Cafes and coffee shops
Coffee shops, roasteries
[ Open 11am-6pm. Closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays. ]
This tiny coffee stand sells coffee to go as well as beans from their roastery, which is housed in an old shack just across the street. Coffee options include hot and cold filtered coffee, cafe...
[ Open 11am-6pm. Closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays. ]
[ Open 8am-7pm daily. ]
Blue Bottle's central-Kobe branch, designed by Tokyo's Schemata Architects, is a gorgeous spot in which to enjoy a coffee break. It's got a chicly minimalist concrete-and-wood decor, high ceilings,...
[ Open 8am-7pm daily. ]
[ Open 9am-6pm. Closed Wednesdays. ]
Located in an historic Art Deco building, this beloved Kobe roastery offers more than a dozen types of beans by the bag - mostly single origin but with a couple of blends and a couple of decaf...
[ Open 9am-6pm. Closed Wednesdays. ]
[ Open 7am-9pm. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays. ]
This charming neighborhood cafe and roastery has a stylishly casual second-floor dining space where you can stretch out a bit while enjoying your coffee and pastry. Filter coffee comes in your...
[ Open 7am-9pm. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays. ]
[ Open 9am-7pm (Fri, Sat -10pm) daily. ]
City Donuts and Coffee serves good coffee and photogenic glazed donuts in many flavors and colors. They also prepare a breakfast plate until 2pm, with bacon or sausage, eggs any style, and two...
[ Open 9am-7pm (Fri, Sat -10pm) daily. ]
[ Open 10am-8pm daily. ]
Though the Hankyu branch of Blue Bottle was designed by an accomplished architectural firm, because of its proximity to clothing boutiques it still feels like you're in a department store, albeit in...
[ Open 10am-8pm daily. ]
Cafes
[ Open 10am-6:30pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays. ]
Certainly one of grandest cafe settings in town, Freundlieb occupies the former Kobe Union Church, a Kitano sightseeing landmark. The menu includes sandwiches and salads as well as fresh pastries...
[ Open 10am-6:30pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays. ]
[ Open noon-11pm daily. ]
An old-fashioned Japanese jazz kissaten (coffee shop), Jam Jam plays classic vinyl jazz and serves coffee, limited drinks and desserts.
[ Open noon-11pm daily. ]
[ Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily. ]
A rooftop oasis right in central Kobe, this cafe looks out onto a big garden area, with seating both indoors and out. The casual, inexpensive food menu is a mix of Japanese and Western dishes -...
[ Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily. ]
International
US, Latin American, steaks
[ Open 10am-8pm daily. ]
If you're exploring the shopping malls and other attractions of Harborland, this daytime cafe is one of the nicer spots to drop in for a mid-afternoon snack. The buttermilk chicken is the pride of...
[ Open 10am-8pm daily. ]
[ Open 11am-9pm (LO) daily. ]
Filled with colorful mismatched sofas and comfortable chairs, this all-day cafe is a fun place to relax over a cup of coffee, a slice of pie or a burger. The smash burgers here are meaty and...
[ Open 11am-9pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 11am-3, 5-9pm (LO) daily. ]
This popular cafe-style restaurant serves "farm-to-table" fare, with heaping "one-plate" lunches. The buttermilk fried chicken is a specialty of the house, and is recommended. Japanese craft beers...
[ Open 11am-3, 5-9pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 11am-2:30, 5-10pm (LO) daily. ]
Churrasco-style Brazilian grilled meats (beef, pork, chicken) are served here, and the waiters will keep bringing you meat until you tell them to stop. All-you-can-eat deals cost around Y4,000 per...
[ Open 11am-2:30, 5-10pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 5:30pm-midnight. Closed Tuesdays. ]
Chilean cuisine is an unexpected find in Kitano. The food is reasonably priced and the atmosphere is friendly, with frequent live musical performances.
