When you think of Kyoto, ramen might not be the first dish that springs to mind but a visit to Ginjo Ramen Kubota will swiftly change that. Their signature bowl of ramen, brimming with fragrant broth, comes with locally sourced meat and vegetables. Be sure to try the tsukemen too, which is served with noodles separate from the soup so you can dip and enjoy a contrasting texture experience. 

Ginjo Ramen Kubota, 563-2, Nishimatsuyacho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan

Within the serene backdrop of Kyoto's temple district, Kyoyamato is a family-run ryotei that is steeped in tradition and offers a profound experience in Japanese dining. Established in 1877, the restaurant was the place where samurai met secretly in the last days of the shogunate. Housed in wooden houses adorned by a beautiful private garden, Kyoyamato weaves the story of Kyoto through its cuisine and each dish makes the most of the seasons. From simmered bamboo shoots in spring, grilled sweetfish in summer, matsutake sukiyaki in autumn, and snow crab in winter, dining at Kyoyamato is an astonishing experience that will you'll remember for a very long time.

Kyoyamato, 359 Masuyacho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan

Cafe & Sweets Ki No Ne offers desserts that are a treat for the eyes and the mouth. The signature matcha cake is a sweet, yet balanced, tribute to Kyoto's beloved green tea tradition but for a more refreshing experience, their shaved ice desserts, heaped generously with cream and a selection of seasonal fruits are the way to go.

Cafe & Sweets Ki No Ne, 4/F, Kuramoto Building, 384 Higashigawa Komeyacho, Shijo Agaru, Kawaramachi-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan

Feast on Oagari's grilled Wagyu donburi, which is overflowing with meat that is as tender as it is flavourful. You can pick and choose the other elements of the bowl, be it fresh seafood or runny egg yolk, and there is plenty to try. After, when you've finished about half of the donburi, you can also transform the bowl into chazuke (cooked rice with a hot tea broth).

Oagari, 2/F, Hiro Building, 537-2 Gion Machi Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan

Just a stone's throw from the famed Tetsugaku No Michi, or Philosopher's Walk, Monk is a 14-seat, omakase-style restaurant that delivers a distinctive blend of Italian and Japanese cuisines. Chef Yoshihiro Imai's approach to food is a tribute to the ethos of Kyoto: simple, harmonious, yet deep. Here, farm-to-table ingredients meet wood-fired cooking, resulting in dishes such as the signature sourdough pizza topped with local, seasonal ingredients that echo the charm of the city.

Monk, 147 Jodoji Shimominamidacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan

Amidst the historic charm of Kyoto, prohibition-themed speakeasy Bee's Knees stands as a beacon of innovative mixology and the city's vibrant nightlife. Pass the door with a sign for “The Book Store” and discover a cocktail bar that combines Kyoto's age-old elegance with a contemporary zest, creating a spirited environment that's undeniably magnetic. Master mixologists, Toru Ariyoshi and Tatsunari Namatame shake up creative takes on 1920s classics including the bar's namesake, but always with a delightful twist.

Bee's Knees, 364 Kamiyacho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan

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