BABBI GELATERIA KYOTO — Restaurant in Kyoto

I was really disappointed with my recent visit to Babbi While the desserts themselves were decent, the policy they enforce is incredibly unfriendly and unwelcoming. Every single person who sits at a table is required to place an order — even if you’re just accompanying a friend or child.

Not everyone always wants to eat, especially if you’re just there to keep someone company or if you’re not feeling up for it. Forcing every person to buy something just to sit feels more like a cash grab than hospitality.

There are plenty of other places where customers are treated with more respect and flexibility. I won’t be returning, and I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone who values a comfortable and inclusive atmosphere. The staff is not that great at...

…And it happened again today. Thankfully, it seems I’m not as stupid as I obviously look. Went for a wonder in Kyoto, hoping to see some miakos and geishas, but it got to a point I was melting so stopped off for an ice-cream. Asked for a double scoop on cone, ¥880, to have in under the air con and she was going to charge me ¥1,430. Fair enough, she pointed at the (insane) table charge which I hadn’t noticed. Then I said I’d go and she still wants to charge me ¥880. When I pointed at the same price list she’s acting all confused like she doesn’t know what I’m talking about. It’s so ridiculous! It’s been about 4 or 5 times in this month that something like this happens. If you come to Japan,...

Evening time in summer (July-September? ) you can enjoy ice cream at “kawadoko/kawayuka” by Kamogawa river. It is written as “川床 (literally translates to “river floor”)” in Japanese kanji, and this can be pronounced in two different ways. Anyways, while many restaurant charge extra fee just to sit at kawayuka, it is free to use it here. So, if you want to experience kawayuka, but want to save some money on dinner (usually kawayuka restaurant are relatively spendy, I think) you can come here and have a nice kawayuka experience by spending 600 yen or so for a tasty ice cream. Sorry for the messy picture. It got melted...