The restaurants below have been grouped into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over ¥12,000)
$$$ (¥7,000 to ¥12,000)
$$ (¥4,000 to ¥7,000)
$ (up to ¥4,000)
These prices are based on the cost of a three-course meal for one including a half bottle of house wine (where available).
Hyotei
This legendary restaurant offers the finest traditional kaiseki dining imaginable. Over 300 years old,
Hyotei was originally a tea house before it became a restaurant 170 years ago, and the kaiseki served here is the real deal - the cuisine
of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. A welcoming atmosphere and the most elegant service combine with perfectly cooked and beautifully presented multi-course meals to make a visit to Hyotei an extraordinary experience.
35 Nanzenji, Kusagawa machi, Sakyo-ku
Tel: (075) 771 4116.
Website:
http://hyotei.co.jpPrice: $$$$
Yoshikawa
Yoshikawa is a small restaurant just to the south of Oike, and it serves the best tempura in Kyoto. Guests can dine at the counter or in Japanese-style rooms, and while it may be more comfortable and relaxing to sit by a table, it is more fun to sit at the counter and watch the chefs expertly prepare the dishes. If you ever wondered what tempura really should be like, you will find the answer in this place.
Tominokoji Dori, Oike-sagaru
Tel: (075) 221 5544.
Price: $$$
Kushya (restaurant)
Kushya is a Japanese restaurant popular with foreigners visiting Kyoto. It specializes in
kushiyaki, skewered food that is grilled or deep-fried. Typically, the skewered meat or vegetables are dipped in tare sauce and then grilled. At Kushya, all conceivable kinds of kushiyaki are on the menu. The often exquisite dishes are based on the very best ingredients.
1/F Stellum, Kawaramachi-dori Sanjyo Noboru Higashi Iru, Ebisu-cho, Nakagyo-ku
Tel: (075) 211 3448.
Website:
www.kushya.com/english/info.html Price: $$
Hisago Zushi
A Kyoto classic,
Hisago Zushi is a very good Kansai-style sushi restaurant located in the heart of town, just a short walk north of Shijo-dori and on the west side of Kawaramachi-dori. Lovingly prepared and presented, the sushi is a delight. Reasonable prices and top quality have long made this restaurant a popular choice among locals and visitors alike.
Kawaramachi-dori Shijo-agaru, Nakagyo-ku
Tel: (075) 221 5409.
Website:
www.hisagozusi.co.jp Price: $-$$
Biotei
A long-established organic restaurant serving healthy and hearty Japanese food,
Biotei is a small venue with a slightly rustic interior. Located on the second floor right across from Nakagyo post office, it is a favorite among Kyoto’s vegetarians, but it also caters for local or visiting carnivores by serving a few meat dishes as well.
Higashino-toin, Sanjo-dori, Nakagyo-ku
Tel: (075) 255 0086.
Price: $
Nightlife:Bars: A Bar, 2/F Reiho Building, Nishi Kiyamachi, is a Kyoto classic, a Japanese bar and restaurant with a lively yet relaxed atmosphere, fun and friendly staff and an excellent selection of drink and food.
Tadg’s Irish Pub, 2/F Ohto Building (west of Nawate) is another friendly place that is great for food and drink as well as for socialising. Highly energetic fun can be had at
Bar, isn’t it?, Forum-Nishikiyamachi Building B1F, 67-3 Daikoku-cho, Sanjo-Kawaramachi sagaru, Nakgyo-ku, one of Kyoto’s largest bars, where things can get pretty crowded and crazy.
Clubs: Club Metro, B1F Ebisu Building, Shimotsustumi-cho 82, Kawabata-Marutamachi, Saykyo-ku (website:
www.metro.ne.jp) is a friendly underground disco and music club by Marutamachi railway station (by exit 2) on the Keihan line. Open to most musical genres and a bit of art as well, it draws a varied crowd.
Tranq Room, 162-2 Shinnyo-Cho, Joudoji sakyou-ku, Kyoto-shi (website:
http://home.att.ne.jp/sun/tranqroom/trr_frame.html) is a combination of tea house, bar, club, restaurant, art exhibition space and music venue, with jazz as the predominant ingredient on the musical menu.
Sent James Club, 180-3 Ponto-cho (website:
www.sentjamesclub.com), is a stylish bar and club with jazz music and a great location by the Kamogawa river.
Spanish Harlem Latin Club, B1F Reiho Building, Nishi Kiyamachi (west of the Takasegawa Stream) (website:
www.kyotosalsa.com) is a salsa and Latin dance club that opened in early 2007 and offers great food and drink, exciting music (Latin, soul, jazz) and a vibrant atmosphere.
Live Music: Taku Taku, Tominokoji Bukkoji sagaru, Shimogyo-ku (website:
www.geisya.or.jp/~takutaku), is a great warehouse club that has been around since 1974 and hosted gigs by stars like Dr John and Taj Mahal. Most of the time it is Japanese pop and rock acts that provide the entertainment.
Whoopee’s, B1 Hotel U’s 493-1 Kiyoi-cho, Yasakatoriimae sagaru, Higashiyama-ku (website:
www.whoopees.net), which is both a club and live music venue, has a younger audience and puts on both Japanese and international rock and pop acts.
Live Spot Rag, Kyoto Empire biru 5F, Kiyamachi dori Sanjo agaru, Nakagyo-ku (website:
www.ragnet.co.jp), is mainly a jazz venue that attracts both international and Japanese acts.
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