Kyoto has no shortage of gorgeous cafés and specialty coffee shops. This post breaks down the very best of them, detailing the coolest places for coffee in Kyoto.

After spending a combined two months in Japan, there is one thing I know to be true: the country’s café culture is impeccable. And no city in Japan exemplifies this more obviously than Kyoto.

Around every corner of Kyoto is a café serving ceremonial matcha and premium pour-overs. The city’s café scene perfectly reflects its blend of tradition and modernity. Whether you're a coffee connoisseur, a tea enthusiast, or simply someone looking for a cozy spot to relax after exploring the city, you won’t want to miss Kyoto's café culture. And, luckily for you, I’ve curated a list of the city’s best coffee spots, combining exceptional drinks with ultra-chic atmospheres.

coffee in japan

The culture around coffee in Japan is one of leisure; an activity enjoyed slowly with friends. It’s because of this slow-sipping philosophy, that many Japanese cafés don’t open until 10 AM (or later).

best cafés in Kyoto

Weekenders Coffee Tominokoji

Weekenders feels like a quintessentially Japanese coffee spot, housed in a wooden building at the corner of a parking lot. There’s a small area outside with a wooden bench; the café’s only seating. Weekenders is conveniently near all my favorite food and vintage shopping spots. It’s also close to Nishiki market. The coffee is prepared carefully by expert baristas. My flat white here was up there with the best barista coffee I’ve ever had.

wife + husband

Wife + Husband is, as its name suggests, a couple-run café and coffee roastery located away from the noise of the city center. It can be enjoyed two ways: sitting inside its antiques-filled interior or along the banks of the nearby river by way of a picnic.

Regardless of how you choose to experience this exceptional café concept, you must make a reservation. We showed up without a reservation and were nearly turned away. Fortunately, someone didn’t show up for their time slot, so we were squeezed inside. Luke had the fanciest hand-squeezed orange juice of his life accompanied by honey toast, while I devoured a pour-over. This was my favorite café in Kyoto and a can’t-miss experience for coffee lovers.

Walden Woods Kyoto

Down an unsuspecting street, Walden Woods is the perfect quiet café for a coffee and some food. Order your food downstairs before making your way upstairs. The chai at Walden is impossibly good, and it is best enjoyed in the courtyard-like setting of the café, which houses a tree. The entire café experience is perfectly tranquil.

Vermillion Café

If you’re planning on spending a morning at Fushimi Inari Shrine, I recommend capping off your visit with brunch at Vermillion Café. The riverside café, named after the vibrant orange color of the famous nearby Torii gates, serves a long list of espresso-based drinks, matcha, and brunch options. The café gets quite busy, so I suggest you head to Fushimi Inari Shrine early and then straight to Vermillion for opening to ensure you get a seat on the outside patio.

Black Cat Coffee

Black Cat Coffee sits along the lanes of Gion District. Small and unassuming, it’s an easy spot to walk past, but one that you won’t want to miss. The menu is entirely pared-back, letting coffee be the star of the show while highlighting an array of pour-over techniques. There is no seating, apart from a bench in front of the café, but it's arguably the best seat for people-watching and Geisha spotting.

common

The concrete bar at Common is lined in perfect symmetry by glass Chemex and V60s— a sign you’re in the right place for coffee. Bright and airy, Common is the kind of café I’d regular if I lived in Kyoto. The staff here were cheerful and willing to explain roasts and menu options with me, despite there being a slight language barrier. My pour-over was a thing of beauty, and watching the baristas prepare it with such attention to detail looked like watching a dance of sorts. 10/10, I recommend.

Sentido Coffee

Located just south of Nijō Castle, Sentido is a favorite for coffee lovers in Kyoto. And for good reason. The café is small, with limited seating, but I knew immediately it was worth it when I noticed that each time I walked past people were drinking their coffee outside in the cold. We managed to get to Sentido for opening one morning and squeezed into two seats. The chai was smooth and creamy and their pour-overs were the result of expert baristas. It’s inarguably a Kyoto café coffee lovers must add to their list.

Kurasu Coffee

Near Kyoto Station is Kurasu Coffee, a gorgeous café with ample people-watching. It also opens relatively early (8 AM), so it’s good to note if you’re a “coffee first thing in the morning” kind of person. If you’re a coffee super fan, I recommend No visit here is complete without trying the iced matcha espresso latte, their signature drink!

Arabica %

I’m going to say something that could be slightly controversial: Arabica % is not my choice for a café. The chain is wildly popular thanks to its sleek, minimal Instagram aesthetic. But, despite how easy it is on the eyes, the coffee tastes pretty average. Arabica does have something other than its minimal interiors: it opens at 8 AM, nearly two hours before other coffee shops in the city.

clamp Coffee Sarasa

Rustic, charming, and a touch homey: that’s how I would describe Clamp Coffee. The inside of the café is decorated with repurposed wood planks and antiquities. Don’t be too distracted by its aesthetic interiors though; Clamp takes coffee seriously. If V60 pour-overs are your thing, Clamp is the spot for you. Like many Japanese cafés, it has a “toast” menu. The Cinnamon Toast here ranks highly as one of the best “toast breakfasts” I’ve indulged in during my travels across Japan.

botanic coffee Kyoto

Hidden away on the basement level of a white residential building is one of the coolest Kyoto cafés you’ve likely never heard about. Botanic Coffee Kyoto is a quiet brunch spot slowly growing in notoriety for its pancake stack, which I devoured alongside my coffee. Luke thoroughly enjoyed his lemon French toast and his orange juice (served in a wine glass). We picked a seat inside, by the fireplace. Botanic was decorated with mismatched tables and chairs, vintage china, and assorted tablecloths.