Kyoto is Japan's historic heart, and nowhere is that more apparent than at its food. Here's what we ate on our first full day in the city.
Inoda Coffee
One of Kyoto's most beloved institutions, Inoda Coffee has been open since 1940. Coffee was first introduced to Japan in the 1800s by Dutch traders, and for a long time it was a luxury for the wealthy — these early cafés served coffee, tea, tobacco, newspapers, and Western-style foods. Inoda's signature "Arabian Pearl" blend comes pre-mixed with milk and sugar. The reason? Regulars would linger so long over conversation that staff started adding them in advance. It's a small detail that says everything about the café's warm, unhurried atmosphere.
Inoda Coffee Official WebsiteKyoto-Style Udon at Uneno
Uneno is a celebrated udon restaurant in central Kyoto, known for its delicate bonito and kelp broths. We ordered the Hiyashi-Udon — cold udon served with crispy fried cherry shrimp — and the Kitsune-Udon, topped with golden fried tofu. The name "Kitsune" (fox) comes from a legend that foxes, the messengers of the rice god Inari, are especially fond of fried tofu.
Local Supermarket: Fresco
One of our favourite things to do when travelling is visit local supermarkets — and Fresco did not disappoint. The produce section featured enormous Kujo-Negi spring onions (a Kyoto specialty), Mansakuji peppers named after a nearby Buddhist temple, and bundles of fresh wasabi roots harvested near Mount Fuji. A glimpse into what's actually on Kyoto dinner tables.
Japanese Starbucks on Sanjō-Ōhashi
Even a familiar chain becomes something special in Kyoto. The Starbucks near Sanjō-Ōhashi, overlooking the Kamo River, offers region-specific drinks unavailable elsewhere — including roasted tea lattes with tea-flavoured jelly and a matcha latte considerably less sweet than its overseas counterparts. Worth a stop for the view alone.