18 great wine bars and restaurants in Kyoto 2026
Kyoto is a vivid and diverse wine city, where you can find everything from Michelin restaurants to small wine bars with a cosy ambience. Here is the guide to the best wine spots in Kyoto, selected by Star Wine List's ambassador Wataru Iwata.
-
![Interior of Wine Bar M emme, Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +81 757 416 374
Address: Kyoto, Higashiyama Ward, Gionmachi Kitagawa, 347-56 アミティエ祇園 1階
Wine Bar M emme is located in the middle of Gion – one of the busiest districts in Kyoto. Owner-sommelier Miyuki Murao is one of the best sommeliers for Italian wine in Japan (in fact, she won the JETCUP competition in 2023, earning the title of Ambassador of Italian Wine). As an Italian wine bar, her selection covers the entirety of Italy’s wine regions. There is a beautiful walk-in cellar in the bar, where you’ll find well-aged classic wines in perfect condition. You can enjoy various by-the-glass options, and some small nibbles too. Personally, I recommend popping in after dining in a nic...
-
![Interior of restaurant Dominique Bouchet "LE RESTAURANT", Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +81 757 717 158
Address: Kyoto, Higashiyama Ward, Awadaguchi Kachōchō, 1 3F
Best California Wine List Japan, presented by Robert Mondavi Winery 2026
Dominique Bouchet Kyoto “Le RESTAURANT” is a French restaurant operated by The Westin Miyako Kyoto hotel, located next to the subway of Keage Station. The venue is supervised by chef Dominique Bouchet, of the famous La Tour d’Argent restaurant in Paris, who has now also gained a Michelin star in Tokyo as well. You will enjoy an authentic gastronomic experience through Bouchet’s cuisine, which is typically light and yet flavourful; centred around sauces. Your dining experience will be heightened yet further by the special selection of gorgeous and classic French wines kept in the restaurant’s...
-
![Interior of wine bar ALKAA, Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +81 709 017 1507
Address: 15-7 Higashikujō Nishisannōchō, Minami Ward, Kyoto
ALKAA is a wine bar located just four minutes from Kyoto Station Hachijoguchi (where, incidentally, the number of restaurants and bars has been steadily increasing in recent times). Opened in 2022, this bar mainly focuses on natural wines, always serving more than 10 different wines by the glass. Unfortunately, they do not have a formal bottle list at the moment, but are planning on creating one in the future. For now, you can of course still order bottles from the cellar, which contains around 2,500-3,000 wines. A small à la carte menu complements the wine selection. What’s more, the wife o...
-
![Exterior of wine bar Ueru, Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +81 753 545 299
Address: 537-8 Bishamonchō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto
Ueru opened in 2025, in South-Gosho, a very quiet residential area where authentic Kyoto history and culture live on. The venue is a century-old Kyoto townhouse now covered in earth walls, washi (traditional Japanese paper), Japanese lacquer and textiles, these fine traditional Japanese crafts harmonising with tableware by contemporary artists. The interior is designed to allow you to feel the depth of time, as the old and the new resonate with one other. Here, you can enjoy exquisite wines from all over the world. The owner especially focuses on rare cuvées and aged vintages from small prod...
-
![FUL, a restaurant and wine bar in Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +81 752 310 001
Address: フォーラム西木屋町 1F, 河原町通三条下る, 67番地3 Daikokuchō, KyotoNakagyo Ward
Ful is an interesting restaurant and bar where you can enjoy not just a nice and diverse range of wine, but also, some quiet and soothing music (usually jazz or acoustic). Located on Kiyamachi Street, in the middle of downtown Kyoto, the venue is decorated with natural materials like trees, stones and soil. Walking in, you’ll feel as though you’re in a real forest! Immerse yourself in the soothing atmosphere while enjoying wine, original cocktails, and a unique bar menu inspired by Japanese street food. The wine list focuses on natural wine, from all over the world, and was awarded Silver St...
