Kyoto is a popular city among foreign tourists due to its numerous temples, shrines, and visible Japanese culture such as geisha. It boasts famous tourist spots like Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) and Kiyomizu-dera Temple, as well as Mt. Fuji.
Kyoto also has a deep history in food culture. It's known for its developed tea culture and is world-famous as the home of matcha. With many people involved in academia and commerce, numerous cafes developed as places for interaction. Today, many cafes offer not only coffee but also Japanese tea-flavored drinks.
Traditional architecture buildings and retro cafes renovated from old facilities are attracting attention. In this article, I'll introduce "Inoda Coffee," a cafe that I found particularly charming during my teatime in Kyoto.
If you are interested in Kyoto's Best Cafes, check the article below! I summarized Kyoto's Best Cafes I recommend and how I felt each Cafes.
sena kanda
Kissaten: Traditional Japanese cafes where you can enjoy not only coffee but also Western-style food
The charm of Japanese-style cafes, called "kissaten," is that you can enjoy not only drinks like coffee but also meals and desserts. You'll be surprised by the high quality of carefully crafted coffee, Western-style dishes, and Instagram-worthy products.
Kyoto has many long-established shops with a retro atmosphere that have been loved by locals for a long time. A characteristic is that many shops focus on coffee and offer breakfast menus. Many people visit these cafes for breakfast to enjoy delicious meals in a relaxed setting.
Inoda Coffee: One of Kyoto's three major long-established cafes
Kyoto has long-established cafes that have inherited the taste and dedication of their time. The three major long-established cafes in Kyoto are: Inoda Coffee, founded in 1940, known for its commitment to beans and roasting; Maeda Coffee, founded in 1971, offering home-roasted coffee and homemade food; and Ogawa Coffee, founded in 1952, which emphasizes the passion of craftsmen and social value in coffee.
Here, we'll introduce Inoda Coffee, the oldest among them.
The charm of Inoda Coffee and three recommended points
Inoda Coffee's exclusive blend characterized by a strong flavor
source： Official website
Inoda Coffee adheres to traditional coffee roasting and extraction methods, with techniques passed down through generations. Its strong flavor has many fans, making it a famous cafe in Kyoto where various people gather.
Their commitment lies in the nel drip method using cloth filters. Although more difficult to extract than paper filters, it results in a smoother taste. You can enjoy coffee with a rich flavor, body, and aroma.
Inoda Coffee offers coffee blended from Colombian, Guatemalan, Brazilian, and other beans, extracting their flavors to the fullest. The optimal roasting degree changes depending on temperature and humidity. The "experience" and "intuition" of skilled craftsmen continue to maintain Inoda Coffee's taste.
Thus, the secret to Inoda Coffee's deliciousness lies in the extraction methods cultivated over many years and the original blends created by skilled craftsmen.
"Retro interior" that feels like a time slip
source：Tabelog
Inoda Coffee's stores include the old building reconstructed after a fire in 1999, the main building with a townhouse-like exterior, and the memorial hall decorated with paintings and furnishings of the founder, Shichiro Inada, who was also an artist.
The old building, with its stone floors, wooden pillars, old televisions and lighting, red and white gingham tablecloths, and garden views from the seats, exudes the atmosphere of its founding days. It's popular among long-time customers.
The main building features an open feel with high ceilings and a classical, theater-like space. From the second floor, you can overlook the naturally decorated garden. The main building and old building are connected by a single corridor. Please enjoy the delicious coffee in whichever space appeals to you.
Luxurious meals like hotel breakfasts
You can enjoy food menus for morning, lunch, and sweets to suit your mood and occasion. There are luxurious morning menus like hotel breakfasts and popular sandwich menus unique to Inoda Coffee, such as the "Beef Cutlet Sandwich" with homemade sauce.
My recommendation is the roll bread set with fried shrimp. It features crispy fried shrimp that pairs well with soft roll bread. You can also enjoy "Japanese-style Western food" like spaghetti and hashed beef rice. The portions are generous, making it suitable for lunch as well.
The sweets menu is also extensive, including cakes and parfaits. For teatime, how about the popular lemon pie with just the right sweetness? My recommendation is the pudding parfait. The pudding, surrounded by fresh fruits, is smooth with a rich egg flavor.
Three must-try menu items at Inoda Coffee
Pearl of Arabia (Hot Coffee)
source：Tabelog
This is Inoda Coffee's signature menu item, a dark roast coffee based on mocha. Its taste, unchanged since the founding, is loved by many. The coffee has a good balance of acidity and body, with a strong flavor.
A unique feature is that it's served with milk and sugar already added. Inoda Coffee's coffee is designed to taste even better with milk and sugar. This was devised to prevent milk and sugar from not mixing well as the coffee cools during conversations.
Currently, you can also enjoy it black, so please try it according to your preference.
Kyo-no Tyousyoku (Kyoto's Breakfast)
source：Tabelog
This shop is so popular for breakfast that it's said, "Kyoto mornings start with Inoda."
My top recommendation, "Kyoto Breakfast," includes a croissant with buttery aroma and texture, thick and juicy ham, fluffy scrambled eggs, salad, orange juice, and an additional drink. The specially ordered ham is particular, and the salad uses various types of vegetables.
This luxurious content, just like a hotel breakfast, will surely make you feel happy at the start of your day. Eating this menu while viewing the retro interior or garden scenery will surely become a good memory of your trip.
Pudding
source：Tabelog
The "pudding," a classic item in retro cafes, is also recommended. It inherits the recipe from "Kettle" in Tokyo and has been loved by people of all ages for a long time. The slightly firm pudding with a rich egg flavor pairs excellently with fragrant caramel. You'll be impressed by its texture at first bite.
The unique container also evokes a retro Japanese atmosphere. My recommendation is the "Pudding Parfait," which features this pudding as the main attraction, topped with fresh fruits. It's a visually appealing and Instagram-worthy dish that you'll want to photograph as a memento of your trip.
Six stores in Kyoto, with additional branches in Tokyo and Kanagawa
Inoda Coffee has six stores in Kyoto Prefecture, including the main store. There are also stores in Daimaru Kyoto and inside JR Kyoto Station, allowing you to enjoy it while shopping or using the train.
There are also stores in Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Hiroshima. Each store has limited-time menus, so check them out when visiting these cities.
For example, the "Inoda Children's Plate" at the Yokohama Takashimaya store in Kanagawa, which has been featured in the media, is a playful dish that even adults can enjoy. It's an assortment of dishes popular with children, like omurice and fried shrimp, sized for adults to eat.
The main store is recommended to fully enjoy the charm of Inoda Coffee
source：J-CAST NEWS
While there are multiple stores, the main store is recommended for those who want to fully experience the charm of Inoda Coffee. This is because you can feel the origins of Inoda Coffee, including the founder's vision.
At the main store, you can enjoy the old building with scenery and decor from the founding days, the brick courtyard, the modern classical and open new building, and the memorial hall where you can view the founder's furnishings. You can experience a special space unique to the main store.
The attentive service from staff like hotel personnel is also an attractive point. Experience Japanese tradition and deliciousness during your trip.
Access
Address: 140 Doyucho, Sanjo-sagaru, Sakaimachi-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Business hours: 7:00-18:00 (Last order 17:30)
Closed: Open all year round
Phone number: 075-221-0530
Official website
If you are interested in Kyoto's Best Cafes, check the article below! I summarized Kyoto's Best Cafes I recommend and how I felt each Cafes.
sena kanda