OMOFU 【Roastery cafe】 — Restaurant in Kyoto

An eclectic cafe specializing in coffee and French pastries with its own roastery. Find your way here by taking the stairs or elevator down to the basement level of Hotel Miyako; you don't need to be a guest to come. Look past the conference rooms for the weird mixed media art installations and you'll know you're there. I was drawn here mainly because I wanted a break from all the matcha, and was pining for a cafe with good espresso.

Menus are available in English and Japanese, and have helpful illustrations. The counter to order is located all the way at the back of the cafe, giving you time to observe their in-house coffee bean roaster, seating area, and various busts and even a bathtub with an empty picture frame in it. The style is interesting, but it's calm, spacious, and AC'ed which is the important thing.

Staff were friendly and gave us a buzzer to get our order once it was ready. Clientele seems to be a mix of foreign tourists as well as businessmen/women who need an indulgent break that's near Kyoto Station.

It's Kyoto, so you'll find plenty of uji matcha on the menu, and the Uji Matcha Latte was excellent - as pretty much every matcha latte I've had in Japan is. The (espresso) Latte was delightful, a well-balanced Latin American blend with a nice crema and foam layer on top. We also enjoyed the Basque Cheesecake and Truffle Egg Croissant Sandwich, served on charming porcelain. Definitely recommend if you have a few minutes to spare but want to stay near Kyoto Station without the constant bustle of movement, or if you're a coffee addict who needs a little more caffeine to...

A great escape from the heat. I was brought in by the image of a giant matcha caramel shaved ice. I was not disappointed.

Located on the basement floor of a hotel, a cool chill cafe that is spacious enough that different table can talk freely and you never feel like you are intruding on others' discussions.

The shaved iced was great. Cool and matcha with the caramel sweetness just melted the heat from me. The cream was sweet but it compliment the matcha. I got the Kiwi Lime Summer drink with alcohol, but they sell without, also. Light and refreshing. I saved after my shaved ice as that started to melt half way through.

Cute little design sections. Probably would make for a great little selfie spot.

The service is counter. You get a beeper to let you know your drink and dessert are ready. You return to the window for the kitchen. But, other than that the staff I encountered were pleasant and patient as I don't know many words...

OMOFU was a cafe I knew I had to visit in Japan! From aesthetic decor, to equally picturesque lattes and food, this cafe is a feast for the eyes and mouth. It’s located on the bottom floor of the Miyako Hotel, and open starting 7AM, a rare sight in Japan.

The workers were nice and patient with us, and we were able to easily place our orders despite our limited Japanese.

My friend and I ordered a caramel cream uji matcha latte and iced latte for drinks, and both gave us a good dose of caffeine for the day. We also got some croissants, and an uji matcha basque cheesecake to share. The cream matcha latte and basque cheesecake are must-trys! They’re delicious and come at a great price.

If you also like taking photos, then this is a good spot for you! All in all, definitely visit this...