Blue Bottle Coffee Kyoto Cafe

One holiday morning, I thought, “I’d love to have breakfast near Nanzen-ji Temple…” So I headed to Blue Bottle Coffee Kyoto Cafe, which I found on Google Maps. It’s in a quiet area where wealthy people buy vacation homes. Imagine sipping coffee while enjoying a leisurely breakfast… Doesn’t that sound delightful? Hoping for just that kind of scene, I walked from Sanjo Street toward Nanzen-ji Temple to find the cafe. But what kind of place was it, really…?

Renovated from a century-old Kyoto townhouse, the shop is quiet and airy… Blue Bottle Coffee Kyoto Cafe is this kind of place…

Blue Bottle Coffee Kyoto Cafe is located along a small path leading from Nio-mon Street toward Nanzen-ji Temple. It’s tucked away from the busy street, making it incredibly quiet. When I arrived, I mentally shouted, “This is it!” Plus, the shop consists of two buildings—one at the front and one in the back. The cafe is in the back building (the front houses a shop where you can buy coffee beans and merchandise). It’s set back from the tourists heading to Nanzenji Temple, making it the perfect location to relax.

They use a building renovated from a traditional Kyoto townhouse over 100 years old. It has a fresh, modern feel while still radiating a calm, old-fashioned Japanese atmosphere throughout. The ceilings are high, and the windows are huge, creating an incredible sense of openness… I found an amazing spot. Honestly, I could easily stay here for an hour or two just soaking up this atmosphere.

The only downside is the slightly steep price… Enjoying the Original Granola + Yogurt and Fruit at Blue Bottle Coffee Kyoto Cafe

But honestly, looking at the menu at Blue Bottle Coffee Kyoto Cafe, everything is a bit pricey. Even the cheapest salad (single item) is around ¥1,212 including tax… Since I didn’t have much cash on me that day, I decided to keep costs down and ordered the Original Granola + Yogurt and Fruit. I added an Americano (iced) to this, bringing the total to ¥891 + ¥610 = ¥1,501 including tax…

After placing my order at the register, I got a beeper and headed to my seat. Five minutes later, the beeper went off, so I went to the counter to pick it up…

My granola and iced coffee looked like this. The cup holding the granola was smaller than I’d imagined, making me think, “Yeah, it is pricey…” Is the pricing based on American standards? Oh well, can’t be helped.

I took a bite of the granola with fig jam and sipped the iced coffee… It was a light roast, fruity, and refreshing coffee. Being an Americano, the coffee flavor was mild, but I was surprised by how incredibly clear the water was. Since the coffee flavor is lighter, if the water isn’t delicious, the coffee would be ruined, right? I couldn’t help but ask the staff what kind of water they use. The conclusion was “because the water in this area is good.” If that’s the case, then maybe you can’t get coffee of this quality at any Blue Bottle Coffee shop around the world…

So, while the food menu at Blue Bottle Coffee Kyoto Cafe feels a bit pricey for what you get, the coffee is highly recommended. Plus, the environment is incredibly quiet and relaxing—it’s the perfect place to spend a weekend morning. I’ll definitely be back. Though, if I’m being honest, I kind of hope not too many people find out about this place…

Other Menu Items at Blue Bottle Coffee Kyoto Cafe (Prices include tax)

• Decaf: ¥630
• Espresso: ¥610
• Macchiato: ¥620
• Cappuccino: ¥671
• Caffè Latte (Hot or Iced): ¥690
• Mocha (Hot or Iced): ¥781
• Blend: ¥630 and up

Offers a coffee course rare even nationwide…Access to Blue Bottle Coffee Kyoto Cafe is via the nearest station.

At Blue Bottle Coffee Kyoto Cafe, they also offer a coffee course that’s rare even nationwide. This coffee course seems to embody Blue Bottle Coffee’s vision of the ultimate coffee experience. It’s available seasonally, only in spring and fall, and is a reservation-only event lasting about 90 minutes. The Blue Bottle Studio Coffee Course includes 6 drinks and 3 desserts, priced at ¥8,910 per person (tax included). Reservations can be made online via the official website, so if you’re interested, definitely give it a try.

Now, here are the shop details…

P.S. If you are looking for a cozy cafe in Kyoto, please stop by this article below…