Trattoria Macedonia Yuki — Restaurant in Kyoto

The thing that excites me the most about traveling is roaming into an unplanned experience. My husband and I were traveling through Japan for 18 days and we were starting to get sick of the daily daily ramen, Okonomiyaki, and Kobe beef day after day. All the Japanese food was delicious but eventually we just wanted some pasta and a salad.

We did a Google search and found one of the best Italian restaurants and experiences we have ever had during our travels abroad.

We found Trattoria Macedonia Yuki located in the Nakagyo Ward in Kyoto. The owner and chef is Yuki himself. A Japananese man with a passion for everything italian. We found him on a Google search and made a reservation. Good thing too because he’ll only have up to seven people in his restaurant at one time. His makes the food all himself and made to order how ever you like. We watched him turn away a family of eight because he just simply can’t accommodate more than two groups of people in his tiny place at one time. He does it Yuki’s way and no way else.

He was the sweetest man, sat with us and shared his story about his love for Italian food, culture and his restaurant business. He told us a story about how he once rode his bike from Kyoto to Tokyo. His bike is right out front of his restaurant. It was such an intimate environment and the food was excellent.

On his menu you’ll find traditional Italian cuisine along with Italian beers, Italian wines and sodas.

Thank you Yuki for satisfying my pasta bolognese craving in...

An unforgettable Italian dining experience in Kyoto – 10/10!

Trattoria Macedonia Yuki is a hidden gem in Kyoto and truly one of the most memorable dining experiences we’ve ever had. The restaurant is run entirely by Yuki himself, and his passion for Italian cuisine and genuine hospitality shines through in every detail.

The atmosphere is cozy and intimate, with a deep sense of personal care. Yuki went above and beyond to accommodate my wife’s allergies, taking the time to communicate clearly using a translator on his iPad—even though his English is already very good. Thanks to his efforts, my wife felt completely at ease and confident there would be no cross-contamination.

We started with a delicious tomato and burrata appetizer, followed by spaghetti Bolognese and bucatini all’arrabbiata. For dessert, we had a rich chocolate cake with a brownie-like texture paired with cappuccino gelato. Every dish was outstanding, made with original ingredients imported from Italy—it truly felt like dining in Italy itself.

Yuki is incredibly kind, attentive, and clearly takes great pride in creating a special experience for each guest. It’s evident that this restaurant is his life’s passion.

If you’re in Kyoto and love Italian food, Trattoria Macedonia Yuki is an absolute must. We left with full hearts and...

The chef, born in Japan and totally self-taught is single-handedly the most wonderful person we’ve met on our trip across Japan. We received the most personal greeting possible and received an explanation of his incredible menu that he conveniently had presented on his iPad.

The food was absolutely wonderful. The octopus bruschetta resembled the freshness of the ocean, combined with the earthly and fresh tones Italy is so famous for. The bolognese pasta was addictive… we couldn’t stop eating it and absolutely cleaned the plate for every single drip of sauce. The pizza was nothing less than amazing.

I’ve been served authentic pasta served in huge casseroles by nonnas in the basement of restaurants in Rome, and this meal was as delicious as any pasta I’ve had in Italy.

Every single dish had a flavour so smooth that we could’ve just kept on eating more and more. Additionally, the wine he recommended was strong and fruity, and a perfect addition to the smooth flavour of the flavourful and round dishes.

Furthermore, the pasta was cooked to absolute perfection (al-dente). The texture was like nothing I’ve chewed before.

It’s crazy that Yuki’s Italian food has been our most impressive and memorable meal in Japan. Thank you for an experience that we’ll...