Kyoto boasts some of the finest restaurants in Japan, from kaiseki to sushi temples. Here are some elegant spots to enjoy a tranquil meal away from the crowds.
Ryozen, Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto
Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto‘s Kappo-style restaurant, Ryozen, is a 48-seater with an adjoining terrace overlooking a lush garden. Taking pride of place here is a unique wooden Noh stage designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma.
The kaiseki dinner menu here celebrates the best of locally sourced ingredients like kyo-Yasai (heirloom vegetables from Kyoto), miso, and distinct spices such as black-shichimi (chilli pepper). Another highlight is the signature dashi, made from five-year aged Rishiri kelp, bonito, and tuna flakes, which releases a satisfying umami flavour.
Depending on what’s in season, your dinner might begin with an appetiser of persimmon topped with walnut sauce and chrysanthemum, along with Shinshu salmon marinated with kelp and Tosa vinegar jelly. You will then be served a light soup of tilefish with matsutake mushroom, wheat gluten and a hint of refreshing yuzu.
In autumn, you might get a warming dish of deep-fried tofu and gingko dumplings, accompanied by seasonal vegetables like carrot, pumpkin, Tanba shimeji mushroom and a scattering of chrysanthemum petals. Or seasonal fish like Pacific saury sushi and simmered ayu sweet fish. Meat items may include charcoal-grilled Yonezawa beef ichibo paired with eringi mushroom, green pepper, and served with kotohiki salt and miso on the side. The final savoury course is typically koshihikari rice with mushrooms, followed by a light and airy dessert of white miso castella cake.
You can enhance your meal with a selection of sakes from Kyoto. Or have post-meal drinks at the adjacent Bar Ryozen. At this relaxing 20-seat bar, guests can enjoy aperitifs or a nightcap before heading back to their rooms. The sake tasting sets offer over 30 local and premium sakes, including rare finds. There’s also a selection of rare Japanese whiskies for connoisseurs. Or try one of the locally-infused cocktails such as the Ryozen Green Tea Gin and Tonic or the refreshing Mirin Breeze.
Mizuki, The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto is a well-established, beautifully designed luxury hotel situated on the bank of the Kamogawa River in this historic city. Surrounded by beautiful trees, the hotel’s site was once owned by Ryoi Suminokura, a wealthy merchant from the Edo period, known for opening up Kyoto’s Takasegawa river canal for shipping.
If you’re in search of an exquisite dining experience with a variety of options, Mizuki is the perfect destination. The hotel’s Japanese restaurant offers four distinct cuisines: kaiseki, sushi, tempura, and teppanyaki, each prepared with meticulous care.
For an exceptional sushi feast, you can choose to sit at the elegant counter overlooking a serene garden with rocks and water features. The 11-metre counter, decorated with Wajima lacquerware, a traditional craft of Ishikawa Prefecture, sets the stage for your meal.
Chef Tomohiro Goda is a master of his craft, respecting the timeless tradition of sushi-making while incorporating the freshest seasonal ingredients into his Edo-mae style sushi creations. Watch the chef in action as he slices tuna belly with quiet precision, or lightly torches skewered anago (saltwater eel). The latter is simply and elegantly served with a touch of salt and wasabi sauce. If you have a big appetite, the omakase sushi includes five kinds of side dishes, 12 pieces of sushi and dessert.
For special occasion dining, the kaiseki tasting menu is a superb option – featuring an extensive host of delicacies including broiled sea bass Wakasa Style with myoga, grilled octopus with kujo-green onion and vinegar miso, and horse mackerel sushi with pickled ginger. You can even top up the menu with Japanese beef shabu shabu simmered with vegetable and tofu.
To finish your meal on a high note, Mizuki’s dessert offerings, created in collaboration with Pierre Hermé Paris, will satisfy even the fussiest diner.
If you are keen to try tempura, Mizuki delivers one of the finest renditions in Kyoto. Each expertly prepared piece is light, crisp and retains the natural flavour of each ingredient. Meanwhile, in the private dining room, guests can enjoy teppanyaki cooking, where ingredients such as fresh lobster or fine Japanese beef steak are prepared in an open kitchen using an iron griddle.
Singular, Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto
The intimate 25-room Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto is surrounded by nature and located within walking distance to the historic Nijo Castle. Just next to the hotel’s lobby is Singular, a chic 30-seater restaurant and bar. Setting-wise, sleek black and antique gold finishes set the tone, while vintage Baccarat glass decanters from the 1900s add an elegant touch.
Singular specialises in innovative cuisine where classic French techniques are reimagined with a Japanese twist, using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients from Kyoto and other parts of Japan. Among the standout ingredients is Chiyo Tofu, a delicacy exclusive to Kyoto, which is prepared with specialised techniques to draw out its rich, complex flavour.
The first course may include a delicate dish of snow crab with subtle flavours of yuba and soy milk bisque. The menu fuses Western flavours such as Casarecce boar meat bolognese perked up with pecorino romano cheese and a dash of Umbrian olive oil.
Depending on what’s in season, you may get to try monkfish, salt-fried using Awaji Island’s pot-cooked sea salt. This technique enhances the fish’s natural flavour, and is served alongside eggplant, deep-fried burdock, and leafy Japanese vegetables. The dish is complemented by a buckwheat galette and finished with bonito butter, offering a depth of umami.
For the main course, choose between Aomori duck breast or wagyu tenderloin – both expertly cooked tableside over charcoal for a smoky aroma and an added theatrical touch. Finally for dessert, the fig pinwheel is paired with a rich tonka bean cream, offering a sweet yet refined finale. The restaurant manager is at hand to recommend wines and sakes to be paired with your meal.
After your meal, take a short walk to the nearby castle. Stroll through the manicured gardens and moats, surrounded by ancient stone walls, while immersing in the historical beauty of the area. Guests who stay at Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto can request for a ticket to enter the castle grounds.