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2025.8.8
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Kyoto's 23 oldest and retro coffee shops! Popular lunches are also introduced!

[2025] 23 Long-established, Pure & Retro Coffeehouses in Kyoto! Including popular lunches!

In the historic city of Kyoto, retro coffee shops, from classic coffee shops with stately interiors to old-fashioned pure coffee shops, are very popular. In this article, LeafKYOTO's editorial staff, who know Kyoto inside and out, selects 23 coffee shops, ranging from the classic to the obscure, that are well known among the locals. Each coffee shop offers a special menu, including coffee carefully roasted by the owner, a hearty lunch, and special sweets. On your next holiday, experience Kyoto's unique coffee shop culture. (TEXT/Saori Yoshikawa, EDIT/Moe Sawamura)

Contents of this article

1.
Kitashirakawa/Exquisite seasonal desserts in a coffee shop with the aroma of a different culture [Shukagacafe Kashihate]
2.
Gion Shijo / Jewelry store coffee shop in a famous building in Gion [Gion Ishi Coffee Shop].
3.
Gion-Shijo/Yasaka's pure coffee shop with 80 years of history [COFFEE Cattleya
4.
Nishijin / Pure coffee shop where you can enjoy specialty coffee and handmade sweets [Kaze to COFFEE Cafe Kazeko]
5.
Kiyamachi / Pure coffee shop where you can take a break in the city late at night [late-night coffee shop/hall Tamon]
6.
Teramachi Sanjo / Sweet store [Ama-no-chaya Ume-en Sanjo Teramachi] is a place that brings a smile to everyone's face.
7.
Teramachi Sanjo / Old-fashioned coffee float at Smart Coffee Shop
8.
Karasuma / Food menu at Ogawa Coffee Sakaimachi Nishiki, which makes the most of seasonal ingredients to be enjoyed with coffee
9.
Karasuma Oike: Egg sandwiches from a long-established Western-style restaurant at Cafe Madrague
10.
Nishijin / A hearty menu served in the historic space of Sarasa Nishijin
11.
Karasuma Oike/ A hearty morning at Inoda Coffee
12.
Shijo-Kawaramachi: Jelly punch in five sparkling colors at Cafe Soiree
13.
Shijo Kawaramachi / Sweets for Adults [Francois Cafe]
14.
Coffee and cheesecake marriage to be enjoyed in the peaceful atmosphere of Sanjo Kawaramachi / [Cafe Reed Island
15.
Shichijo / Sandwiches at Cafe Amazon to enjoy with home-roasted coffee
16.
Okazaki/Omelette rice from Kisa Me, a long-established coffee shop in Ginza, Tokyo
17.
Higashiyama / A place of relaxation for locals and tourists alike [Yamamoto Cafe] offers a nostalgic taste of the past
18.
Karasuma / Contemporary Art in Everyday Life. [Enjoy the coffee menu at Maeda Coffee Meirin
19.
Coffee and homemade donuts at Rokuyosha in Kawaramachi Sanjo
20.
Nijo Castle / Simple but delicious egg sandwiches at Cafe Tyrol
21.
【閉店】今出川/[喫茶ゾウ]のカラフルで可愛いクリームソーダ
22.
Retro Showa-style fruit parfait at Cafe Jade in Murasaki
23.
Shimogamo / Enjoy a perfect cup of coffee at the well-known Shimogamo restaurant "caffè Verdi Shimogamo Honten" (caffè Verdi Shimogamo Honten)

16. Okazaki/Omelette rice from Kisa Me, a long-established coffee shop in Ginza, Tokyo

The owner, Mr. Kimura, was shocked when he was a student at a long-established coffee shop in Ginza, Tokyo, called "Cafe you" for its omelette rice. With a passion to spread this omelette in Kyoto, he opened "Cafe me" after training at the original shop! The omelette on top of the omelette is not only beautiful to look at, but also has an unbelievably tender texture. Enjoy the happiness of eating in Kyoto to your heart's content.

Inside the cafe me
Cafe me's omelet rice

Ginza Omelette Rice with Ketchup Rice topped with a pulled & melted omelette made with fresh cream, 1,300 yen. Includes choice of drink.

