ACTUAL KYOTO — Restaurant in Kyoto

A tiny groovy cafe right next to the tram line, Actual Kyoto only seats about 18 people, and it was obviously THE place to be at 3:00 on a Thursday afternoon. It was full, so we had to wait.

The menu is extremely limited - cheesecake is the only food. There's choices of coffee, hot chocolate, and hoji tea soda but no hot tea. We had the Basque cheesecake- divine!!, hot chocolate - very nice, and the tea soda - also very refreshing.

The decor is gorgeous - high ceilings (there's a mezzanine with one table), dark timber beams, a beaten-copper bench top, and lots of polished concrete and stainless steel. Mood lighting and tasteful floral touches finishes off this very elegant space.

My take-away - don't go in mid-afternoon, be prepared to wait, just have a lovely coffee and cheesecake and soak in the 'oh-so-cool' ambience. I loved the tram going by just outside, and the service...

On that day, I visited several matcha places in Kyoto. Surprisingly, the most unforgettable one of the day was Actual Kyoto, located near the Shijo Omiya railway station. It was quite hidden, with a two-story concrete building tucked away. Inside, there was a mix of coffee aroma and a sense of mystery.

They used matcha powder from Kyoto and Tsukemachi, and the vibrant green color was so beautiful that it felt reluctant to stir. I took a sip of the tea and then slowly watched the green color seep into the milk. It was incredibly soothing to the eyes. The aftertaste was long-lasting and satisfying, adding the perfect touch to my matcha journey that day... comma 😌

I'm looking forward to trying their matcha Mont Blanc...

I sat by myself outside :) Loved it

Got the matcha cheesecake and matcha mango drink and both were very good!

(Wouldn’t come in a larger group as there is limited seating)

Getting to watch the train pass as you sit and enjoy your food/drink is always a bonus in my book. Although I didn’t sit inside this time, I would love to next time as it felt modern in a way that incorporates natural aspects as well in terms of interior design.

Very stylish, will...