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2024.7.22
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Kyoto's classic tour! Can't-miss pure and retro coffee shops

[2024] A classic tour of Kyoto! 17 Junshocha and Retro Coffee Shops You Can't Miss!

We have selected 17 coffee shops with a local reputation as "the place to go when you think of Kyoto," including classic coffee shops with stately interiors that give a sense of history and old buildings that have been renovated and reborn as new. We have selected 17 coffee shops that are well known locally as "the place to go when you think of Kyoto! The menu of these coffee shops, including coffee carefully roasted by the owner and hearty lunches, is also worth noting. Come and experience Kyoto's coffee shop culture as it continues to evolve with the times. (TEXT/Yuko Hanawa, EDIT/Moe Sawamura)

1.[Egg sandwiches from a long-established Western-style restaurant at Cafe Madrague / Oshikoji-dori Nishinotoin

Opened in 2011, Café Madlag is crowded with people every day, attracted by its extensive menu and delicious food. One of the most well-known menu items is the egg sandwich, which was inherited from the long-established Western-style restaurant Corona. The beautiful cross section of the large, fluffy omelet is also a sight to behold, so be sure to give it a try.

Madlag Store interior
Madrak

Corona's egg sandwich 990 yen; take-out available with reservation by phone up to 2 days in advance

Cafe Madrag

  • Kissa Madrag
  • Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto City Nakagyo Ward
  • 4-minute walk from Subway Nijojo-mae Station
  • Tel.075-744-0067

2.[Coffee and homemade doughnuts at Rokuyosha / Kawaramachi Sanjo

Rokuyosha is a coffee shop established in 1950. The first floor has a beautiful arrangement of seats, all of which are sofas. The first floor shop has a beautiful arrangement of sofa seats, and even now, more than 70 years after its establishment, it is still a relaxing space for men and women of all ages to relax between jobs or to take a break from sightseeing.

Japanese calendar's six labels, indicating how auspicious each day is

Blended coffee 500 yen. 200 yen homemade doughnuts available for order at both the basement and 1st floor stores from 12:00 p.m.

Coffee Shop Rokuyosha

  • coffee shop owner
  • 40 Daikoku-cho, Sanjo-sagaru, Kawaramachi-Dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto
  • 5-minute walk from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Subway Station
    5-minute walk from Keihan Sanjo Station
  • Tel. 075-221-3820

3.[A hearty morning at Inoda Coffee / Karasuma Oike

Founded in 1940, Inoda Coffee's main coffee shop has an elegant and charming retro atmosphere that has remained unchanged since its establishment. The morning meal served in the store is very popular, along with the home-roasted coffee. The morning meal is a hearty meal with original boneless ham, scrambled eggs, croissants, and other items!

Inoda Coffee Main Store
Breakfast in Kyoto at Inoda Coffee Head Office

Breakfast in Kyoto for 1,780 yen. In addition to a glass of orange juice, you can choose a set drink such as coffee or cafe au lait!

Inoda Coffee Main Store

  • Inoda Coffee Honten
  • 140 Dosyu-cho, Sanjo-sagaru, Sakaicho-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 5-minute walk from Subway Karasuma Oike Station
  • Tel. 075-221-0507

4.Simple but delicious egg sandwiches at Cafe Tyrol / Nijo Castle area

The coffee shop [Cafe Tyrol] was established in 1968. The tables and chairs that have been used since the store's opening have the same coloring as the wood, creating a cozy atmosphere. The menu includes toast, spaghetti, and other items only a coffee shop can offer. Curry, which is infused with Awaji onions and Japanese beef, has been a popular menu item for many years.

Cafe Tyrol Inside
Cafe Tyrol Egg Sandwich Regular

The egg sandwich is popular along with the famous curry, and costs 800 yen. The fluffy, thickly baked egg seasoned only with salt is perfectly balanced with thinly sliced cucumber!

Cafe Tyrol

  • coffee shop madam
  • 539-3 Monzen-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 5-minute walk from Subway Nijojo-mae Station
  • Tel. 075-821-3031

5.[Cafe Soiree] 5 sparkling colors of jelly punch/Kawaramachi

A retro café that has remained unchanged since its founding in 1948. Soiree means "evening party" in French, and as the name suggests, the blue lighting creates a bewitching mood. The standard item is the jelly punch, which contains 5 different colors of jelly. You will be captivated by the sparkling jewel-like visuals that match the atmosphere inside the store.

Cafe soiree

Jelly punch 750 yen. Fruits vary depending on the season.