[ Open 5:30pm-midnight. Closed Tuesdays. ]
[ Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-11pm (LO). Closed Mondays. ]
Jamaican stews, jerk pork, and other spicy fare are prepared by the native Jamaican owner-chef here. Dinner averages around Y3,500.
[ Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-11pm (LO). Closed Mondays. ]
[ Open noon-9pm. Closed Sundays. ]
One of Kobe's top-rated places for steaks, Miyasu offers full-course Kobe beef steak dinners from around Y15,000.
[ Open noon-9pm. Closed Sundays. ]
[ Open noon-11pm. Closed Tuesdays. ]
The interior here is far from fancy, but the steaks are good and the prices reasonable. Kobe beef steak dinners with soup and salad start at around Y7,000.
[ Open noon-11pm. Closed Tuesdays. ]
European
[ Open 10am-11pm (LO) daily. ]
This lively cafe is perched in an ideal people-watching location midway up the Kitanozaka hill, with a popular outdoor sidewalk terrace that takes full advantage of the view. The menu includes...
[ Open 10am-11pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 11am-2, 5-8:30pm (LO) daily. ]
With excellent food and a comfortable, casual atmosphere, Patrie also delivers good value for money - full-course dinners are around Y5,000, and their lunchtime buffet is around Y3,000.
[ Open 11am-2, 5-8:30pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 11am-11pm daily. ]
This popular budget Italian cafe chain is known for their tasty, sometimes unusual pizzas and well-constructed pastas.
[ Open 11am-11pm daily. ]
Barstro Kitchen - French: Sannomiya [ Open 6pm-1am (LO) daily. ]
As the name implies, Barstro falls somewhere between a bistrot and a straight-out bar, and you can either enjoy a full-on French-inspired meal here, with dishes like duck confit and foie gras pate,...
[ Open 6pm-1am (LO) daily. ]
Asian
[ Open 11:30am-2, 5-9pm daily. ]
Peking-style cuisine, with an emphasis on Peking duck, is the specialty at this rather grandiose Kitano landmark. Full-course dinner menus run Y13,000-30,000, with lunches priced Y6,600-9,900.
[ Open 11:30am-2, 5-9pm daily. ]
[ Open 11am-2:30, 5-8pm. Closed Wednesdays. ]
Best known for their noodle dishes, the kitchen here also turns out a complete range of Cantonese standards.
[ Open 11am-2:30, 5-8pm. Closed Wednesdays. ]
[ Open 11:30am-2:30, 5-9pm (LO). Closed Mondays. ]
This long-running Kobe institution serves good Indian cuisine, including a lot of vegetable-centered dishes. Budget around Y3,000 at dinnertime.
[ Open 11:30am-2:30, 5-9pm (LO). Closed Mondays. ]
Japanese cuisines
[ Open 11am-9pm (LO) daily. ]
This big second branch of Hop Stand yakitori restaurant has forty terrace seats and another forty inside. They serve several different craft beers from Rokko brewery plus a collection of...
[ Open 11am-9pm (LO) daily. ]
[ 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). The dining room offers a nice high-rise view over the Kobe waterfront.
[ Open 11am-3, 5-9pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 11am-2:30, 5-9pm (LO). Closed Tuesdays. ]
Many eel connoisseurs consider this well-hidden shop to be the top spot in town for unagi. Grilled over the finest charcoal, the end product is crisp on the outside and fluffy and tender inside. ...
[ Open 11am-2:30, 5-9pm (LO). Closed Tuesdays. ]
[ Open 11am-2:30, 5-8:30pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays. ]
One of the original wave of yoshoku restaurants, Itoh Grill has been preparing original Japanese-style Western dishes since 1923. They've probably redecorated since then, but not too recently. ...
[ Open 11am-2:30, 5-8:30pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays. ]
[ Open 5pm-midnight (Sun 2-10) daily. ]
Craft beers from Rokko brewery are served with yakitori at this small bar. There are generally five or six craft beers on draft (along with three macros), served in four different sizes and priced...
