City Guide

Neighbourhood Guide: Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto

12 June, 2026

Words & Photos

Tara Bennett

Kyoto Souveniers

Coffee

Here

Stop by for a good coffee and a sweet.

Smart Coffee

We've been coming here for years and it's started getting a bit of a line so apologises if it's really busy. They haven't changed the design since they opened in 1932. They do pancakes and egg sandos. It's an old faithful

Clamp Coffee

One of Tara's all time favourites and in fact the first ever pour over coffee she drank.

01

Smart Coffee.

Eat

Saibakes

Delicious baked goods

Mul

A tiny Korean restaurant. The food is exceptional.

Motoi

If you fancy a beer and Gyoza, this is for you. It's simple and delicious and their sauce is so good you can buy it on the way out

Songbird coffee

Tara went here on her very first trip to Japan and still goes today. Her favourite thing on the menu is the coriander curry.

Sugari

Best ramen in the coolest building.

02

Clamp Coffee.

03

Songbird.

04

Sugari.

05

Motoi.

Drink

Tarel

Found in an old shipping container in a carpark, this coffee and wine bar is a vibe.

APOTHECA

A great bar that specialises in cocktails

06

Mul.

07

Tarel.

Shop

Wakabaya

If you like Provider Store you will like this shop. It's filled with ceramics and handmade home goods.

Sumao

A little general store selling home tools

Antique Basho

As you know we love a good antique. This is a good store to visit if you're in the area.

Doro shobo

Second hand books (do we need to say more?)

Graphpaper

As one of our most loved fashion brands, this shop is a must. It has a beautiful garden in the middle of the store, surrounded by clean designed clothes.

Media Shop

We love a good book store. This one in particular sells new and second hand books and magazines on fashion, design and architecture. This store definitely tipped the suitcase over it's weight

08

Tezameya.

Arts & Science

Every store they make is something you would want to live in. While their goods are not cheap, they are stunning and some times it's nice to treat yourself... or window shop.

Tezomeya

A small dye house that uses all natural items to colour their fabrics. You can walk through the studio to their shop

09

Graphpaper.

See/Do

PURPLE

Purple is a space where books, exhibitions, events and people meet and create new forms of expression.

Ricotta Gnocchi With Brown Butter, Sage & Anchovy Sauce

As the cooler weather begins to set in, we are craving big bowls of warming food. Step in a dish featuring delicate ricotta gnocchi, salty anchovies, herbaceous sage and rich brown buttery goodness. This recipe is well worth the effort.

Featured - Recipe

The Easiest Yuzu Honey & Mustard Salad Dressing

This is one of the quickest and easiest salad dressings you can make. We love using our favourite yuzu honey instead of lemon and honey, which you often see in a traditional honey mustard dressing recipe. This twist adds just that hint of yuzu citrus in all the best ways, plus it uses rice wine vinegar, which gives it a satisfying zing. It's a perfectly balanced dressing that can be used with just lettuce or with all your favourite salad bits.