5 Hidden Restaurants in Kyoto Where You Can Enjoy a Relaxing Meal Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Reservation Guide-

Update-date: Jan 14 2025

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: French Seafood Kyoto Japanese Cuisine

5 Hidden Restaurants in Kyoto Where You Can Enjoy a Relaxing Meal

Kyoto, one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations, attracts many visitors from around the world throughout the year. As a result, restaurants in Kyoto tend to be crowded, and it is not uncommon to see long lines. Therefore, this time, restaurants have been picked up some lesser-known in Kyoto. Guests can relax and enjoy the restaurant's signature flavors.

See full listings of French and Japanese Cuisine restaurants found in and around Kyoto.

1. Roast Beef no Mise Watanabe

Roast Beef no Mise Watanabe, nestled on a small hill in Kamigamo Motoyama, offers a charming house-style dining experience. Surrounded by a garden filled with plants and flowers, the atmosphere feels like a French suburb, inviting relaxation. Inside, the warm hospitality and enticing aromas welcome you. The menu features five roast beef courses, with options like rump, ichibo (sirloin cap), or aged meat, grilled to perfection before your eyes. This serene and elegant setting is ideal for anniversaries and special dates.

Roast Beef no Mise Watanabe

Open: [Wednesday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Lunch 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm *Last Entry 1:00 pm, [Tuesday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm *Last Entry 7:30 pm
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 12,000 JPY / [Lunch] 12,000 JPY
Access: Approximately 5-minute by taxi from Kokusaikaikan Station, 5-minute walk from Nishihataeda (Entsuji-mae) Bus Stop on the Kyoto Bus
Address: 100-1, Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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2. Burisho

Located in the ancient city of Kyoto, the restaurant "Burisho" specializes in yellowtail dishes, allowing guests to fully enjoy the deliciousness of the "ice-aged yellowtail" that is directly shipped from Kagoshima. They offer various cooking methods, such as the "Yellowtail Sashimi Platter with 5 Varieties," where guests can enjoy the carefully prepared parts of the yellowtail, and the "Yellowtail Aburi Platter with 5 Varieties," which allows them to savor the sweetness and marbling of each part.

5 Hidden Gem Restaurants in Kyoto to Enjoy a Relaxing Meal

The restaurant features spacious table seating as well as a long counter, allowing individuals to sit comfortably even when dining alone. For those who have grown tired of ordinary seafood dishes, why not try a new "buri" experience at Burisho?

Burisho

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm / Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm *Closed on Tuesdays from July
Closed: -
Average price: [Dinner] 8,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,100 JPY
Access: 10-minute walk from the nearest stations
Address: Matsubara Kurata Bldg., 283, Sugiya-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
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3. Gion Vitra

Overlooking the streets of Kamogawa and Pontocho, Gion Vitra is a restaurant that offers Kyoto French cuisine, incorporating French culinary techniques with Japanese elements. Guests can savor a blissful dish that emphasizes local production for local consumption and seasonal ingredients through all five senses. A particular recommendation is the "Roasted Black Wagyu Beef with Hojicha Smoke," which is instant-smoked with hojicha leaves. Along with seasonal vegetables, they should definitely try this special flavor. For the finale, they can enjoy the original "Vitra Rice" served in a clay pot with seasonal ingredients.

In a space surrounded by beautiful furnishings, guests can enjoy the collaboration of aromas, cooking sounds, and exquisite dishes presented in elegant tableware. Additionally, there is a selection of wine and sake from around the world, carefully paired by a sommelier for each dish. Guests are invited to spend a luxurious time in this special space with their loved ones.

Gion Vitra

Open: Dinner 6:00 pm - 11:30 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 30,000 JPY
Access: About 3-minute walk from Gion-shijo Station on Keihan Electric Railway Keihan Main Line
Address: 2F, 4-4, Kawabata 4-jyo agaru Benzaiten-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
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4. Kyo Fusion Les Confluents

The restaurant Kyo Fusion Les Confluents located within the hotel "Agora Kyoto Karasuma" offers guests a unique experience with its "Kyo Fusion" cuisine, which blends traditional Kyoto cooking techniques with French culinary methods. The high quality ingredients are used, regardless of whether they are domestic or imported, and the innovative and beautifully presented dishes bring joy just by looking at them. The wine selection is also extensive, ranging from easy-to-drink options to carefully curated pairings that complement the dishes, including some unique choices.

The interior features a calm atmosphere that is modern yet unified with a sense of 'Wa' (Japanese harmony). From the luxurious white wood counter, diners can observe the chef's exquisite craftsmanship during the cooking process. Guests are invited to enjoy an extraordinary dining experience at the restaurant Kyo Fusion Les Confluents, which is also accessible for solo diners.

Kyo Fusion Les Confluents

Open: [Monday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm) / Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
Closed: Tuesday, Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY
Access: 6-minute walk from Exit 25 of Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line and Shijo Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway
Address: 701-1, Myodenji-cho, Shijo-Sagaru, Nishinotoin-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
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5. THE TASTE

Located on the first floor of a hotel just a 4-minute walk from Gojo Station, THE TASTE is a stylish restaurant with a modern bistro concept. It offers a new sensation of Western cuisine using seasonal vegetables and fresh ingredients sourced from Kyoto. The 'Kujyo Negi and Manganji Pepper Aglio e Olio with Black Shichimi and Yuzu' is a dish that harmonizes the deliciousness of fresh pasta and Kyoto vegetables, expressing the essence of Kyoto.

5 Hidden Restaurants in Kyoto to Enjoy a Relaxing Meal

The restaurant features a spacious interior with a relaxed seating arrangement. It creates a comfortable atmosphere where guests might forget the passage of time. The interior design motif evokes a stylish ambiance reminiscent of prime locations in New York. There are various seating options available to accommodate different situations, including table seats perfect for dining and a sofa lounge for enjoying drinks while relaxing.

THE TASTE

Open: Breakfast 7:00 am - 12:00 pm (L.O. 11:30 am) / Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm / Cafe 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm / Dinner and Bar 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Access: From Gojo Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line, take Exit 2 and head north. It is located just past Manjuji Street.
Address: 1F, 409, Gojokarasuma-cho, Shimogyo-ku, kyoto-shi, Kyoto
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Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.