-
![SCALAE, a restaurant in Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +81 075-351-0700
Address: 570 Higashishiokōjichō, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto
SCALAE is an Italian restaurant operated by THE THOUSAND KYOTO hotel, located next to Kyoto Station. It serves a wide range of classic yet modern Italian dishes and, at weekends, opens a special kitchen counter named the “Plant Forward Kitchen,” featuring exclusively plant-based dishes made using vegetables grown predominantly by local farmers. As for the wine, a diverse range from all over the world includes particularly good examples from Champagne, Piedmont and Swartland. The excellent sommelier team takes care of each table with recommendations either by the bottle or paired to each dis...
-
![Gion Sho, a wine bar and restaurant in Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +81 075-541-0088
Address: 570番地23, Gionmachi Minamigawa, KyotoHigashiyama Ward
Gion-sho is a French restaurant/wine bar in Gion, Kyoto’s most famous and attractive Geiko and Maiko district, filled with a lot of shops, restaurants and bars. It offers a diverse range of French dishes à la carte, and owner, sommelier Shoichiro Nakamura, kindly offers you some wine from a great by-the-glass selection (more than 30 wines by the glass). He is also very good at pairing wine, so you can always enjoy an interesting wine-pairing menu too. You can also enjoy this place as a wine bar, so after dining in Gion, you can have some Champagne and specially selected wine from all over th...
-
![Poquito, a restaurant in Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +81 075-212-8450
Address: 三条上ル下丸屋町401-10, Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward
Poquito is a Spanish Wine Bar located in one of the busiest areas in Kyoto City, Kawaramachi-Sanjyo. Here you can enjoy very nice qualified Spanish dishes from Pinchos and Ajillo, to Paellla with Sherry, and a nice selection of Spanish wines. This is not only a great place for an aperitif but also classic Spanish dining with local ingredients.
-
![Cenci, a restaurant in Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +81 75-708-5307
Address: 44-7 Shōgoin Entomichō, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto
Cenci is a one Michelin-starred restaurant located in Shogoin, close to HEIAN Shrine, in Kyoto. The restaurant also ended up at 91st place on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2021. Here, you will find a very refined Italian cuisine and enjoy specially selected ingredients such as Japanese Prosciutto – PÄRSÙT – on the tasting menu. The natural wine pairings are outstanding and you can always find something new and exciting to drink if you ask the sommeliers. The interior is warm and nostalgic, which makes you feel like staying in an authentic and classic European restaurant.
-
![Coupe de Champagne, a wine bar in Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +81 75-561-6653
Address: Tominagachō, Kyoto Higashiyama Ward
Coupe de Champagne is a classic Champagne bar in Gion, Kyoto’s most famous Geiko and Maiko district, filled with shops, restaurant and bars. Here you will find a great selection of Champagne, both by the glass and by the bottle. Sommelier Akira Ota not only provides great Champagne but also very cozy and friendly atmosphere. If you like to find rare Champagne, or just quench a wine thirst, this is the most ideal place in Kyoto.
-
![Chihana, a restaurant in Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: 075-561-2741
Address: 279-8 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto
Chihana is a very famous traditional Japanese restaurant in the quiet area of Gion in Kyoto. Since it opened in 1946, the restaurant has been attracting a lot of gourmets from all over the world. They have eight counter-seats and one table, so it is always crowded. Unfortunately, they do not have a wine list to read, but just ask what is available! The selections of Burgundy and Champagne are always good, and every dish that the team present go well with fine wines.
-
![Cave de K, a wine bar in Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +81 75-231-1995
Address: Higashiikesuchō, Kyoto Nakagyo Ward
Cave de K is a wine and Champagne bar located in KIYAMACHI-NIJYO, a quiet area right by the Kamo River. Here, you can enjoy a various selection of wine and Champagne by the glass. Their speciality is to serve Champagne by magnum bottle (they even serve Krug by the glass, and of course on magnum). Apart from that, they serve a unique sweets menu, with dishes creamy-textured pancake which goes well with the Champagne. They are open from 11:00-24:00, so this is a place where you can enjoy anything from lunch, aperitif, or some whisky and cocktails after the dinner. Cave de K is owned by the ver...
