Kyoto Restaurants(332)
SEAT RESERVATIONGion Yorozuya
Close to Kyoto’s Yasaka Shrine, the signature chewy udon with plenty of Kujo spring onions draws Michelin critics and foodies year after year.
SEAT RESERVATIONChoshoku Kishin
Japanese breakfast by way of Zen Buddhist teachings, this is the quintessential destination for a traditionalist "choshoku" in Kyoto.
SEAT RESERVATIONHunter
Sink your teeth into the low-and-slow charcoal-cooked meat fares at Hunter, a French-inspired conceptual joint in Kyoto that doubles as a carnivore’s dream den.
SEAT RESERVATIONShichiku Kiko
Sporting a bow tie and a smile, owner-chef Takami Murata welcomes you into his cozy restaurant, channeling the spirit of his hometown and seasonal Japanese dishes.
SEAT RESERVATIONSumiyakisosaitoriya Hitomi
This two-story yakitori spot has been recognized as a Michelin Bib Gourmand hotspot for its great charcoal-grilled skewers and charming service led by Chef Hitomi.
SEAT RESERVATIONOryori Menami
Opened in 1939, third-generation owner Sakurako Katsuta continues her grandmother’s legacy by serving Kyoto-style obanzai and homespun meals reminiscent of her creations.
SEAT RESERVATIONCanton Shunsai Ikki
At a glance, this Bib Gourmand Chinese restaurant appears like a cookie-cutter Chinese joint, but its authentic Guangdong dishes put it out there on its own.
SEAT RESERVATIONKikunoi Mugesambo
Doubling as a bento shop and a coffee house, this teahouse-inspired sanctuary might be an extension of the already-famed Kikunoi, but it could stand well on its own with its lineup of picture-perfect desserts.
SEAT RESERVATIONWashoku Haru
The creative license applied to traditional Japanese cuisine elevates this Kyoto gastropub’s a la carte menu to Michelin status.
SEAT RESERVATIONIzuu
Near Kyoto’s famed geisha district, this sushi shop has carried the tradition of the old capital since 1781, packing hundreds of years of history in a single bite.
SEAT RESERVATIONBocca del Vino
An all-day trattoria with Michelin backing in Kyoto, Chef Nomiya transports diners to Italy through his restaurant’s classical atmosphere and authentic food.
SEAT RESERVATIONSonoba
This fresh-faced, Michelin-approved soba joint was created by an interior designer duo who serve handmade buckwheat noodles in tableware crafted in their own pottery studio.
SEAT RESERVATIONMuginoyoake
The 9-seat ramen joint in Kyoto tangles up traditional ramen with an unorthodox twist by using an umami-packed soup made with scallops and Japanese pepper.
SEAT RESERVATIONPontocho Fujita
Three floors of dining offer an opportunity to taste Kyoto’s cuisine at its best, using expert cooking techniques and seasonal ingredients.
SEAT RESERVATIONKyoryori Haku
Attention to seasonality, detail, and tradition are the hallmarks of this Kyoto establishment. Here, history perfumes the tatami and lacquered tableware that frame every exquisite dish.
SEAT RESERVATIONAWOMB Karasuma
A treat for the mouth and the eyes at this teori-zushi omakase by Nishiki Market, where diners get to play with around 50 ingredients to churn it into unique handrolls of their own.
SEAT RESERVATIONHiyoko Sushi
There is nothing fussy at this family-run sushi establishment. What it lacks in palatial appearance, it makes up with some of the best bang-for-your-buck omakase sushi in Kyoto.
COURSE MENUFORTUNE GARDEN KYOTO
Arch-shaped entrance, round windowpanes and a lush bamboo grove define this French-accented bistro in central Kyoto, housed in a 1927 building designed by the “Father of Kansai Architecture.”
SEAT RESERVATIONNijo Yamagishi
Michelin-starred chef Yamagishi Takahiro of Tominokoji Yamagishi breathes new life into a 140-year-old townhouse in Kyoto to serve the hotpot-driven multicourse meal — the “nabe kaiseki.”
SEAT RESERVATIONKan
A humble chef with a humble dream births something extraordinary at Kan, a relatively new traditional Japanese restaurant by the Kamo River in Kyoto.
SEAT RESERVATIONTakezaki
Takezaki’s exploratory route of constant discovery and rediscovery become gastronomic delights at this petite kappo eatery near the Imperial Palace.
SEAT RESERVATIONItsukichaya Arashiyama Main Store
Dining with a balmy view of the Katsura River and Togetsukyo Bridge, it’s hard to know what to savor first at Itsukichaya Arashiyama — the scenery or the food.
SEAT RESERVATIONJunidanya Hanamikoji Branch
A4 Wagyu shabu shabu in historic Gion, Kyoto. Savor roll omelets in Japan's traditional shabu shabu birthplace.
SEAT RESERVATIONVietnam French Xuan
Vietnam French Xuan in Kyoto combines Vietnamese and French cuisine with signature dishes and a tranquil atmosphere. Perfect for an elegant dining escape.
SEAT RESERVATIONTendresse
Get a kick of multiple flavors at once at this premium and authentic French patisserie in northeast Kyoto.
SEAT RESERVATIONIida
Touch, feel, and taste the essence of ancient Japanese culture at this top Kyoto kaiseki restaurant
SEAT RESERVATIONaca 1°
Spanish cuisine is relatively underrepresented in Kyoto, but this is a world-class addition to the scene.
SEAT RESERVATIONTominokoji Yamagishi
A perfectly curated kaiseki experience from a polymath of the traditional Japanese arts.
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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.