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Rag
Live jazz takes place irregularly at several clubs in Kyoto. The best is Rag.
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Rub-A-Dub
At the northern end of Kiyamachi-dōri, Rub-a-Dub is a funky little reggae bar with a shabby tropical look. It's a good place for a quiet drink on weekdays, but on Friday and Saturday nights you'll have no choice but to bop along with the crowd. Look for the stairs heading down to the basement beside the popular (and delightfully 'fragrant') Nagahama Rāmen shop.
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Sekisui
Open from until , this bar on the basement floor of the Hotel Fujita Kyoto looks out over water falling onto stones (hence the name, which means 'stone and water').
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Tadg's Irish Pub
Tadg's is our favourite bar in Kyoto. It's a delightfully convivial spot which plays host to a good crowd of expats and Japanese every night of the week. This is an easy spot for solo travellers to enter - you'll soon be drawn into the conversation. Some evenings there are open-mike nights and live Irish music.
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Taku-Taku
This is one of Kyoto's most atmospheric clubs, located in another old sakagura . It's central and tends to present major acts (the Neville Brothers, Los Lobos and Dr John have all performed here).
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Tōzan Bar
We love this cosy and cool underground retreat below the Hyatt Regency Kyoto, one of Kyoto's best hotels. It's worth a visit just to marvel at the design.
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World
World is Kyoto's largest club and it naturally hosts some of the biggest events. It has two floors, a dance floor and lockers where you can leave your stuff while you dance the night away. Events include everything from deep soul to reggae and techno to salsa.
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Zappa
Unbeatable if you're looking for a more intimate venue. It's a cosy little place that once played host to David Bowie (he's said to have discovered the place by chance and decided to drop in for a drink). Zappa serves savoury Southeast-Asian fare and a few Japanese titbits for good measure. It's down a narrow alley; turn south at the wooden torii (shrine gate).
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