Kyoto

Kyōto (京都) was the capital of Japan for over a millennium, and carries a reputation as the nation's most beautiful city and its cultural capital - even the national government's Agency for Cultural Affairs moved there in 2023. However, visitors may be surprised by how much work they will have to do to see Kyoto's beautiful side. Most first impressions of the city will be of the urban sprawl of central Kyoto, around the ultra-modern glass-and-steel train station, which is itself an example of a city steeped in tradition colliding with the modern world.

See: 2480
Do: 936
Eat: 7830
Drink: 3339
Buy: 801

3,339 places match

DrinkNorth

Ringo

A bar dedicated to the Beatles' singer Ringo Star, with Beatles memorabilia decorating the walls and even a cover band that plays here live. The fresh pizza is quite good.

Daily 17:00-03:00, closed Mondays · Cocktails cost ¥400, handmade pizza ¥730

DrinkBarCentral

Milan's Bar

A fun little bar tucked away down a back alley on the west side of the canal. The alley is just south of Karaoke Paradise, and the sign for Milan's read just Mil-N Bar. Located on the 2nd floor, it's a cozy, cave-like interior, but Milan, the Nepalese proprietor, is gregarious and always has a funny tale to tell.

DrinkPubHigashiyama

Gion Kappa Restaurant

An izakaya (Japanese-style pub) where you can see them preparing the food in front of you, popular with both international tourists and Japanese customers. Try the sweet plum liquor. English menu available.

Most of the small dishes cost ¥390 each. Cover charge of ¥390 per person, which includes an appetizer

DrinkSouth

Gekkeikan

月桂冠

Founded in 1637, this local sake brewing company remains popular among Japanese even today. Many of the old breweries still exist and visitors can tour Gekkeikan and visit the attached museum to get a glimpse of how the sake is made.

Tue-Sun 09:30-16:30 · ¥300

DrinkBarCentral

A bar

A hard-to-find (on 2nd floor) izakaya close to the Shijo/Kiyamachi corners, makes a great start to the evening. Food is good and reasonable - daily sashimi specials and fried goods, especially. You share long tables with foreigners and locals alike; a friendly thing to do would be to pour beers for your neighbors and Suei-san, the proprietor.

¥550 Yebisu

DrinkBarCentral

K-ya

K Bar, Bar K

Classy beautiful off the beaten path bar that caters to locals more than tourists. The owner is one of Japan's best bartenders. Staff wear tux's ala Rainbow Room in New York. The vibe is upscale yet casual. It overlooks a beautiful Japanese garden. Cocktails range from classics like Moscow Mule to their own specialities. Tasty amuse bouche come with each round of drinks. Service is wonderful.

DrinkPubCentral

The Hub

Lots of TVs for sports, cheap beer (¥700/pint) (especially with a ¥500 membership) and more expensive imports; food, however, is mediocre. This is basically the headquarters for English-speaking tourists and gaijin residents for happy hour. Happy hour (17:00-19:00) discounts cocktails only. If you want some inside information about where to go, where to eat, what to see, etc., ask a group here. One of the larger bars in Kyoto, it is a popular spot for happy hours and goodbye parties. The real draw is the football, darts tournaments, and, upstairs in the back, the pool table.

DrinkNorth Not mapped

Kyoto Kamigamo Mankawa

A cocktail bar along with a restaurant serving various health food dishes.

Open from 5PM to midnight. Closed Tuesdays and holidays · Original cocktails sell for ¥730-840, umeshu ¥630, detox drinks from ¥630-730

DrinkCentral Not mapped

Sake Bar Yoramu

酒ＢＡＲよらむ

From the unusual to the standard, this sake bar has both an impressive selection of traditional Japanese rice wine. Even more impressive is the barkeep and owner, who's from Israel, who can translate your preferences in wine into sake. Well-aged sake is available, busting the myth that sake does not age. Traditionally-brewed sake ranging from slightly cloudy to yogurt-like may also be available.

Tue-Sun 18:00-00:00, closed first Sun of the month

DrinkNorth Not mapped

The Flying Keg

World Beer Bar

A great place for anyone wanting to sample beers from around the world or missing beer from home, The Flying Keg offers beers from the U.S., Kenya, Germany, Ireland, Israel, China, Mexico, Australia, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, Belgium, New Zealand, the Caribbean, Italy, and the UK.

Daily 19:00 to 00:30 (01:00 on weekends) · Most drinks sell for ¥600-900, wines for ¥2000-3000

DrinkNorth Not mapped

Bar Moonwalk

Offers a large selection of drinks at a great cost. Finger food is also available.

Drinks sell for about ¥200 each, though expect smaller quantities of alcohol than the average bar.

DrinkCentral Not mapped

Nikki's Bar

This is a nice little bar ran by a gregarious Nepalese guy named Nikki. It's got a great bunch of regulars and new customers are always warmly welcomed. It's just north of Hamid's Kebab shop. Mixed drinks and beer run ¥700 per drink and shots are ¥500. It's a little hard to find because it's on the 8th floor. If you can't find it ask the folks working at Hamid's.

20:00-05:00 · ¥700

DrinkCentral Not mapped

Sugar Trip

A ritsy cocktail bar with a variety of drinks from the standard beers to champaigne and cava. Most people come for one of the many cocktail varieties that this bar is famous for.

Original cocktails sell for ¥700-750, Smoothie cocktails for ¥900, Beer for ¥650-700, tonic ¥700

DrinkCentral Not mapped

Ing

No night in Kyoto is complete without the requisite after hours visit to all-night Ing (a.k.a., "Box Bar," or "the office"). Proprietor Hako-san will keep bringing you the booze, and he's happy to join you for a drink when offered. Food there is always an option - tofu salad & potato pizza are good for the price (¥600). Get ready for Rolling Stones, competitive Jenga, sharing tables with odd drunk people, and clothes permanently soaked in smoke. Good luck finding it. If you see Hamid's Falafel you're on the right track. Ing is on the second floor of a building slightly south of Hamid's.

Sapporo sells at ¥600 each shareable bottle

DrinkCentral Not mapped

McLoughlin's

Presided over by the most amiable owner/chef Tadg McLoughlin. Quality beers, domestic and foreign (including microbrews). The staff are friendly and speak English. Live music on weekends. Giant screen TV (Mr. McLoughlin being a rugby fanatic), darts, foosball and a great view of east Kyoto. Happy hours are 17:00-20:00.

Main courses starting at ¥1,200

DrinkCentral Not mapped

Pub Africa

Although many think this is an Africa-themed bar, there is nothing very African about it. If there's a football match from home that you need to catch, they'll show it here, and they have cheap Asahi jugs. Beers half off during Happy Hour. Also, their fooseball table is very well kept. Across from the Hub, infra.

DrinkBar

Bar Rocking Chair

バー・ロッキングチェアは、100年の歴史を持つ町家を利用した伝統的な京都スタイルのカクテルバーで、著名なバーテンダー・坪倉健司がメニューなしでオリジナルカクテルを作り出します。ゲストは、特別なメニューや、ウイスキーを使ったティラミスやチョコレートガナッシュなどのプレミアムスピリッツを使った自家製デザートを楽しむことができます。

Mo-Su 17:00-01:00

DrinkBar