Bar Le Coq — Restaurant in Kyoto

We had a wonderful evening at Bar Le Coq last week whilst we were in Kyoto. My wife and I walked in on a Sunday evening and were warmly welcomed by the owner Yousuke. He asked us what our tastes were like and I mentioned that I like scotch whiskey and my wife likes Gin. We asked for something Japanese and left it to Yousuke to make. He came up with a Japanese play on a Negroni for my wife leveraging only Japanese products from the Gin, the Vermouth and Bitters. He made a fantastic Smokey old fashioned for me leveraging Japanese whiskey and green tea and other local ingredients. The two cocktails were fantastic. We had more drinks that he came up for us when we asked for a citrus based gin offering which included some Yuzu based gin and was so refreshing on the palate. We also met some of the locals that visit the bar and had some good conversation. I would highly recommend that you make a stop at Bar Le Coq especially if you are a fan of French Cognac, he has a list that...

Spent quite a while here! It wasn't very busy, though likely a result of showing up before dinner time. The vibe of the bar was warm and welcoming, and the bartender had a strong understanding of English. The drinks were phenomenal and high-end: even the wells liquors were on the upper scale (so those sensitive to price beware). And even through a jumbled mess of Japanese and English, the bar master was able to put together a drink that perfectly encapsulated what I was looking for (even though I was unsure what I was trying to get out of my order). There's no menu, so just give a vibes based request, and I have little doubt that the ability of the barkeep won't leave...

I was looking for a cocktail bar while walking through the streets of Kyoto, and during my search on Google, I came across Bar Le Coq. The venue has a retro style with soft lighting, and I was impressed by its minimalistic design. There is no menu, which might be problematic for those who prefer some guidelines regarding prices or available options. However, the owner gives you complete freedom, crafting cocktails from scratch using many imported products, and especially award-winning Japanese whiskies. It was a great discovery. I highly...