Cocktail Stand FUREK — Restaurant in Kyoto

One of the most unique and brilliantly thought-out bars I’ve ever been to! Housed inside a renovated traditional Kyoto building (which still proudly exhibits some of the original features, such as the wooden beams and walls), this bar makes use of Kyoto’s natural spring water that comes directly from the well beneath the bar. It then flows through a mini stream in between the counters and customers can help themselves to as much of said water as they like from tops adjacent to this channel.

Scent is definitely a huge part of the experience here. The water they use is distilled with various botanicals that impart a wide array of fragrant aromas - they will provide you with a small glass of each type of water that was used in the cocktail you ordered so you can really appreciate the flavour without it getting muddled beneath the other ingredients. You can also use spray bottles located in front of you to change the fragrance of the cocktail or even just the water you’re drinking which was a really interesting concept. As someone who is a huge fan of both perfumes and cocktails, this was a dream combination for me!

Moreover, I liked that it was a standing bar as the way that the counters are set up, it both encourages and facilitates conversation between guests, as well as staff, creating a really laidback and social vibe, as opposed to the kind of pretentious atmosphere you can sometimes find in trendy bars where people are basically drinking in silence. The staff were also very approachable, knowledgeable and friendly. I personally only spoke to them in Japanese, but I overheard them speaking with other foreign guests in excellent English, giving consummate explanations of the cocktails and distillation processes. The chill music also perfectly accentuated the vibe.

It’s a little bit of a walk from the central Kawarachi area but I assure you, it’s 100% worth the visit. I’d recommend checking it out now before it becomes so popular that people are queuing for hours outside like some of the other top bars in Kyoto, as I’m sure with its combination of original cocktails, great service and unique concept, it won’t be long before it deservedly...

A very friendly, unique, and above all excellent cocktail bar. We are cocktail people and have been to many different kinds of bars in many different places, but Furek stands out for its novelty among its peers. Where many bars will make infusions, washes, or syrups, here the water - the single common cocktail ingredient - is the target. The wealth and variety of essenced waters makes this bar stand out among all others that I have experienced.

Together my partner and I had each of the 6 well-inspired drinks over 2 days, and each of them would merit a second order (we actually did get 2 of them again the second visit…). We loved every drink, the fresh water at the counter, and the small group of staff who love what they do. I grew up on good bourbon in Kentucky, but their old fashioned was more than memorable and something I will endeavor and fail to create once I return home. To say I am inspired to set up my own distillation rig is an understatement.

While the unique cocktails that we enjoyed themselves merited five stars, the food was excellent, comforting, and an excellent match for the drinks. This is not to mention the space, their kindness, and the stream flowing in the bar with infinite and optionally perfumed well-water. I wish them the best of luck with the bar and hope they continue to receive the success and recognition...

This cocktail bar is sooooo creative, the best way to describe it is just ‘feel free’.🥰

The water they use for the cocktails is distilled from their own well, like 60 meters underground! There aren’t any chairs, so everyone just stands around the bar, and you can even grab purified water straight from the tap in front of you.

They’ve also got these purified lemongrass and basil sprays, you can spray them on your hands to smell, in your water, or even in your drink – it’s all DIY and totally up to you.

I ordered the Nichi Nichi Spritz and asked the owner to make it a bit weaker. It was super sweet at first, then the owner brought over some lemongrass-infused water, you could drink it or pour it in your drink. Once I poured it in, it turned into my fave sour drink! My friend’s basil spray had this wild, metallic edge to it, so cool.

We also got some snacks – ginger pork, tomato pasta, and braised beef – it was like a bite of food, a sip of drink, and a whiff of fragrance.

The staff kept checking in on us, making sure we liked everything and adjusting it to our taste. They kept saying “feel free,” which makes sense, it’s a no-reservation spot and the cocktails are just amazing.

We had such a blast and were so happy, we gave the owner a hand-drawn picture at the end! It was just a really, really...