The 7 Best Cafes in Kyoto: Where to Find the Best Coffee in Kyoto (2026)

I am actually still so surprised by how amazing the coffee culture in Japan is. Especially in Kyoto, I really took my time to visit some amazing cafes and coffee shops, and it was worth it.

Out of all the cities in Japan, I think my favorite cafes were in Kyoto. The city just has such a relaxed and cute vibe with all its little alleyways, it’s the perfect setting for cute little breakfast restaurants and coffee shops.

I’ve spent quite some time in Kyoto now and I literally made it my mission to try as many good coffee shops as I could. If you’ve read any of my other guides, you might already know that I’m obsessed with coffee. I’d much rather spend the effort to find a really good coffee shop in the morning than just grab a 7-Eleven coffee and call it a day.

So, let’s get into my guide for the best coffee shops and best cafes in Kyoto.

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The 7 Best Cafes in Kyoto: Where to Find the Best Coffee in Kyoto (2026)

What are the Best Cafes in Kyoto? I’ve Got the Answers

I’m a huge coffee lover, and having lived in Australia for three years, which I honestly think has the best coffee culture in the world, my bar sits very high. However, I was so surprised by how incredible the coffee in Kyoto is!

I spent four full days here and made it a point to grab at least one (often two) coffees and pastries from shops I thought looked worth a try. Generally, I’m a “the more local, the better” type of person; I just love a good neighborhood cafe vibe.

My favorite for that was Kaeru Coffee Kyoto. I actually stumbled upon it completely by accident while walking past. I stopped in for a coffee and their banana bread, and it was amazing, a super cute, cozy little spot that’s perfect for a relaxed afternoon.

Another spot I loved was AG Coffee, which is right next to one of my favorite temples in Kyoto, Ginkaku-ji. I explored the temple first, which, by the way, is a total hidden gem and so peaceful and then sat in the sun with a coffee afterward. Honestly, it doesn’t get much better than that for a day in Kyoto.

I’ll be honest: there are countless amazing coffee shops in this city. The ones on my list are just the spots I personally visited, but they were all fantastic and I’d recommend every single one of them.

1. Kaeru Coffee Kyoto // My Personal Best Cafe in Kyoto

Opening Hours: 9am-6pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

Kaeru Coffee Kyoto is the first on my list, and like I mentioned, it’s one of my favorite little spots in the city.

It’s not the kind of place where you’re going to run into a crowd of tourists. I actually found it by accident while I was exploring Kyoto on foot; I just saw it while walking in a random little back alley and decided to pop in. I noticed through the window that they were roasting their own beans in-house, so I figured it had to be good.

I ordered a latte and their banana bread, and I loved it. Both were amazing, and the whole vibe was just so cozy. It’s the kind of place I’d definitely go back to for a relaxed, or even a rainy, afternoon.

2. Walden Woods Kyoto // Best Coffee in Kyoto

Opening Hours: 8am-6pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Walden Woods is a completely different vibe, way less “cozy and local” and much more of a minimalist coffee shop. I’ve noticed a lot of cafes in Asia have this very clean, minimalist design, which I’ll be honest, I don’t always love. But it doesn’t really matter here because the coffee is some of the best in Kyoto. Their flat white is just spot on.

I highly recommend grabbing a coffee to go and walking over to the river. It’s only about five minutes away, and that’s exactly what I did. Loads of locals love sitting by the water with a drink because it’s so beautiful, and it’s a great way to enjoy the area.

3. School Bus Coffee Stop Kyoto

Opening Hours: 9am-6pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★
Menu & Location

One thing I’ve noticed in many Asian countries is that “cafes” are usually just coffee shops. They’ll have amazing coffee and maybe some banana bread, but it’s often hard to find a proper, full breakfast.

That’s why I was so happy to find School Bus Coffee Stop Kyoto. I was actually able to get avocado and poached eggs on toast, plus French toast, and their flat white was great too. It’s definitely a Western-style cafe geared toward tourists, but in my opinion, that’s not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to breakfast. Mostly because I’m just not the biggest fan of a traditional Japanese breakfast first thing in the morning.

