Café restaurants in Kansai
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A
Prinz
Behind the blank white façade of Prinz, you’ll find a café-restaurant, gallery, bookshop, garden and library – a chic island of coolness in an otherwise bland residential neighbourhood. You can sit at the counter and request music from the CDs that line the walls. The lunch set usually includes a light assortment of Western and Japanese dishes, generally on the healthy side of things. Coffee starts at ¥300. All in all, this is a very interesting stop while you’re in the northeast part of town. Note that last orders are at 11.30pm.
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B
Saraca Nishijin
This is one of Kyoto’s most interesting cafés – it’s built inside an old sentō (public bathhouse) and the original tiles have been preserved. Light meals and coffee (¥400) are the staples here. The honjitsu Nishijin (daily Nishijin lunch; ¥890) plate is decent value. Service can be slow and scattered but the interesting ambience makes it worth a look. It’s near Funaoka Onsen and is easy to spot.
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C
Bon Bon Café
If you find yourself in need of a light meal or drink while you’re in the Demachiyanagi area, this casual open-air café is an excellent choice. There is a variety of cakes and light meals on offer. While there is no English menu, much of the ordering can be done by pointing, and the young staff can help you figure out what’s not on display. It’s on the west bank of the Kamo-gawa and outdoor seats here are very pleasant on warm evenings.
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D
Buttercups
Buttercups is a favourite of the local expat community and a great place for lunch, dinner or a cup of coffee. The menu (available in English) is international and the vibe is chilled and arty. There are usually pictures, paintings or photos on display. Dishes include Mexican rice, fish and chips, salads and tacos. Look for the plants and whiteboard menu outside.
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Organic Café Aurora
This fine little café in a traditional Japanese house is a good spot for a cuppa before or after visiting the temple. You can choose from 25 varieties of tea. Simple meals are also served. The small garden is nice to gaze out on as you sip your tea. It’s a few minutes’ walk up the road from the station, on the right. There is an English sign.
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Org…Organic Life
At this open-plan, casual café you can grab a light meal or a quick pick-me-up while exploring Kita. You can get a pasta or risotto lunch for very little, and finish it off with cake and coffee. It's easy to spot, with an English sign. There's no English menu, but there is a picture menu and 'pasta lunch' or 'risotto lunch' will get your point across.
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E
Doutor Coffee
A lot of Western travellers have discovered the joys of Doutor Coffee, which has branches all over Kyoto. The coffee itself is dirt cheap but the real draw here are the surprisingly tasty sandwiches – just the thing when you need a break from the usual insipid things they call sandwiches in Japan. The picture menu makes ordering easy.
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F
Shinshindō Notre Pain Quotidien
This atmospheric old Kyoto coffee shop is a favourite of Kyoto University students for its curry and bread lunch set (¥780), which is kind of an acquired taste. It’s located near the university. Look for the glazed tile bricks and the big window out the front. There’s a small English sign and English menus are available.
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G
Ask A Giraffe
This casual cafe is our favourite of the six restaurants in the new Shin-Puh-Kan shopping complex. They offer light meals (sandwiches, pastas, salads) and all the standard coffee and drinks, which make a nice pick-me-up while shopping here. As for the name, well, your guess is as good as ours!
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Kyō-hayashiya
If you need a change from large American coffee chains and want to try some good Japanese green tea – and enjoy a nice view over the mountains while you’re at it – this is the place for it. Kyō-hayashiya also has a handy picture menu.
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H
Inoda Coffee
This chain is a Kyoto institution and has branches throughout the city. Though slightly overrated for the price, the old-Japan atmosphere at this, Inoda’s main shop, is worth a try, especially if you want something Japanese rather than international.
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Amazon
This typical Japanese coffee shop, near Sanjūsangen-dō, turns out some surprisingly good sandwiches and coffee; it’s one of the few decent options in this area.
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Lugol
For a quick cuppa or a snack in groovy surroundings, this cosy coffee shop on the west side of Downtown Kyoto is a very nice choice. We go there for decorating ideas as much as for the drinks.
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K
Ayura Café
- Nara, Japan
- Restaurants › Café
We highly recommend this tiny café for its wonderful (mostly veggie) set lunch or a quick cuppa.
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Café Carinho
This excellent little café near Ginkaku-ji is one of the only places in town where you can find proper bagel sandwiches. It also serves daily specials, light meals and excellent tea and coffee (from ¥400). There is wi-fi for those with laptops. The owner speaks English and Portuguese, which makes ordering a breeze. All told, this is one of the best spots in the neighbourhood for a drink or meal.
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