Cafe Mercredi — Restaurant in Kyoto

An Epicurean taste of Memories

Located northeast of Kyoto, between the Nanzen-ji and Ginkaku-ji temples, lies the Philosopher's Path, a scenic walking trail that separates the suburban western side from the forestry hillside in the east. As I strolled along this path, I couldn't help but contemplate the philosophical ideas I had read about. I wondered what kind of philosophical encounter I might experience.

In addition to the beautiful scenery, the friendly cats, and the refreshing forest air, I also had the pleasure of enjoying an exquisite culinary experience, which blended flavors from different parts of the world. This "Alafranga" treat included vanilla from New Caledonia, rhum from Martinique, and fresh, sweet strawberries.

We began with a cup of coffee accompanied by a soft delicious Madeleine, followed by a Tarte aux Fraise and a Fraisier. The taste-trip ended perfectly with a Macarons that had the ideal balance between crispness and chewiness. The vanilla ice-cream left a silky sensation on the palate, while the biscuit provided a seamless transition to the refreshing mint tea, which was infused with the aroma of fresh mint leaves, best treated with a gentle yet firm smack between your palms.

All these exquisite courses and their intricate details were made and presented by M. Regis, the confiserie chef. He even shared his childhood memory, which inspired these delectable treats.

The staff was very friendly, and the French radio in the background gave a genuine Parisian café vibe, although the interior could use more attention to detail.

The café just opened on April 1st, so these improvements will likely be made soon. Overall, the Philosopher's Path and this culinary experience provided a perfect blend of intellectual and sensory pleasures, making it a must-visit...

The ice cream tasted good, but it was pricey. We sat outside on their bench which is next to the cafe entrance eating the ice cream we bought from their shop. One of our kids didn’t buy the ice cream so we opened a pack of pretz (dry snack sticks) for him since he was hungry on the Philosopher’s Walk. The manager said “no no no” and shooed us away even though we had bought their ice cream. I understand Japan has rules, but I felt that was a bit too strict of him, especially since his cafe was completely empty other than our party. We try our best to be good tourists so we said sumimasen and obeyed. I stayed with our ice cream eating child while my wife had to leave with our pretz...

Came in on a hot summer Sunday. It was not so busy and the second floor has lots of seating for a casual coffee break. The outdoor patio seating is a bar style but much too hot for summertime.

There are lots of sets. Only a few cakes left for the cake sets so coming in before 15:00 would be good.

Paris-Brest is heavy, rich, and is lovely. The chocolatine (notice, not pain chocolat) is worth the price and a chocolatey, buttery treat.

We ordered a peach and grapefruit ice cream. While refreshing and flavorful, they were a bit smaller than expected! The cookie that came along was very soft and a very nice touch.

We ordered the orange juice and a cafe au lait fort. Even the water...