[ Open 5pm-midnight (Sun 2-10) daily. ]
[ Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily. ]
A budget teishoku restaurant with a difference, Otoya serves good helpings of vegetables with your meals, with a variety of creative side dishes. Ootoya has over 100 shops in the Tokyo area (so they...
[ Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 11am-9pm (LO) daily. ]
Good-quality sushi doesn't always entail sitting at a brightly lit counter and dealing with formal service - Sushi Maru's down-to-earth setting and convenient tablet ordering system are much more...
[ Open 11am-9pm (LO) daily. ]
Izakayas, dining bars
[ Open 11am-10pm daily. ]
This popular shop lets you cook your own kushiage skewers in a deep-fryer right at your table. It's all you can eat, including various side dishes and a big variety of skewered tidbits. The price...
[ Open 11am-10pm daily. ]
[ Open 11am-11pm daily. ]
This popular shop lets you cook your own kushiage skewers in a deep-fryer right at your table. It's all you can eat, including various side dishes and a big variety of skewered tidbits. The price...
[ Open 11am-11pm daily. ]
Isomaru Suisan - Izakaya: Sannomiya [Open 24 hours a day. ]
Open 24 hours a day, this fish-specialty izakaya offers a wide range of raw and grilled fish and simple seafood dishes along with locally produced sake and inexpensive cocktails. The decor is...
[Open 24 hours a day. ]
[ Open 11am-2:30, 3-10pm (LO) daily. ]
Yakitori skewers made from premium heirloom-breed chicken are served alongside creative side dishes at this very casual izakaya. You can choose from around 14 wines by the glass, 15 kinds of sake,...
[ Open 11am-2:30, 3-10pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 5pm-midnight daily. ]
First-rate Miyazaki chicken dishes, regional Kyushu fare and local shochu brands are the specialties at this reasonably priced, unpretentious Miyazaki-based izakaya chain. Budget around Y3000-4000...
[ Open 5pm-midnight daily. ]
[ Open 11am-2, 5-10pm (LO) daily. ]
Excellent, creative cooking, friendly service and some of the nicest modern decor in Kobe make this restaurant worth a stop. Be sure to try the local dishes like the cross-cultural dim sum...
[ Open 11am-2, 5-10pm (LO) daily. ]
Budget Japanese cuisines
[ Open 11am-6:30pm. Closed Thursdays. ]
Akashiyaki dumplings originated in the city of Akashi just down the coast, and they're a local favorite here in Kobe. Similar to takoyaki in concept, akashiyaki is a fluffy, egg-rich dumpling filled...
[ Open 11am-6:30pm. Closed Thursdays. ]
[ Open noon-9:45pm (LO) daily. ]
Akashiyaki is a lighter, fluffier version of takoyaki, made with local octopus, and Tako-no-tsubo is an expert in its preparation. The room cozy dining room - usually filled with the aroma of...
[ Open noon-9:45pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 11am-11pm 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-11pm daily. ]
[ Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-7:30 (LO) daily. ]
This tiny shop prepares fantastic karaage-fried chicken, either on its own or donburi-style over a bowl of rice. The coating is crunchy and the meat is moist and tender, with a nice garlicky flavor....
[ Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-7:30 (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 11am-9pm daily. ]
This small, popular counter shop serves nice meaty gyoza dumplings in a down-to-earth setting. The fried dumplings are slightly more charred than usual, creating a crunchy texture and deeper flavor....
[ Open 11am-9pm daily. ]
[ Open 11am-11pm 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-11pm daily. ]
[ Open 11am-9:30pm (LO). Closed Tuesdays. ]
Sobameshi is a unique local dish that originated in the Nagata district of Kobe in the 1950s, and it's one of the specialties of this shop. The name describes a mix of yakisoba (fried wheat noodles)...
[ Open 11am-9:30pm (LO). Closed Tuesdays. ]
[ Open 11am-9pm daily. ]
Tomato ramen is the unusual specialty here, and a bowl of it incorporates juice and pulp from five and a half tomatoes as well as pork, onions, greens and other ingredients. Tomako's soup is richer...