Cafe soiree

  • Kissa Soiree
  • 95 Nishikiyamachi-dori Shijo Kameru Shinmachi, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 1 minute walk from Hankyu "Kyoto Kawaramachi Station"
  • Tel.075-221-0351

6.Enjoy a traditional coffee float at [Smart Coffee Shop] / Teramachi Sanjo

The store opened in 1932 with the aim of providing smart and attentive service. You can enjoy coffee and traditional sweets while feeling the atmosphere of a long-established store. The coffee float, made with home-roasted coffee beans, is a perfect match for the strong flannel drip coffee and mildly sweet ice cream.

smart coffee shop
smart coffee shop

Floating is a round ice cream coffee float for 750 yen. Gum syrup and cream are your choice

smart coffee shop

  • smart coffee
  • 537 Tenshojimae-cho, Teramachi-dori Sanjo-kamiru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 3-minute walk from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Subway Station
  • Tel.075-231-6547

7.[Colorful and cute cream soda at Cafe Zo / Imadegawa

Cafe Zou is the sister store of the popular Zoumesuya restaurant run by the Aichi Prefecture miso store Imai Brewery. Here, you can enjoy crepes made with crispy dough and plenty of butter, as well as egg sandwiches with homemade meat miso spread on the bread. One of their specialties, a colorful cream soda for 660 yen, is very popular, and an elephant cookie can be added for an extra 100 yen.

Inside Cafe Zou
Cafe Zo - Cream Soda

Choice of red, blue, or green cream soda for 760 yen each (with elephant cookie). Milk gelato with a refreshing aftertaste melts in your mouth.

cafe elephant

  • Kissa Elephant
  • 440-3 Sanchocho, Ogawa Nishiri Ru, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 10 minutes walk from Subway "Imadegawa Station"
  • Tel.075-406-0245

8.Sweets for Adults [Francois Cafe] / Kawaramachi

The Francois Café is a long-established coffee shop in Kyoto. The Western street-corner-like exterior and the interior decor reminiscent of a hall on a luxury cruise ship have remained unchanged since the shop's establishment in 1934. Its melt-in-your-mouth rare cheese cake is loved by many people.

Francois Tea Room
Rare cheesecake from Francois Cafe

Melt-in-your-mouth rare cheese cake made with rich cream cheese and fresh cream 700 yen

Francois Tea Room

  • Francois kiss
  • 184 Funatocho, Shijo Shimoru, Nishikiyamachi-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 1 minute walk from Hankyu "Kyoto Kawaramachi Station"
  • Tel.075-351-4042

9.[Cafe Hisui] Showa retro fruit parfait/Shino

The interior of Cafe Hisui, which was founded in 1966, has a nostalgic feel. Light meals such as omelet rice and a wide variety of set meals are also available. The fruit parfait is a very satisfying dish with lots of fresh fruit and cream. The refreshing orange sauce goes perfectly with cream or vanilla ice cream.

Cafe Hisui
Cafe Hisui

A gorgeous fruit parfait with a retro glass and decoratively cut fruits for 920 yen

Cafe Hisui

  • KISSAHISUI
  • Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto City Kita Ward Murasakino Nishigosho Tamachi 41-2
  • 5 minute walk from Kitaoji Subway Station
  • Tel.075-491-1021

10.Food menu at Ogawa Coffee Sakaimachi Nishiki, which makes the most of seasonal ingredients to enjoy with coffee / Sakaimachi Nishiki

[At Ogawa Coffee Sakaimachi Nishiki, you can enjoy a food menu using seasonal and Kyoto ingredients along with original brand coffee. Don't miss the seasonal fruit sandwiches made with homemade bread and the fresh melon cream soda for 1,100 yen (available only from June to September), which was launched last year. The sandwiches also make great souvenirs.

Ogawa Coffee Sakaimachi Nishiki
Ogawa Coffee Sakaimachi Nishiki Sandwich

[The omelet made with eggs from Kyotanba Mizuho Farm is soft and fluffy. Coffee 750 yen and up.

Ogawa Coffee Sakaimachi Nishiki

  • Ogawa Coffee Sakaimachi Nishikiten
  • 519-1 Kikuya-cho, Sakaimachi-dori, Nishiki-koji, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 6 minutes walk from Exit 14 of "Karasuma" station on Hankyu line
  • Tel.075-748-1699

11.Sandwiches at Cafe Amazon to enjoy with home-roasted coffee / Shichijo

Café Amazon is an old-fashioned coffee shop that serves home-roasted coffee. The master, who loves bread, has created a variety of sandwiches to enjoy with his strong, deep-roasted coffee. It is recommended when you want a delicious morning meal or just to take a breather. Take-out is also available.

Amazon Appearance
Amazon Egg Sandwich

900 yen for an egg sandwich with ketchup and mayonnaise and tangy spicy butter (half size 600 yen)

Coffee Amazon

  • Amazon
  • 235 Shimohorizume-cho, Shichijo Kamigaru, Sasamachi-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 2 min. walk from Keihan "Shichijo" station
  • Tel. 075-561-8875

12.[A marriage of coffee and cheesecake to be enjoyed in the peaceful atmosphere of "Cafe Reed Island" / Sanjo Kawaramachi

The coffee is carefully roasted in small quantities using an open-flame roasting machine, and a well-balanced selection of beans is always available to meet the diverse tastes of guests. In addition to the warmth of the wooden space, the restaurant also offers thorough service, including a selection of children's tableware and barrier-free accessibility. Last year, a second store opened in Kyoto Takashimaya S.C. [T8], which is also worth checking out.

