Kyoto Restaurants(327)
SEAT RESERVATIONGion Nishi
Gion Nishi offers classic kaiseki dining with a beautiful collection of ceramic dishware.
SEAT RESERVATIONSake To Sakana DNA
The izakaya’s ode to hyperlocal Kyoto cuisine occupies a warmly lit space in Takatsuji-dori — diners scoot over the counter for the chance to try fish-centric dishes and local sake.
SEAT RESERVATIONSakuragawa
Get into the kaiseki and kappo cuisine at this refined yet traditional Kyoto-style restaurant located in the downtown area of the city.
SEAT RESERVATIONShunseki Suzue
Relax and dine in the sophisticated ambiance of one of Kyoto's most expensive restaurants.
COURSE MENUSushi Gion Matsudaya
Presenting Edo-style sushi, this restaurant is full of classic dishes combined with the chef’s very own intriguing ideas.
COURSE MENUGanko Kyoto Station
Transport yourself into the past at this Kyoto Station fixture, which has an eye-catching facade straight out of the Edo period. Popular with commuters looking for a quick bite, it’s also known to be excellent for sukiyaki or kaiseki courses.
COURSE MENUGanko Kameoka Rakurakusou
Indulge in a succulent sukiyaki or kaiseki course meal beneath the rafters of one of Japan’s Tangible Cultural Properties.
COURSE MENUSumiyaki Unafuji Daimaru Kyoto Bettei
At Unafuji, only the best quality blue eels are used, chosen for their high fat content and creamy livers. These are then cooked over a blue-hot charcoal flame to seal in their natural flavor, then coated generously with Unafuji’s secret sauce.
COURSE MENUGion Kurashita
At his Gion restaurant, Chef Kurashita Satoru expertly prepares traditional Kyoto kaiseki, displaying mastery over all ingredients, from king crab and wagyu beef to even the humble tofu.
COURSE MENUOBENKEI Kyoto Gion
This beloved Niigata-based sushi restaurant has found a new home in Kyoto’s iconic Gion district, carrying forward its deep-rooted passion for all things Sado Island to a broader audience.
SEAT RESERVATIONAnpeiji
Ampeiji Masashi crafts exquisite cuisine with fresh vegetables from his father’s garden.
SEAT RESERVATIONTan
Taking its name from the Tango Peninsula in Kyoto, Tan’s close relationship with local producers upholds their mutual philosophy of sustainability.
COURSE MENUROKU KYOTO TENJIN Chef’s Table
This intimate dining experience led by executive chef Akira Taniguchi features 13 counter seats surrounding an open kitchen, which acts as a stage for the chef’s culinary performance. Taste heirloom Kyoto vegetables, prepared with French techniques.
COURSE MENUGanko Sanjo Honten
While its convenient riverside location, affordable prices and impeccable cuisine draw hundreds of customers a day, many also come to marvel at the traditional Japanese interiors of this Sanjo establishment.
COURSE MENUYakiniku Toraji Kyoto
The yakiniku in this traditional Kyoto kyomachi-ya checks both the quality and quantity boxes. In true Toraji Group style, every cut of beef here is gorgeously marbled and cut thick for maximum enjoyment of both flavor and texture.
SEAT RESERVATIONKyo-Suiran
Embark on a culinary journey that intertwines cultural heritage, creative cuisine, and the beauty of nature in Arashiyama, Kyoto. Traditional Kyoto cuisine and French gastronomy combine for an unforgettable dining experience.
SEAT RESERVATIONBar Agiyao
Sip French white wines and savor seafood at Bar Agiyao in Kyoto, a small izakaya with a big heart for Kyoto's food culture. Anticipate sophisticated ambience, 18 wine varieties, and a menu blending French and Spanish cuisine.
SEAT RESERVATIONRokujo Kawarain San
Storytelling, tradition, and artistry underpin meals at Rokujo Kawarain San, a top-tier kaiseki venue with reasonable prices and seasonal menus.
