Pepin — Restaurant in Kyoto

I came here hoping to enjoy a nice evening and meet some people. After having a great conversation with someone from Sweden, I kindly approached a nearby group of Japanese guests and asked—very politely—if it was okay to join them. Before they could even respond, the bartender interrupted harshly and told me off in a way that felt unnecessarily aggressive and cold.

I wasn’t being loud, drunk, or rude—just trying to connect. Instead, I was treated like an outsider who didn’t belong.

It was disheartening. I love Japanese culture and I try to be respectful and learn as much as I can while I’m here. But experiences like this make it feel like no matter how much effort you put in, you’ll always be seen as “other.”

This experience left a really sour taste in my mouth. If you’re a foreigner, especially if you’re alone, I’d think twice about coming here. There are better spots in Kyoto where you’ll be welcomed with warmth and kindness, not suspicion and judgement.

To be fair, I genuinely enjoyed the atmosphere at first. The music, the setup, even the flow of the evening felt nice. But that one moment turned it all around. A great experience isn’t just about the setting—it’s about how you’re made to feel. And in that moment, I felt like I didn’t belong.

I speak partly Japanese, but in the moment I was so put off that I struggled to understand anything. If you're just grabbing a drink it's an OK place,...

Terrific little bar we found close to our hotel while visiting Kyoto. The bartender was very kind and engaged in great conversation about music, various whiskeys and life in Kyoto. We visited three nights in a row and felt like we were visiting a friend each night. We look forward to visiting again when we...

The attendant was really rude all the time we stood there, since from ordering the beer from the payment. We asked to pay with credit card and he said he only accepts credit card when he knows the client doesn’t have cash. And the beer was really expensive (1400 yenes) and not cold enough. Worst experience in...