4. Sundays Coffee Kyoto // Best Coffee Shop in Kyoto

Opening Hours: 8am-6pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

I stayed in the Kyoto downtown area for two nights right near Nishiki Market, and that’s exactly where Sundays Coffee is located. If I could, I would go here every single morning. Seriously, if you’re staying anywhere near downtown, get your coffee here.

I’m the type of person who needs coffee the second I wake up, so I’d head out right at 8:00 AM to grab mine and then often walk back to the hotel with it. This is the place where I did that every day, and they make some of the best lattes I’ve had in Kyoto.

I’ve only ever done takeaway here so I’m not 100% sure if they do food, but the place itself looks super cute if you want to sit in. Big recommendation from me.

5. AG Coffee Kyoto Coffee

Opening Hours: 8am-4pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

AG Coffee is a small little coffee shop in Kyoto that was actually located right next to where I stayed. I spent two nights in a traditional Japanese Ryokan right next door to Ginkaku-ji, which is one of my favorite peaceful and beautiful temples in Kyoto and the Philosopher’s Path. AG Coffee is basically sitting right in front of that temple.

I would highly recommend coming to this area to visit the temple first and then having your coffee at AG Coffee afterward. I actually only found out about this cafe the day I was checking out, which is a shame because I definitely would’ve gone there more often if I’d known.

6. Kurasu Kyoto Stand

Opening Hours: 7:30am-5pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

Kurasu Kyoto Stand is super popular and it was actually the very first coffee shop I went to when I arrived in the city. It’s right next to Kyoto Station, and to be honest, I was in desperate need of a coffee after the train ride.

Again, this is definitely more of a dedicated coffee shop rather than a sit-down breakfast cafe, but their lattes are amazing. They have loads of different roasts which I liked, it’s definitely a place for coffee nerds.

I also saw that they have all sorts of pastries and even little grilled cheeses that looked amazing. I didn’t try them myself, but they looked like the perfect snack.

7. Weekenders Coffee Tominokoji

Opening Hours: 7:30am-6pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

This last coffee shop is one I actually haven’t been to myself, but it was definitely on my list of places to visit. Weekenders Coffee is a big name in Kyoto, and while I think one of their other locations closed down, this one on Tominokoji is definitely open.

Apparently, the cafe has a very traditional “Kyoto-Japanese” vibe which I love, and the coffee is supposed to be amazing. Since I haven’t been myself, I can only go off what I’ve heard, but it sounds like a great spot if you’re in the area and looking for a solid cup of coffee.

FAQs About Kyoto Cafes

What are the best coffee shops in Kyoto?

My personal favorites are definitely Kaeru Coffee Kyoto and Sundays Coffee Kyoto. Both of them make amazing lattes and flat whites that are honestly the perfect way to get the day started. If you’re a coffee nerd, you’ll love the quality here.

Does Kyoto have good cafes?

Honestly, from my own experience exploring Japan, I think Kyoto has some of the best cafes in Japan. The vibe here is so much more relaxed than in the bigger cities, and I actually think the coffee culture is better in Kyoto than in Tokyo or Osaka.

Is Kyoto worth visiting?

100%! Kyoto is my absolute favorite city in Japan and I had the most amazing time here. I’m a huge nerd for Japanese architecture, so I loved exploring all the shrines and temples—it’s just a beautiful place to get lost in.

What are the best restaurants in Kyoto?

There are so many amazing restaurants in Kyoto, but my two favorite spots are Gyoza Taizou for the best gyoza I’ve ever had, and Kaneko if you’re looking for incredible wagyu. Both are totally worth the visit!

Final Thoughts on the Best Coffee in Kyoto

At the end of the day, I really think there are so many coffee shops and cafes in Kyoto that you won’t have to stress too much about hunting them down. There are loads of amazing places that are easy to find just by wandering the backstreets (though I still recommend tagging a few on your map, I do that all the time!).

I think I did a pretty good job finding some of the best spots for coffee in Kyoto, so if you really don’t want to take any chances with a bad brew, then every place I’ve recommended here is fantastic. I totally recommend you grab a coffee at any of them!