Bar KAKTEL バー カクテル (classics&modern twists,モダンカクテル) — Restaurant in Kyoto

A little difficult to find, but signage does exist. You just have to look carefully. It's not advertised like you would expect, and it's located on the 3rd floor. Take the cylindrical elevator (or stairs) up and follow the red pathway enshrouded in green. Hope that there are enough seats for you and your party. We were a group of 3 North Americans who originally expected to drop in, have 2 drinks or so, and then move onto the next bar. Instead, we found ourselves spending the entire night there, chatting with Daichi-san (also a founder of Scotch and Branch), and enjoying his decade-plus of drink making experience. The man was recovering from a nasty upper respiratory infection, but even through the coughs and pauses, he was able to both entertain and educate. He takes his craft seriously and can regale you with stories and techniques and cocktails galore. You don't even need to know what you like. Give him a few hints as a starting point and he will teach you. Language appears to be no barrier, either. Daichi-san displays masterful control of English, and if you speak something else there is always the judicial use of modern smart phones and translating apps. Even the 1 thing that I can think of as a negative isn't really a negative. The toilet is an old fashioned, bidet-free setup. But the bar itself is based in the Prohibition speakeasy era and I'm relatively sure that bidet technology back then was not very advanced. Wikipedia says that Toto didn't construct the modern bidet until 1980, and that old-fashioned bidets were the property of the wealthy until after WWII. History and nitpicking aside, this is an amazing experience with a tremendous professional who could probably give you a PhD in cocktailing. It only just opened in January of 2023, so the relaxed, quiet, personal, and highly entertaining experience that my party had probably will become limited, but for your sake, I hope you get to enjoy it as well. Just be aware that you will probably spend your entire night there and any other plans you had will just have to wait...

This guy is legit. Came here for one drink, ended up staying for a few too many, only because each drink was so more delicious than the last. Less than 10 seats, proper cocktail experience; bartender is a veteran of 10+ years, has a complete repertoire, takes the craft of cocktails very seriously, and brings his own taste preferences to the table. Coincidentally friends with some of my favourites bars from Osaka (Nayuta, Bible Club, Shiki, amongst others).

He’s got a small menu of his own favourites; tried a few and highly recommend as he’s spent time crafting them; we also did some custom requests, and asked for his own recommendations - highlight was his version of Milk Punch (which I can only describe as Christmas in a cup). Bar opened start of 2023 and just finding their groove as I write this (still perfect 5 star reviews) and I know that next time I come back here I won’t get a seat, so glad we got to be here...

What an absolute gem in the heart of Kyoto! My wife and I had the pleasure of being served by the head bartender, and it was an incredible experience from start to finish.

The atmosphere at barKaktel is spot-on – intimate, stylish, and effortlessly cool without feeling pretentious. The vibe strikes the perfect balance between relaxed and refined, making it a great spot to unwind after exploring the city.

The cocktails were exceptional, crafted with precision and creativity. The head bartender’s knowledge and passion for mixology really shone through, and each drink was a work of art. I especially appreciated the way he took time to explain the ingredients and inspiration behind each creation – it made the experience feel truly personal.

If you’re in Kyoto and love great cocktails in a beautiful setting, barKaktel is a must-visit. I’ll definitely be coming back next time I’m in...