Inoda Coffee - Main Shop — Restaurant in Kyoto

This place is about ambiance first and second, coffee and food a distant third. A 1300 yen set consisting of a small cup of black coffee and a piece of cake was pricier than most places, and punched well below its weight. Coffee was non-descript, and my pistachio mont blanc was 3 ho-hum bites.

There a lot of bits of old-fashioned decor to hearken back to the early days of Inoda Coffee, as is befitting of their main headquarters. It's definitely quaint, and has a vibe, but this is Kyoto! You can't throw a rock without hitting a place that has similar appeal. My wife ordered the cassis and blood orange cake, and hers was much better. Unfortunately for Inoda, 1 out of 3 is still a pretty poor success rate.

The shop is also arranged oddly, with the entirety of the outdoor garden seating being dedicated to smoking, so if you can't stand smoke, you can't enjoy a big part of the ambiance. There's also a cockatiel in a cage near the restrooms that you can hear throughout the restaurant. My recommendation is to take some pictures of the shop outside, and then head somewhere else to get a better cup of coffee and a...

A must visit if you have an hour or so in the morning while in Kyoto. The original shop for well-renowned Inoda Coffee that has a long history dating back to 1940. So-called morning sets, that is usually a sandwich and a coffee, are quite popular early in the morning. Expect to wait in line, but it is worth it, and bearable as the line moves rather quickly thanks to many seats. This particular branch has preserved many parts of the historical shop such the outside garden. You can also order classical Japanese style coffee like "Vienne". By default, coffee comes before or with the meal, so if you prefer to drink it after the meal, make sure to mention it. You can buy a a bag of "Arabian Pearl" coffee as a souvenir from the shop in the first floor. This blend has been used by the shop since its opening. Last note, the club sandwiches are...

Very good experience and good coffee. The service is very elegant. It has a nostalgic European coffee salon atmosphere. The customers are also mature type, so it is generally quiet. It is good for both solo or with a couple of friends. They do not have latte or cappuccino, but they brew the coffee on the stove. I ordered Arabia Pearl with sugar and milk, and it was quite good.

They also have coffee beans which I bought. They are usually one week old after roasting. But maybe they also could roast on order for it to be as fresh as possible. But when I asked the freshest roast available they did not recommend such a thing. Tried the beans, the quality and freshness is average. There are shops selling better beans for the same price. So I recommend drinking coffee there but not buying...