Gion-ishi Coffee Room

Gion-ishi. When you hear that name, you’d probably never guess there’s a coffee shop here, right? As the name suggests, Gion-ishi is a mineral shop that’s been in business for over 50 years in front of Yasaka Shrine in Gion. But right above that mineral shop, there really is a coffee shop that feels like a secret hideout—one that seems to be deliberately hidden from the eyes of passersby. Aren’t you curious to find out what kind of place this “Gion-ishi Coffee Room” is?

A highly artistic shop designed by a Kyoto architect and sculptor… This is what the Gion-ishi Coffee Room is like…

But before we get into that, let’s start with a brief introduction to the building that houses Gion-ishi. The building housing the Gion-ishi Coffee Room was apparently constructed in Showa 44 through a collaboration between Hiroaki Misawa, an architect with ties to Kyoto, and sculptor Kazuyoshi Nozaki. The design was apparently quite unusual for a building of that era, inspired by the motif of a boat floating in the Gion district. Indeed, when viewed from a short distance away, the building’s exterior exudes a unique atmosphere that sets it apart from the surrounding structures. It’s something you might not notice while casually walking along the sidewalk, so if you happen to pass by, try to pay a little extra attention as you walk by.

Now, to reach the Gion-ishi Coffee Room on the second floor of this highly artistic building, take the elevator or stairs located at the back of the mineral shop on the first floor. When the elevator doors open, a gorgeous space unfolds before you, reminiscent of a high-end Showa-era lounge. The walls and ceiling are clad in chic wood with beautiful curves, the floor is covered with a reddish-purple carpet, and several spacious leather-upholstered sofas are arranged upon it… While it evokes the Showa era, it doesn’t have the faded, retro feel of a place like Kissa Hisui; instead, it’s a space brimming with sophistication that feels right at home even in the Reiwa era. True to its atmosphere, you can spend your time here in peace, and to be honest, I found myself thinking, “I don’t really want to tell anyone else about this place…”

With this location and atmosphere, I had to try this… the “Gion-ishi Coffee Room” limited-edition special dessert: the Matcha Mini Brownie Cake Set. So, how did it actually turn out?

Now, let me introduce the Matcha Mini Brownie Cake Set—labeled as a “limited-edition special dessert”—that I ordered that day at the Gion-ishi Coffee Room. This set comes with a drink, and from the many options available, I chose hot coffee this time.

About 10 minutes after placing my order, the Matcha Mini Brownie Cake Set was brought to my table. It certainly lives up to its “mini” name—the brownie is on the small side—but at 900 yen (tax included) with a drink included, it feels like quite a bargain.

Now, as for that matcha brownie… it has a fairly dense texture, and there’s a noticeable resistance when cutting into it with a fork. As if to prove that density, the inside is tightly packed, and the rich matcha flavor, combined with the sweetness, clings to the tongue in a rich, velvety way. It’s delicious on its own, or enjoy it with the vanilla-flavored whipped cream and strawberry jam served on the side to change up the flavor. There’s absolutely no hint of the bitterness you might expect from matcha, so even small children should be able to enjoy it without any trouble.

On the other hand, the blended coffee I ordered as part of the set has a distinctly bitter taste—a stark contrast to the cake. It instantly washes away the sweetness of the matcha brownie lingering on the palate, leaving a refreshing sensation. The bitterness lingers strongly even after drinking, so pacing naturally slows down, allowing quite a bit of time to pass over just one cup of coffee. It would be such a waste to leave after only about 10 minutes when surrounded by such a luxurious atmosphere…

So, after spending about 40 minutes relaxing with the Matcha Mini Brownie Cake Set at Gion-ishi Coffee Room, I paid the bill. Given this location and atmosphere, ordering a drink and a cake and getting change back from 1,000 yen—to put it mildly—is an absolutely incredible value. I recommend keeping this place in the back of your mind not just as a rest stop during your Gion sightseeing, but as a special spot to visit on special occasions. But having written this far, I’m feeling a bit conflicted—part of me thinks, “Actually, I’d really like to keep this place a secret for as long as possible…”

Other Menu Items at Gion-ishi Coffee Room (Prices include tax)

• Uji Matcha Cheesecake Set: 1,400 yen
• Plain Cheesecake Set: 1,300 yen
• Special Fondant au Chocolat Set: 1,300 yen
• Matcha Mont Blanc Set: 1,200 yen
• Refreshingly Fragrant Coffee Yokan Pairing: 1,000 yen

Believe it or not, there’s a soba restaurant on the third floor of the same building… Gion-ishi Coffee Room is a 7-minute walk from the nearest station, Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Electric Railway.

Speaking of Gion-ishi Coffee Room, believe it or not, there’s another completely unexpected soba restaurant operating on the third floor above it. A mineral shop on the first floor, a coffee shop on the second, and a soba restaurant on the third… I can’t quite imagine why they’ve set it up this way. I wasn’t able to visit the soba restaurant this time, but since it’s in the same building, I’m sure it has a unique atmosphere you won’t find at other soba restaurants… It might be a nice plan to have lunch at the soba restaurant on the third floor, then head downstairs for dessert at the café on the second floor.

Now, here are the details about the shop…

P.S. If you’re looking for a cozy café in Kyoto, be sure to check out this article as well…