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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)

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

Cafe Zou is the sister store of the popular Zoumesuya restaurant run by the Aichi Prefecture miso store Imai Brewery. Here, you can enjoy crepes made with crispy dough and plenty of butter, as well as egg sandwiches with homemade meat miso spread on the bread. One of their specialties, a colorful cream soda for 660 yen, comes with an elephant cookie for an additional 100 yen. The previously popular Miso Nikomi Udon (red miso or white miso) for 1,200 yen has been revived, so be sure to check it out as well.

Inside Cafe Zou
Cafe Zo - Cream Soda

Choice of red, blue or green cream soda 760 yen each (with elephant cookie). Enjoy the harmony of vanilla ice cream and cream soda.

cafe elephant

  • Kissa Elephant
  • 440-3 Sanchocho, Ogawa Nishiri Ru, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 12 min. walk from Exit 6 of Imadegawa Subway Station
  • Tel.075-406-0245

22. Retro Showa-style fruit parfait at Cafe Jade in Murasaki

The interior of Cafe Hisui, which was founded in 1966, has a nostalgic feel. Light meals such as omelet rice and a wide variety of set meals are also available. The fruit parfait is a very satisfying dish with lots of fresh fruit and cream. The refreshing orange sauce goes perfectly with cream or vanilla ice cream.

Cafe Hisui
Cafe Hisui

Gorgeous fruit parfait with retro glasses and decorated fruit slices: 1,050 yen

Cafe Hisui

  • KISSAHISUI
  • Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto City Kita Ward Murasakino Nishigosho Tamachi 41-2
  • 5 min. walk from Exit 2 of Kitaoji Subway Station
  • Tel.075-491-1021

23. Shimogamo / Enjoy a perfect cup of coffee at the well-known Shimogamo restaurant "caffè Verdi Shimogamo Honten" (caffè Verdi Shimogamo Honten)

At caffè Verdi Shimogamo, known for its meticulous hand-drip coffee, the beans are sorted by hand and only the coffee for that day's use is roasted. The coffee's flavor has many fans among locals and tourists alike. Be sure to try the toast set during morning hours and hot sandwiches at lunch time, as well as the food menu to go with the coffee.

verdi Shimogamo Exterior
verdi shimogamo coffee

A wide variety of coffees from shallow roast to deep roast from 600 yen and up are on standby.

caffè Verdi Shimogamo main branch

  • Cafe Verdi, Shimmokomo-honten
  • 49-24 Shimogamo-Shibamoto-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • Short walk from bus stop "Rakuhoku Koukoumae".
  • Tel. 075-706-8809
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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