Reed Island Inside the store
Reed Island Cheese Cake

Sanjo Cheesecake 690 yen to enjoy with Reed Island Blend 830 yen, a medium deep roast with a good balance.

coffee shop or cafe where one can read manga, often has Internet facilities

  • red-banded sand wasp (Ammophila sabulosa)
  • 5F Bunmeido Building, 37 Daikoku-cho, Kawaramachi Higashi-iru, Sanjo-Dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto
  • 5-minute walk from Keihan Sanjo Station
  • Tel. 075-241-2210

13.Contemporary art for everyday life. [Enjoy the coffee menu at Maeda Coffee Meirin / Muromachi Takoyakushi

[Maeda Coffee Meirin, located on the first floor of Kyoto Art Center, celebrated its 20th anniversary by renovating its kitchen into a contemporary artwork called "tower (KITCHEN). The shop has been transformed into a space where artists, local residents, students, and various other people can come in contact with the artwork and feel more comfortable in front of it. Enjoy a luxurious time feeling close to art while tasting a wide variety of dishes.

Maeda Coffee Meilin Store Interior
Coffee and matcha parfait from Maeda Coffee Meirin

Coffee and matcha parfait with the deep, rich taste of matcha ice cream and thick coffee jelly is an irresistible combination. 1,750 yen.

Maeda Coffee Meirin

  • Maeda Coffee Meirinten
  • Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto City Nakagyo Ward
  • 3 minutes walk from Hankyu Karasuma Station
  • Tel.075-221-2224

14.Enjoy a perfect cup of coffee at Shimogamo's well-known caffè Verdi Shimogamo Honten / Shimogamo

At caffè Verdi Shimogamo, known for its meticulous hand-drip coffee, the beans are sorted by hand and only the coffee for that day's use is roasted. The coffee's flavor has many fans among locals and tourists alike. Try the toast set during morning hours or the hot sandwiches at lunch time to complement your coffee.

verdi Shimogamo Exterior
verdi shimogamo coffee

A wide variety of coffees from shallow roast to deep roast from 600 yen and up are on standby.

caffè Verdi Shimogamo main branch

  • Cafe Verdi, Shimmokomo-honten
  • 49-24 Shimogamo-Shibamoto-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 1 minute walk from bus stop "Rakuhoku Koukoumae".
  • Tel. 075-706-8809

15.Enjoy a nostalgic taste at Yamamoto Cafe, a place of relaxation for locals and tourists alike/Higashiyama

Yamamoto Cafe is located along the Shirakawa River in Gion. The store is reminiscent of an old-fashioned coffee shop, serving aromatic coffee roasted by the master and a nostalgic coffee menu. Among the popular items, the grilled egg sandwich is loved by people of all ages. During the summer season, lemon squash and pineapple squash with coconut ice cream are also available to quench your thirst.

Yamamoto Cafe Inside
Yamamoto Cafe Menu

The grilled egg sandwich, 700 yen, matches the fluffy omelet with thinly sliced cucumbers; lemon squash, 800 yen, available only from June to September.

Yamamoto Cafe

  • coffee shop or cafe where one can read manga, often has Internet facilities
  • 307-2 Ishibashi-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • Short walk from bus stop "Chion-in-mae".
  • Tel. 075-531-0109

16.[A hearty menu to be enjoyed in the historic space of [Sarasa Nishijin] / Kuramaguchi Omiya

Sarasa Nishijin Café was built in a 90-year-old public bathhouse, and is a precious space that has been reborn while retaining its original interior, with its high, coffered ceiling and walls covered with Japanese majolica tiles. The restaurant is crowded with people every day, as they can enjoy hearty lunches and sweets in such a historical atmosphere. Reservations are recommended on weekdays.

Appearance of Sarasa Nishijin
Hot! Teppan Chocolate Brownie

Hot and hot, available only at the Nishijin store! Teppan chocolate brownie 790 yen. Recommended to share after lunch!

Sarasa Nishijin

  • Saraswati (god of wealth, music, eloquence and water)
  • 11-1, Higashi-Fujino Fujinomori-cho, Shino, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 5 min. walk from bus stop "Daitokuji-mae".
  • Tel. 075-432-5075

17.Omelette rice at Kisa Me, a long-established coffee shop in Ginza, Okazaki, Japan.

The owner, Mr. Kimura, was shocked when he was a student at a long-established coffee shop in Ginza, Tokyo, called "Cafe you" for its omelette rice. With a passion to spread this omelette in Kyoto, he opened "Cafe me" after training at the original shop! The omelette on top of the omelette is not only beautiful to look at, but also has an unbelievably tender texture that is hard to resist. Enjoy the happiness of eating in Kyoto to your heart's content.

Inside the cafe me
Cafe me's omelet rice

Ginza Omelette Rice with Ketchup Rice topped with a fresh cream omelette for 1,300 yen. Includes choice of drink.

Cafe me

  • Kiss me
  • 1-8 Okazaki Seishojicho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 6 minutes walk from Higashiyama Subway Station
  • Tel.075-708-7218
*Please note that the information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
*Since this site uses automatic translation, the translation may differ from the original Japanese content.

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