SEAT RESERVATIONGion Nanba
Tradition at its finest. Secreted within Kyoto’s traditional district, Gion Nanba offers Michelin-quality kaiseki courses, featuring the best quality produce from all over Japan.
SEAT RESERVATIONIharada
This Kyoto restaurant adds a modern twist to traditional Japanese kaiseki cuisine, sourcing high-quality ingredients from their own farm and the local seafood market.
COURSE MENUTendan Saiin
For a taste of Kyoto-style yakiniku, Tendan has been serving perfectly grilled cuts of meat in Kyoto’s characteristic dashi-like sauce for almost 60 years. The Saiin branch’s location makes it popular with sightseers en route to northern Kyoto.
COURSE MENUKani Kani Land Kyoto Gion
Originally from Niigata, this restaurant brings the famed snow crab and king crab from off the Sea of Japan's frigid waters to the historic geisha district of Gion in Kyoto.
SEAT RESERVATIONJikishinbou Saiki
At this kappo restaurant near Yasaka Shrine and the iconic Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, elegance and traditional Japanese aesthetics meet to create dishes guaranteed to awaken all five senses.
COURSE MENUMinokichi Takeshigero Hotel Granvia Kyoto
The Hotel Granvia Kyoto plays host to one of Kyoto’s most historic kyo-kaiseki restaurants, with over 300 years of history serving freshwater fish and other traditional dishes.
COURSE MENUWashoku Uoman (Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo)
In a movement that calls to mind the historic convergence of northern and southern ingredients on the capital, the finest ingredients from all over Japan, like Omi wagyu beef from Shiga, are combined here into traditional kaiseki course menus.
SEAT RESERVATIONKikunoi Roan
Experience the four seasons with a twist through well-decorated kaiseki courses in the heart of Kyoto.
SEAT RESERVATIONSushi Matsumoto
Enjoy a parade of Edomae-style sushi in a historic district in Kyoto.
SEAT RESERVATIONMirei
Switch out course menus for a proud a la carte list of traditional Japanese offerings.
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Reserve Restaurants in Kyoto
Unprecedented in quality, every Kyoto restaurant incorporates the best of local produce and seasonal offerings into fresh, immersive Japanese food menus. Culinary creativity runs through the city like its waters. In fact, you can dine in the open air over Kyoto’s rivers in summer or lose yourself for a night dining in the converted wooden machiya buildings of downtown Pontocho. Somewhere tucked away in the grid of Kyoto’s backstreets, family-run restaurants greet strangers and regulars alike, offering unique dining experiences. Side street shop fronts steam with ramen broth and specialty tofu dishes. High-caliber kaiseki dining experiences await in Kyoto’s many Michelin-starred restaurants, serving experiential feasts celebrating ingredients of the season. Even Kyoto's most well-known geisha district, Gion, is home to restaurants with some of the best fares in town.
Holding tradition and craftsmanship at the city’s core, restaurants in Kyoto always offer an unforgettable atmosphere and high-quality Japanese cuisine to match, whether that's seasonal produce or beautifully marbled wagyu beef. Marvel at the exquisite textures and stunning aesthetics evident in even the finest culinary details. Kyoto restaurants arrange their food on their plates just so; beautifully and crafted with skill like edible art. Discover some of the best food in Kyoto when exploring this cultural hub, bursting with its own regional food. Feast upon local cuisine known as Kyo-ryori, made from the freshest seasonal produce, or taste vegetarian Buddhist cuisine when you sit down to an authentic shojin ryori meal.
Fine Kyoto cuisine can be found at its beautiful restaurants, and there are wonderful culinary surprises in every bite. Exploring Kyoto’s backstreets and buzzing markets mean that you might stumble upon the city’s best restaurants.
Don’t miss a thing; see more of the city’s best restaurants during a Kyoto food tour, or settle in for a memorable dining experience in Kyoto by booking ahead of time on byFood.