INDÉPENDANTS — Restaurant in Kyoto

2024/05 We made a reservation and visited at 12:00 on Saturday. The restaurant opens at 12:00, so we arrived a few minutes early and waited a little while before being seated. We had seafood paella for lunch set. The seafood paella had a lot of ingredients and was very delicious. I recommend it.

2023/10 We visited on a Friday around 1pm. I was a little surprised that there were no customers in the restaurant. We sat in a spacious seat at the back of the restaurant and ordered a set of seafood paella and mushroom paella. We were very satisfied with the taste, which exceeded our expectations. Each set also came with a mini salad and a cup of soup, and it was reasonably priced. We can recommend this restaurant. The restaurant is located down some...

Great underground café that looks like it's been installed in an old subway station or bathing house perhaps, judging by the floor tiles. Its broken down wall pieces and exposed bricks lend a really cool rustic quality to the place, made better by slightly toned down lighting. Good selection on the menu, but do beware about the wine: the Japanese aren't that good at serving wine, in general. The red we got was way too warm. Whites were chilled fine, and the beer selection was good. :-) Prices reasonable. Pick it for...

A classic Kyoto space with only moderate value for money.

Cafe Independents is a well known Kyoto location with a minimalistic chic look. Back in the day they booked bands although I’m not sure how much this happens anymore. Exposed pipes and concrete slab walls is the mood. It’s worth a visit for the tiled staircase alone.

Food and drink is decent but not amazing and prices are so-so. It is a unique space—I just think they are a little lazy and don’t optimize its potential. Check it out and see...