Yamamoto Coffee-kan Kyoto YC — Restaurant in Kyoto

I have been visiting multiple times per week over the past few weeks and it has been a pleasure every time. The wood paneling, lights above the bar, and the tableware, among other small details, evoke a sense of nostalgia and sophistication. They offer a wide selection of coffee blends, with the country of origin and the flavor profile detailed for each one. The menus are available in both English and Japanese, and I didn’t notice any discrepancies between the two versions. The service is kind and simple, you just find a seat and will be attended to immediately, being provided with oshibori, ice water(as an American, this is greatly appreciated), an ashtray (smoking is allowed, so the establishment is 20+), and an English language menu if needed. The food and drinks always come out quickly and have never disappointed me so far. As it is a coffee house primarily, the food selection is somewhat basic, with the only potential meal replacements being sandwiches, a hot dog, and cheese toast with tuna. Best for a small snack between meals, in my opinion. The dessert options are numerous, with two large parfaits, vanilla ice cream, coffee jelly, floats, pudding, mini waffles, cake slices, cinnamon toast, cocoa toast, and more, so I believe anyone with a sweet tooth can be sufficiently satisfied. Be warned, the parfait can be a bit daunting to take on by yourself, especially with the amount of whipped cream you need to work through to get to the rest of the ingredients. Overall, Yamamoto Coffee-kan is a great meeting spot, a nice place to relax after work, an international coffee experience, and my favorite coffee...

What an adorable, retro-style coffee shop. It was just a short walk from my hotel, so I popped in for a morning coffee—but ended up trying their sandwiches too, and wow, the food was fantastic.

The whole place felt like a perfect anime sequence. The staff were incredibly polite, dressed as if they’d stepped out of a fancy ballroom café. They brew coffee using classic hand-press methods, and even the tea is served in charming, retro-style pots they leave at your table. Every detail added to the nostalgic vibe.

The only downside for me was the indoor smoking. It was surprising to see so many well-dressed, proper-looking folks lighting up one after another. Definitely felt like stepping into a time machine—especially coming from the U.S., where that's almost unheard of now.

Still, the coffee was superb. I even bought a bag to bring home with me. A unique and memorable...

Initially a little reluctant to visit due to the reviews about smoking within the restaurant, but decided to come “smell” it before we judge for ourselves if it’s bearable - and luckily it is 👍🏻

🚬 I think it’s not too overbearing if there’s no smokers around, but you definitely can smell smoke before you even step into the restaurant - might be a turnoff for some

🍞 food wise, it’s all great, especially like the omelette sandwich and the pizza like bread

☕️ coffee were decent too, their white coffee were served with milk aside so you can add them accordingly

💴 price is rather affordable too, at under 3000 yen for 4 pax for breakfast,...