes from that area, all reasonably priced.
[ Open 11:30am-2, 5-9pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 3pm-1am. Closed Mondays. ]
As the name indicates, this charming little Spanish bar serves several types of Spanish cider, along with a Spanish wine list that starts at around Y2800 per bottle. If you're hungry there are light...
[ Open 3pm-1am. Closed Mondays. ]
[ Open 11:30am-2, 5-9:30pm (LO) daily. ]
Good home-made tofu is the specialty here, with multi-course tofu dinners starting from Y4859. Lunch is by reservation only.
[ Open 11:30am-2, 5-9:30pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-9pm daily. ]
Luxuriously over-the-top French cuisine revolving around rich ingredients like foie gras, lobster and domestic beef. The degustation menu is Y13,000.
[ Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-9pm daily. ]
[ Open 11:30am-1:30, 5:30-9:30pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays. ]
Yes, there is such a thing as gourmet yoshoku, and Hafuu leads the way with nicely prepared tongue stews, fried shrimps, cutlet sandwiches and other Japanese-style European classics. At dinnertime...
[ Open 11:30am-1:30, 5:30-9:30pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays. ]
[ Open 8am-2:30pm, 5:30-9:30pm (LO). Closed Thursdays. ]
The decor is old-school budget French (checkered tablecloths, tiny tables, a big counter at one end of the room), but the menu is a cut above the decor, with good country-style cuisine at...
[ Open 8am-2:30pm, 5:30-9:30pm (LO). Closed Thursdays. ]
[ Open 11:30am-11pm daily. ]
In a stylishly modern setting overlooking the little stream that runs alongside Kiyamachi-dori, Avocado serves reasonably priced Tex-Mex and "modern Mexican" fare (tequila pan-fried prawns,...
[ Open 11:30am-11pm daily. ]
Cordon Noir - Bar: Kyoto City Hall [ Open 7pm-3am. Closed Wednesdays. ]
A specialty bar with an amazing selection of rare Scotch whiskeys; the bartender also mixes good cocktails. The food menu includes the Scottish favorite haggis.
[ Open 7pm-3am. Closed Wednesdays. ]
Misogigawa - French: Kyoto City Hall
[ Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-9pm (LO) daily. ]
Paris-trained owner-chef Teruo Inoue prepares world-class "French kaiseki" - a fusion of modern French cuisine with a Japanese sensibility and local ingredients. The old wooden building on narrow...
[ Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-9pm (LO) daily. ]
Miyama 162 - Beer bar: Kyoto City Hall [ Open 6pm-midnight (LO; Fri, Sat -2am). Closed Wednesdays. ]
This cozy dining bar offers venison, wild boar and other game dishes along with craft beer and craft whisky. Draft beers include four types from Kyoto Brewing, a local favorite, along with Yona Yona...
[ Open 6pm-midnight (LO; Fri, Sat -2am). Closed Wednesdays. ]
[ Open 6pm-3am (5am weekends) daily. ]
A pleasant, medium-sized bar with a serious selection of single-malt Scotch whiskies and one Japanese microbrew beer (Yona Yona real ale on tap).
[ Open 6pm-3am (5am weekends) daily. ]
[ Open 11:30am-10pm daily. ]
This sprawling building was once the private mansion of one of Kyoto's leading merchants, and its beautiful garden setting makes it a popular spot for parties and banquets. Lunch is especially...
[ Open 11:30am-10pm daily. ]
Bordering neighborhoods:
- South: Shijo
- East: Gion, Kodaiji
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