-
![Gion Rakumi, a restaurant in Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +81 75-531-3733
Address: 570-206 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto
Gion Rakumi is a Japanese restaurant located in the Gion area where famous restaurants and bars are around. It is a venue that attracts many local gourmets with its warm atmosphere with a wooden counter table. The style of this restaurant is slightly different from a typical Japanese restaurant: You are initially welcomed with recommended dishes of the day, and then you can select your favourite ingredients and recipes! Unfortunately, the restaurant does not have a wine list, yet always a sommelier to help you with your choice. There is also a wine bar attached to the restaurant, which has a...
-
![Honke Tankuma Honten, a restaurant in Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +81 50-3628-1645
Address: 168 Izumiyachō, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto
Honke Tankuma Honten is a one Michelin-starred restaurant located in Kiyamachi-Street where you will find a lot of small, yet interesting and unique restaurants side by side. It is one of the most traditional and authentic Kyoto-style Japanese KAISEKI restaurant in Kyoto, serving local Kyoto ingredients in a unique style. The chef, Junichi KURISU, is also a sommelier and a Sake professional, and he is in charge of all the beverages. The wine and Sake list here is one of the greatest in Kyoto, and varies in selection from Old World, New World, even to rare Japanese wine. If you travel in the...
-
![Komorebino, a wine bar in Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +8175-531-9511
Address: 123 Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto
Best Medium-Sized List Japan, presented by Dreissigacker 2026
Komorebino is a natural wine bar located in Gion, Kyoto’s busiest nighttime area. Here you can enjoy superb natural wine from all over the world in a friendly atmosphere. Since its opening in 2017, it is always full with guests. Before you go back to your accommodation, I strongly suggest you stop by here and enjoy the beautiful selection.
-
![Motoï, a restaurant in Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +81 75-231-0709
Address: 1 8 6 Tawarayachō, Kyoto Nakagyo Ward
Motoï is a one-starred Michelin restaurant in Nakagyo-Ku, the central area of Kyoto. The restaurant is housed in a building that was originally a 100-year-old traditional wooden Machiya house. Here you will find an exquisite and innovative French menu with some influences of Chinese cuisine, paired with a beautiful wine selection from France and some local Kyoto wine. The restaurant has a calm and sophisticated atmosphere with a beautiful Japanese garden outside the window. Motoï is one of few fine-dining French restaurants in Kyoto.
-
![Vena, a restaurant in Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +81 50-5263-0556
Address: 46-3, Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward
Vena is a one-starred Michelin Restaurant in Nakagyo-Ku, the central area of Kyoto. Since its opening in 2016, it has been one of the most popular Italian restaurants in the city. Here they only have one set menu for lunch and dinner, and each course is made from seasonal ingredients. The walk-in wine cellar is quite eye-catching and filled with fine Italian wine. The sommelier collects rare vintages, and the condition of each wine is superb. They also have a wine pairing menu, which matches each dish perfectly. This place is a must if you like fine Italian cuisine and wine!
-
![Wine Bar Musée, a wine bar in Kyoto, Japan.]()
Phone: +81 75-256-8922
Address: 470 Kannondōchō, KyotoNakagyo Ward
Wine Bar Musée is a small wine bar located in the central city of Kyoto, just a three-minute walk from Shijo-Karasuma station. You will find this wine bar on the third floor in a building on a narrow street, and when you enter the bar, you will see a beautiful and elegant Japanese garden behind the counter. Here they always have more than 15 wines by the glass, and there are more than 200 different labels in the walk-in wine cellar. The selection focuses mainly on Burgundy and some rare and unique wines from the US, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and more. There is a small counter-table and...
