Best Coffee In Kyoto: 9 Cafes You Must Try for Kissaten Legends

Share This Article

Here’s something that boggled my mind: Kyoto, the city of matcha and the tea ceremony capital, is one of the highest-consuming coffee cities in the country. To me, there’s something truly poetic about that. Or ironic (Maybe both?)

Now I may be new to the party, but as it turns out, the best coffee in Kyoto isn’t some recent trend.

What blows me away is the range though. You’ve got heritage kissaten where the owner brews siphon coffee over an open flame using a method from the 1830s. Then five minutes down the road, there’s a minimalist roastery with no sign on the building serving Ethiopian pour-overs. Both incredible.

With that in mind, let’s check out my 9 favorite spots for the best coffee in Kyoto.

1. % Arabica: The One That Started The Hype

You might remember this one from my list of top breakfasts in Kyoto.

Co-founder’s a former Latte Art World Champion. So yeah. They certainly know what they’re doing. If you’re not sure what to get, I vouch for their Kyoto Latte. It’s a super smooth espresso with steamed milk and condensed milk.

You’ll find plenty of % Arabica branches around Kyoto, but my favorites are the ones in Higashiyama (steps from Yasaka Pagoda) and Arashiyama (overlooking the river by the Togetsu-kyo Bridge).  If you’ve only got time for one, go Arashiyama. Early morning. Latte. Riverbank. Mountains. In my opinion, that’s a perfect Kyoto morning right there.

2. Kurasu: Best Coffee In Kyoto For Matcha

Their dirty matcha latte was one of my favorite drinks in all of Kyoto. I should probably start with that.

Kurasu is near Kyoto Station, and it’s got this interesting backstory. Apparently, the founder Yozo Otsuki was in investment banking, quit, and started selling Japanese coffee equipment from a tiny online shop in Sydney in 2013. By 2016 he had a physical cafe in Kyoto, and now they’ve expanded to Singapore and Bangkok. Impressive, huh?

They rotate through a different roaster every month for their filter coffees. So, you might get beans from a tiny roaster in Hokkaido one visit and a Kyushu specialist the next. Genuinely different experience each time. They also sell gorgeous brewing equipment , which, fair warning, you will want to buy. I ended up flying back home with a dripper.

Two locations: original near Kyoto Station and a roastery near Fushimi Inari.

3. Weekenders Coffee Roastery: A Legendary Institution In Kyoto

So, Weekenders Coffee is a bit of a legend in Kyoto’s coffee scene. Owner Masahiro Kaneko was one of the first people to bring specialty espresso to the city, starting way back in 2005. Their famous Tominokoji branch — the one hidden in a parking lot that every coffee blog raved about — closed in April 2026. Shame since it was once known as the best coffee in Kyoto. But the Roastery is still very much alive.

It’s in a renovated machiya townhouse between Gion Shijo and Gojo. Kaneko and his wife do all their roasting right there on site.

There’s a catch though. The Roastery opens on irregular days only. No fixed schedule. You have to check their Instagram before making the trip. I know that sounds like a hassle, but honestly? The fact that you can’t just show up whenever makes it feel like even more of a find when you do get in.

4. Elephant Factory Coffee: Good Luck Finding The Entrance

This is the one where I felt like I’d won something, I almost feel bad sharing it.

Elephant Factory Coffee is found in a tiny alley near Kawaramachi-dori and Pontocho. A local friend was showing me around that day, otherwise I would never have come across this café on my own!

To find it, you’ll need to look for tiny elephant logo on the wall. Go up the stairs and open the first door that has nothing written on it. I legit thought I was walking into someone’s apartment. Even had my apology at the ready.

Instead, we stepped into a dark, broody place that serves the best coffee in Kyoto. Unlike most places, it’s pretty quiet inside. It’s got a retro, kissaten feel, complete with soft jazz music, and a single barista (locally known as the coffee master).

The café specializes in beans roasted in a family-owned roastery found in Hokkaido. Each cup is hand drip, and they’ve also got a small selection of local teas.

I do have to add this was one of the most expensive coffee spots I visited in Kyoto. A single cup can set you back around ¥750, but it’s worth it for the authentic experience.

5. Inoda Coffee: 1947 And Still Going

Completely different energy to the rest of this list. If the Elephant Factory is all about hiding, Inoda Coffee is about being a Kyoto institution that everyone knows and nobody gets tired of.

The main branch has existed in Nakagyo Ward since 1947. Expect high ceilings, warm wood, and a gorgeous circular counter.

Like the best coffee in Kyoto, their brews are all flannel-drip. Now, I don’t claim to be a coffee expert or anything, but fabric instead of paper might explain the rounder finish. Their house blend “Arabian Pearl” hasn’t changed in decades.

Travel Insighter tip: If visiting in the morning, order the “Kyoto Breakfast” set. It’s got scrambled eggs, thick-cut ham, croissant, fruit, and a cup of Arabian Pearl. Also, if the main store queue is too long, the branch inside Porta underground mall at Kyoto Station is your backup. Same coffee, hardly any wait.