Cafe me

  • Kiss me
  • 1-8 Okazaki Seishojicho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 6 min. walk from Exit 2 of Higashiyama Subway Station
  • Tel.075-708-7218

17. Higashiyama / A place of relaxation for locals and tourists alike [Yamamoto Cafe] offers a nostalgic taste of the past

Yamamoto Cafe is located along the Shirakawa River in Gion. The store is reminiscent of an old-fashioned coffee shop, serving aromatic coffee roasted by the master and a nostalgic coffee menu. Among the popular items, the grilled egg sandwich is loved by people of all ages. During the summer season, lemon squash and pineapple squash with coconut ice cream are also available to quench your thirst.

Yamamoto Cafe Inside
Yamamoto Cafe Menu

Grilled egg sandwich 850 yen matches the fluffy omelet with thinly sliced cucumber; lemon squash 900 yen, available only from June to September.

Yamamoto Cafe

  • coffee shop or cafe where one can read manga, often has Internet facilities
  • 307-2 Ishibashi-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • Short walk from bus stop "Chion-in-mae".
  • Tel. 075-531-0109

18. Karasuma / Contemporary Art in Everyday Life. [Enjoy the coffee menu at Maeda Coffee Meirin

[Maeda Coffee Meirin, located on the first floor of Kyoto Art Center, celebrated its 20th anniversary by renovating its kitchen into a contemporary artwork called "tower (KITCHEN). The shop has been transformed into a space where artists, local residents, students, and various other people can come in contact with the artwork and feel more comfortable in front of it. Enjoy a luxurious time feeling close to art while tasting a wide variety of dishes.

Maeda Coffee Meilin Store Interior
前田珈琲明倫店 珈琲と抹茶のパフェ

Coffee and matcha parfait with the deep, rich taste of matcha ice cream and thick coffee jelly is an irresistible combination. 1,850 yen.

Maeda Coffee Meirin

  • Maeda Coffee Meirinten
  • Kyoto Art Center 1F, 546-2, Yamabushiyama-cho, Takoyakushi-shita, Muromachi-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 3 minutes walk from Exit 22 of "Karasuma" station on Hankyu line
  • Tel.075-221-2224

19. Coffee and homemade donuts at Rokuyosha in Kawaramachi Sanjo

Rokuyosha is a coffee shop established in 1950. The first floor has a beautiful arrangement of seats, all of which are sofas. The first floor shop has a beautiful arrangement of sofa seats, and even now, more than 70 years after its establishment, it is still a relaxing space for men and women of all ages to relax between jobs or to take a break from sightseeing.

Japanese calendar's six labels, indicating how auspicious each day is
Rokuyosha Donuts and Coffee

Blended coffee 600 yen. 250 yen homemade doughnuts available for order at both the basement and 1st floor stores from 12:00 p.m.

Coffee Shop Rokuyosha

  • coffee shop owner
  • 40 Daikoku-cho, Sanjo-sagaru, Kawaramachi-Dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto
  • 5 min. walk from Exit 1 of "Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae" subway station.
    5 min. walk from Exit 6 of Sanjo Station, Keihan
  • Tel. 075-221-3820

20. Nijo Castle / Simple but delicious egg sandwiches at Cafe Tyrol

The coffee shop [Cafe Tyrol] was established in 1968. The tables and chairs that have been used since the store's opening have the same coloring as the wood, creating a cozy atmosphere. The menu includes toast, spaghetti, and other items only a coffee shop can offer. Curry, which is infused with Awaji onions and Japanese beef, has been a popular menu item for many years.

Cafe Tyrol Inside
Cafe Tyrol Egg Sandwich Regular

The egg sandwich is popular along with the famous curry, and costs 800 yen. The fluffy, thickly baked egg seasoned only with salt is perfectly balanced with thinly sliced cucumber!

Cafe Tyrol

  • coffee shop madam
  • 539-3 Monzen-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 4 minutes walk from Exit 3 of "Nijojo-mae" subway station.
  • Tel. 075-821-3031
The information is subject to change. Please contact each store or facility directly for the latest information.
All prices include tax.
※内容の誤りや閉店情報などお気づきの点がございましたら、info@leafkyoto.co.jp までお知らせください。
*Since this site uses automatic translation, the translation may differ from the original Japanese content.

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