Japan’s Best Bars: Kyoto

1. Ace Cafe

Kyoto is at the forefront of a new eastern cool that takes the retro 50s and 60s as its cue. One of several aces in the design bar pack is Ace Cafe, located on the high floors of a towering building with spectacular views of the city below. Walls are floor-to-ceiling glass on three sides and hip young Kyoto couples sip strong cocktails in colourful lounge seats, gazing out on the city lights below.

Most popular at sunset, it gets busy later on too when the drinks, mellow sounds and friendly vibes take preference over the view.

Address:
Nakagyo-ku Kiyamachi dori Sanjo-agaru
Kyoto, Empire Biru 10 F

 

2. Bar Fakers

A cool and grungy loft bar that’s not as phoney as the name suggests. Conveniently located above the Anchovie Cafe near Mototanaka Station, the drinks are cheaper than most spots this side of town and the cheery regular barmen don’t skimp on the shots. Beers and vodka-based cocktails seem to be popular with the regulars, a mix of with-it youngsters and more sober professionals. Inside it’s dark and moody with bar stools lining the counter, although we prefer the sofas and soft chairs to lie back on and listen to the techno and ambient sounds. Why not ‘Fake’ it?

Address:
47-2 Okubo-cho Tanaka Sakyo-ku
Kyoto, 606-8236

 

3. Bar Zinho

Not much bigger than a penalty area and with just about enough space to seat a football team, this cosy Brazilian bar with football posters and flags on the walls, draws a funky crowd of ex-pats and locals every night. The hottest samba and bossa nova are spun by music-loving bar staff who know their Caipirinhas from their Caipiroskas, and they also offer Brazilian coffee and beer for the truly homesick. Three drinks on you can almost imagine you are back in Rio or Salvador during Carnival - except of course, this is Kyoto, those are temples outside, and the bar is about as big as a bonsai tree.

Address:
Sakyo-ku
Kyoto

 

4. Marble Room

White retro bucket seats line the bar and Kyoto’s cool cats takes seats or places on the mattress-like cushions that are positioned around the floor. It’s bright and airy inside, done up in red, yellow and spotless white tones, and in summer you can step outside onto a small balcony and gaze down on the Komo River below.

Cocktails, coffee, even cakes are on offer in the day, dyed-hair babes in designer glasses bringing new meaning to the term ladies who lunch. Take a seat in one of those bucket seats and get the drinks in.

Address:
135 Nakagyo-ku Pontocho
Sanjo-sagaru Pontocho, biru 4F
Kyoto

 

5. Shirakaba

A legendary, yet hard-to-find gem in a residential area to the side of Yoshida Hill, you’ll only know it by the little red door that marks the entrance. Once a hangout for student activists of nearby Kyoto University, it used to have twenty-four hour police surveillance. Things have calmed down now though and if you make it out here, you’ll find a general air of drunken joviality through the cigarette smoke. The locals are a mix of young intellectuals and bohemian types who like to party, while the current owner, former partner of a late student leader, holds an annual cherry blossom party in his memory. We’ll drink to that.

Address:
Nakaoji-cho Yoshida yama
Kyoto