6. Walden Woods: A Quiet Coffee Retreat In Kyoto

Located just a 15 minutes’ walk from Kyoto Station, Walden Woods looks more like a small gallery than a coffee shop, and I think that’s deliberate.

Now, I have a weak spot for matcha, and their Matcha Dame Blanche totally hit the spot. Especially when paired with their Wolf Cookies which, fair warning, you may find way too cute to eat!

Head upstairs where you can relax in one of their stepped seating areas.

After your coffee, check out Shosei-en Garden, located right across the street. Because it’s tucked away high walls, this garden is something of a hidden gem in the city. It’s got teahouses, stone bridges, a pond…the works! Actually, if you’ve got some extra time to spare, this combo tour of Kyoto Tower, Shosei-en Garden, and Higashi Honganji is the perfect way to prolong your morning after breakfast at Walden Woods!

7. Circus Coffee: Best Coffee In Kyoto For Century Old Brews

Tiny. I mean genuinely tiny.

Circus Coffee is as authentic as it gets! For starters, it’s found in a century-old house. The owner, Yoshinori Watanabe-San roasts the beans he sources all over Japan using his own secret techniques. He apparently only produces small batches at a time to make sure everything stays super fresh.

Not only will he take the time to guide you through their selection of beans, but he’ll also go out of his way to help you pick the ones you might like best.

This place isn’t even remotely trendy. No merch. No Instagram wall. Not even a massive menu. Just a one-man show in a very old house, and yet, it’s the kind of place locals keep going back to over and over again.

8. Nijo Koya: A 1946 Cabin With Amazing Drip Coffee

I found Nijo Koya on a side street while walking away from Nijo Castle. It’s a renovated post-war house from 1946 that looks like a tiny wooden cabin somehow dropped into a Kyoto backstreet.

Inside, it fits maybe five to eight people standing at the counter. That’s it. Owner Akio Nishiki runs the whole operation solo.

They do lattes as well, made by pouring a concentrated drip extraction directly into milk. Surprisingly enough, there was also a small selection of wine and beer.

Food-wise, they do an insanely moreish sandwiches pressed in a traditional cast iron sandwich maker. If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, their homemade carrot cake’s got my vote. I had both with an Ethiopian pour-over while jazz played and rain tapped on the cabin roof.

Insider tip: The back wall is covered in stickers, photos, and notes from coffee people who’ve passed through over the years. Bring one from home if you’ve got one.

9. Smart Coffee: Best Coffee in Kyoto Since 1932

This is the oldest spot on my list by a long way. Smart Coffee opened before World War II, circa 1932.

Quick disclaimer: unlike a lot of the places on my pick of best coffee in Kyoto, Smart Coffee isn’t a secret. Locals know it, tourists know it, and on busy mornings there’s a line out the door before they even open. But the fact that a coffee shop has been pulling crowds for over 90 years tells you everything you need to know.

Their coffee is amazing of course, but regulars actually come back for classic Japanese egg sando. I had one with a siphon coffee and immediately understood why this place has outlived basically every restaurant I’ve ever eaten at.

A few things about Kyoto’s coffee culture that I wish I’d known earlier

So, before you set off on a caffeine crawl, a few things worth knowing:

Many retro kissatens don’t have Wi-Fi, and that’s completely intentional. You’re not there to work on your laptop. You’re there to sit and drink and maybe read something. A kissaten functions more like a neighborhood bar for coffee drinkers than a cafe in the way we think of cafes. I didn’t understand that on my first visit. I sat down, pulled out my laptop, and immediately got some looks.

Speaking of kissatens, many of them use the old-school siphon method. This usually involves glass chambers, open flame, and vacuum extraction. It’s theatrical and genuinely beautiful to watch. Other places may use the classic Japanese nel drip technique. This one is a 3-step process with cloth filters and an exquisitely slow pour. For me, the siphon technique is the winner, mostly because it provides a more dramatic experience.

The other thing that struck me is how much Kyoto’s approach to coffee mirrors the tea ceremony. If you’ve ever attended one, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Everything is measured. Everything is deliberate. Pour speed, water temperature, grind size … nothing gets left to chance. When you watch a kissaten master brew siphon coffee, you’re basically watching a tea ceremony performed with coffee beans. If you ask me, it’s worth checking out a vintage spot just for that – even though it may take longer than grabbing coffee at a chain store!

First time in Japan? Be sure to check out our 2-week itinerary that we brewed up for first-timers! Head down south for some of the most amazing sights in Japan and if you’re not sure what to bring back home, you can always stock up on scrumptious Japanese snacks!

---

Read more of our best insights from around the world

• 
  Best Coffee In Kyoto: 9 Cafes You Must Try for Kissaten Legends
• 
  8 Rooftops In Singapore For Views, Drinks And Food
• 
  Best Bars In Osaka: Speakeasies, Whisky Dens and Secret Spots
• 
  8 Best Cafes in Joo Chiat, Singapore for brunch, coffee or lunch
• 
  Best Bakery in Singapore? 8 Must Try Spots for Sweet and Savory Treats
• 
  9 Best Breakfasts In Kyoto: Traditional Sets, Medicinal Eats + Machiya Cafes