Honke Daiichi Asahi ★ 4.4
Kyoto's 1947-founded reference ramen counter under 1,200 yen a bowl. Open from 06:00 for breakfast ramen, the cheapest sit-down meal in the city.
OrderShoyu-tonkotsu ramen with rice
14 brunch places in Kyoto we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Kyoto | Brunch across every city.
Kyoto's morning culture runs through its old coffee houses as much as its bakeries. Smart Coffee and Inoda Coffee Honten Morning anchor the kissaten breakfast around Karasuma-Kawaramachi, while Honke Daiichi Asahi near the station opens early for those after a bowl rather than a pastry. Walden Woods Kyoto and Blue Bottle Kyoto Brunch carry the lighter, third-wave end, and Ippodo Kaboku Cha-shitsu offers a tea-room version of the slow start.
Sizuya Carnet ★ 4.0
Sizuya's local-chain carnet sandwich at Kyoto Station, the city's standby breakfast under 500 yen since 1948. Ham-and-onion bun, melon pan, sausage roll.
OrderCarnet ham-and-onion roll
Nomura Showcase Breakfast ★ 4.1
Nomura's showcase obanzai counter in Kyoto opens at 07:00 for breakfast at under 1,500 yen. Pick three plates from the glass case; rice and miso included.
OrderPick-your-plate obanzai breakfast
Smart Coffee ★ 4.4
A 1932 kissaten in Kyoto's Teramachi arcade. Pillow-thick hotcakes, house-roasted coffee and a tamago sando at the city's reference Showa-era breakfast.
OrderHotcakes with house-roasted blend and a tamago sando
Inoda Coffee Honten Morning ★ 4.5
Inoda's 1940 machiya kissaten in Karasuma, Kyoto, opens at 07:00. The Kyoto Morning set with egg, sausage, toast and Arabian Pearl blend at 1,100 yen.
OrderKyoto Morning set with egg, sausage and Arabian Pearl blend
Walden Woods Kyoto ★ 4.2
Walden Woods' white-on-white brunch cafe in Shimogyo, Kyoto. Espresso tonics, lattes and a morning oat-milk programme; minimalist stepped-wood seating.
OrderEspresso tonic with daily-baked banana bread
Ippodo Kaboku Cha-shitsu ★ 4.6
Ippodo's adjoining cha-shitsu in Kyoto, behind the tea shop. Self-whisk a bowl of matcha at the counter with a seasonal namagashi pair, walk-in any day.
OrderSelf-whisked matcha bowl with seasonal namagashi pair
Akatsuki Coffee Brunch ★ 4.4
Akatsuki Coffee's no-laptops brunch room in Sakyo, Kyoto, husband-and-wife run. Daily cakes, a single Weekenders pour-over and a quiet morning room.
OrderPour-over with daily-changing homemade cake
Holly's Cafe Kyoto ★ 4.0
Holly's Cafe in Daimaru Kyoto's basement opens at 08:00. American breakfast plate, hand-drip coffee and weekend stacks for a Western start at 1,200 yen.
OrderBacon-and-egg breakfast plate with pour-over
Kissa Soiree ★ 4.2
Soiree is a 1948 Showa kissaten on Nishikiyamachi in Kyoto, known for its blue-soda jellies, its cheesecakes and its neon sign from the 1960s.
OrderBlue-jelly soda set with cheesecake
Fukujuen Kyoto Honten Brunch ★ 4.2
Fukujuen Kyoto's six-floor tea house on Shijo serves morning matcha-and-soba sets in Kyoto. Tea-blending workshop downstairs, brunch upstairs.
OrderMatcha-and-soba breakfast set with hojicha creme brulee
Le Petitmec Croissant Morning ★ 4.3
Le Petitmec Oike opens at 08:00 in Kyoto with the anchor French boulangerie morning. Beurre croissants, pain au chocolat and take-away coffee at the door.
OrderBeurre croissant and pain au chocolat with a coffee
Blue Bottle Kyoto Brunch ★ 4.3
Blue Bottle's Kyoto cafe by Nanzen-ji serves morning pour-overs in a converted machiya. Single-origin brews and a wagashi-pairing programme at counter.
OrderPour-over and wagashi-pairing breakfast
Iolite Coffee Roasters Morning ★ 4.5
Iolite in Nakagyo in Kyoto opens early; the morning is a hand-drip and toast set, cedar-beam machiya counter, single-origin pour-over from the in-house roast.
OrderHouse-blend espresso with seasonal milk pastry
Book food experiences in Kyoto
Guided tour · 3 hours
Kyoto: Geisha Dinner & Gion Cultural Walk
Immerse yourself in Kyoto’s vibrant geisha culture with a captivating tour featuring dinner and fascinating history.
from¥39,900 Check dates
Private tour · 2 hours
Kyoto Omakase Sushi & Gourmet Dining Experience
Experience Kyoto's hidden omakase sushi with a local guide. Enjoy a 13-course dinner, 3 drinks, and an intimate dining experience. Solo travelers are warmly welcome.
from¥39,800 Check dates
Private tour · 3 hours
Kyoto: Private Wagyu Dinner in Traditional Kyoto Style
Enjoy a Kyoto-style Wagyu dinner with a private local guide. Learn about the history and culture of Wagyu in Japan and Kyoto as you savor a curated meal with appetizer...
from¥37,000 Check dates