[ Open 11am-9pm daily. ]
Curry
[ Open 10am-7:30pm (LO) daily. ]
A past winner of the prestigious Kanda Curry Grand Prix contest, this small chain of curry shops is known for their richly flavored, vegetable-heavy European-style curries. Their basic curry recipe...
[ Open 10am-7:30pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 11:30-3, 6-10pm. Closed Mondays. ]
The exciting, innovative spice curries at Rajkumar push the boundaries of the cuisine. The chef isn't afraid to experiment with dishes inspired by European cooking, like the eye-opening...
[ Open 11:30-3, 6-10pm. Closed Mondays. ]
[ Open 11:30am-2:30pm (LO). Closed Tue, Wed, Fri. ]
Kansai-style spice curry is the specialty at Rojiura Kitchen Yonemon, and the beautifully presented three-curry combo is highly recommended.
[ Open 11:30am-2:30pm (LO). Closed Tue, Wed, Fri. ]
[ Open noon-3pm. Closed Thursdays, Sundays. ]
You'll find excellent Kansai-style spice curries at this tiny lunchtime-only shop. Though the chef uses a hefty dose of different spices, the overall heat level is less fiery than average, so the...
[ Open noon-3pm. Closed Thursdays, Sundays. ]
[ Open 11am-7pm daily. ]
The draw at this old-fashioned basement shop is the spicy Japanese-style beef curry, which is served along with loud jazz - mainly bebop recorded on the Savoy record label. This is classic...
[ Open 11am-7pm daily. ]
Bars
Beer bars
[ Open 11am-9pm (LO) daily. ]
This big second branch of Hop Stand yakitori restaurant has forty terrace seats and another forty inside. They serve several different craft beers from Rokko brewery plus a collection of...
[ Open 11am-9pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily. ]
This Rokko beer stand takes center stage inside the "Tooth Tooth Mart Food Hall & Night Fes," the fancy food court underneath Kobe Port Museum. They serve eight beers from Rokko Brewery on tap,...
[ Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 5-11pm (Sa, Su 3-11). Closed Mondays. ]
A popular neighborhood standing bar (though they have four seats as well), Hare to Ke is unusual in that they offer craft ciders as well as craft beers. There are eight taps dispensing the wares of...
[ Open 5-11pm (Sa, Su 3-11). Closed Mondays. ]
[ Open 11:30am-9:30pm (LO) daily. ]
Run by Kobe craft brewery Open Air, this central-Motomachi taproom serves a dozen of their beers on tap plus a lineup of canned beers. They're open all day, and the spacious upstairs dining room...
[ Open 11:30am-9:30pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 1pm-midnight. Closed Tuesdays. ]
This cozy local beer specialist has seven seats at the bar and a few tables. In addition to four hand-pumped ales they offer more than 100 bottled beers, including a wide selection of Belgian...
[ Open 1pm-midnight. Closed Tuesdays. ]
[ Open 11am-9pm. Closed Tuesdays. ]
The attractive setting and the excellent background music, mostly classic R&B and funk, are the biggest draws at this cozy brewpub located on Rokko Island. Regular beers are priced at Y730 and Y1120...
[ Open 11am-9pm. Closed Tuesdays. ]
[ Open 11:30am-11pm daily. ]
Brugge is one of the few places in town where you can find a multiplicity of Belgian beers, in a convenient location right at the foot of Ikuta Road.
[ Open 11:30am-11pm daily. ]
[ Open 5pm-midnight (Sun 2-10) daily. ]
Craft beers from Rokko brewery are served with yakitori at this small bar. There are generally five or six craft beers on draft (along with three macros), served in four different sizes and priced...
[ Open 5pm-midnight (Sun 2-10) daily. ]
[ Open 11am-2:30, 3-10pm (LO) daily. ]
Run by the Zot beer importing company, Howzit offers several of their most popular beers on tap, along with a hearty bar-food menu. Beers on draft include Franziskanner Weissbier and Hofbrau lager...
