I was talking to my friend Yutaka one day and telling him that I couldn't find the right sort of cafe. "Of course, I know lots of nice cafes," I said, "but they don't serve my needs. They are too popular, and crowded. I want somewhere quiet, and unpopular, where I can go by myself, be anti-social and just lose myself in a book without being bothered by anyone. I can't find … [Read more...]
Blues Cafe Ball’n’Chain
Sometimes Mewby and I head back up to north Kyoto to revisit our old haunts. One Sunday afternoon we spent a pleasant afternoon up by Demachiyanagi flying the kite that I'd brought back from Bali. There's a spit of land there where the two rivers meet that's just perfect for it. Many kids (and their dads) were eyeing my paper bird with silent envy, but the two ladies in … [Read more...]
Vanilla
Vanilla is a stylish location for lunch, dinner or just a simple coffee. They do a very good coffee. The interior is decorated with cool, mellow Scandinavian furnishings. Presumably there is some connection with the "Nordic Countries" store downstairs. … [Read more...]
Blue Note
A couple of weeks ago, jazz singer Allison Adams Tucker invited me to Blue Note to see her live performance there. It was a great show but also an excellent opportunity to check out this legendary live music venue. I spoke to the current master Ohigashi-san. A mild-mannered chap, he goes by the nickname of Chooper-san (after blues musician Al Kooper), and is as Allison put it … [Read more...]
Radio Cafe
Radio Cafe on Gokomachi is a nice setting in which to listen to local community radio. It also does some very nice cakes. I'll let the pictures below speak for themselves. Just click on the arrow to move them forward or back or go to flickr for a closer look. Radio Cafe is just south of Sanjo on the east side of Gokomachi (across from Dotour). Here is a most excellent and … [Read more...]
Caffe dell’Orso
A few weeks ago Ted Taylor introduced me to Cafe dell'Orso a nice new Italian restaurant on Higashi Ichijo Dori. They do a good ￥1000 set lunch there; one pasta of your choosing + salad + focaccia with a home made pate and a wee slice of quiche. I decided to go back for dinner, and try some more dishes. In my pictures below you can see various appetisers and desserts but not … [Read more...]
Takarada Bakery
This little bakery on Higashioji Dori... ...does a very nice soft white loaf... ...among other things. This in fact is my trusted source for all my toast and sandwich needs. In their cafe section they also do a lunchime set of pasta, salad and coffee which I've never tried but it seems very reasonable at ￥525. Takarada Bakery is on the west side of … [Read more...]
Sheep’s
Sheep's Public Cafe is a place I have been meaning to check out for a while. I kept seeing it as I cycled home from work and thinking to myself "Sheeps. Why Sheep's?" The signboard outside says "Fish & Chips", "Guinness" and looking at the exterior I imagined just another foreign style pub. Once inside though I was impressed by how bright and cheerful it is. The owners have … [Read more...]
Zac Baran
I first met Yoshida Koichi in the music bar Hawkwind. A shakuhachi player, he told me he plays in many styles, not just traditional, but jazz, folk, avant garde, new age, pretty much anything. In Hawkwind we were listening to some hip-hop. "How about this then?" I challenged him with a grin. And do you know, he stood up immediately, he played, and it was wonderful. I was very … [Read more...]
Irish Music Session @ Woodnote
As a follow-up to my post on Woodnote a couple of weeks back I've posted two videos of last night's Irish music session on my journal at www.mikeylambe.com. Enjoy! … [Read more...]
Sarasa Pausa
Sarasa Pausa is a very cute cafe and eatery on Fuyacho Dori and one of a chain of Sarasas in Kyoto I have yet to investigate. Their lunchtime menu changes with the seasons but is quite limited being mainly pasta and sandwich type things and pretty meaty too. Vegans may have to eat elsewhere and come here for drinks. For me, they managed to rustle up a salmon sandwich that … [Read more...]
Woodnote
I had my supper at Woodnote last night; a big plate of sarnies and two bottles of Guinness. And they were tasty. I really like this place. There are a lot of bars and cafes in Kyoto that are dedicated to a particular kind of music; jazz, soul, rock or blues... and finding these places always gives me a real kick. But Woodnote is something else. It's a "99.9%" (says the owner) … [Read more...]
Le Petit Mec
Le Petit Mec is a French style cafe & bakery on Imadegawa just west of Horikawa, which appears to be open only on weekends... They sell a fantastic variety of delicious breads, sweet pastries and sandwiches which you can eat in or take out. Here below are my purchases, left to right: くるみパン - Walnut bread - ￥168 a roll, ジャガイモパン - Potato bread - ￥157 a roll, and … [Read more...]
boogaloo cafe & deli
Here's a pleasant respite from the madding crowds of Teramachi. Escape to the soft lighting and background jazz of the 2nd or 3rd floor cafes and order yourself a healthy lunch. This is also a bakery so pasta, pizza or a nutritious salad can be ordered for lunch with a パン食べ放題 or all-you-can-eat-bread deal. Here are some items off the lunchtime menu: ●pasta lunch (today's … [Read more...]