[ Open 11am-2:30, 3-10pm (LO) daily. ]
[ Open 5-11pm. Closed Wednesdays. ]
Formerly the Rokko Beer Diner, this brewery taproom serves beers from Rokko Brewery, Starboard, and a decent selection of guest beers - we noted Boundary Bay and Coronado among the breweries during...
[ Open 5-11pm. Closed Wednesdays. ]
[ Open 11am-11pm daily. ]
This charming Kobe landmark serves a full range of Sapporo beers, and a huge, 150-item food menu. The small brewery in the basement produced two craft beers - a somewhat fruity wheat beer and a...
[ Open 11am-11pm daily. ]
Retail
Liquor shops
[ Open 11am-9pm daily. ]
This well-stocked liquor shop offers some fairly premium whiskies for tasting, with servings starting at 10ml. They've also got two fridges full of mostly canned craft beers, one for domestic...
[ Open 11am-9pm daily. ]
[ Open 10am-8pm (LO) daily. ]
Occupying a quiet corner of Hankyu Department Store's lively depachika (food hall), this well-stocked wine retailer features a small standing bar where you can grab a quick glass of wine after you're...
[ Open 10am-8pm (LO) daily. ]
More retail
[ Open 11am-8pm daily. ]
This Halal grocery store is a good place to find Indian and south Asian spices as well as various prepared foods.
[ Open 11am-8pm daily. ]
[ Open 11am-6pm daily. ]
The main branch of the famous Kobe Croquette chain serves some of the best croquettes in town. Rather than being mostly potatoes and crust, the hotate-shrimp croquettes are a nearly solid block of...
[ Open 11am-6pm daily. ]
[ Open 10am-5pm (Su, Mo -8pm). Closed Wednesdays. ]
A century-old butcher shop, Moriya Shoten is famous for their deep-fried croquettes, reportedly selling two thousand of them every day. They also offer a line-up of deep-fried cutlets from their...
[ Open 10am-5pm (Su, Mo -8pm). Closed Wednesdays. ]
[ Open 10am-8pm daily. ]
The basement food floor, right next to the station, is one of the better places to find a selection of local food products. (Formerly Sogo Department Store.)
[ Open 10am-8pm daily. ]
More Kobe
[ Open 10am-9pm (last entry 8pm). Closed Mondays, Tuesdays. ]
A nice contrast to the sleepy atmosphere of your typical cat cafe, Miacis was positively frenetic with activity during our evening visit, with cats running amok and chasing one another across the...
[ Open 10am-9pm (last entry 8pm). Closed Mondays, Tuesdays. ]
[ Open 9:30am-4:30pm (enter by 4pm). Closed Mondays. ]
This brewery museum is one of the most interesting of the many sake attractions in Kobe's compact brewery district. It's actually been put together inside an old sake kura, so unlike a modern museum...
[ Open 9:30am-4:30pm (enter by 4pm). Closed Mondays. ]
[ Open 9:30am-4:30pm (enter by 4pm) daily. ]
This relatively compact museum provides a nice overview of the traditional sake-brewing process, as well as sake-drinking culture. It's only five minutes away on foot from the larger Hakutsuru...
[ Open 9:30am-4:30pm (enter by 4pm) daily. ]
[ Open 1-8pm. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays. ]
The resident flock at this charming small-bird cafe includes canaries, finches, Java sparrows, lovebirds, cockatiels and various parakeets - some three dozen in all. The food menu includes both...
[ Open 1-8pm. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays. ]
[ Open 10am-4pm. Closed Wednesdays. ]
This large sake museum is built on the site of an old brewery run by Sawanotsuru, who have been making sake in this area for more than three centuries. Full-size recreations of traditional...
[ Open 10am-4pm. Closed Wednesdays. ]
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Bars, retailers and festivals
Cat, rabbit and bird cafe guide
Fun things to do in the big city
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