UPDATE: BAR F.S.N. has moved and is now located here. Recently I heard that an old friend Philippe Goulier, had opened up his own bar. I was curious to see it. Philippe had always talked about running his own little cafe, or tea house, or restaurant... or something, but it always seemed like it was just talk. It's awfully nice when people exceed your expectations. Philippe … [Read more...]
Tadg’s Irish Bar and Restaurant
The Home of Craft Beer in Kyoto Four years since it first opened, the Irish pub formerly known as Mc Loughlin's has been renamed as Tadg's. Not a big change really, as I think everyone was calling it that anyway. I've written previously about this pub; its friendly hospitality and the fantastic views over the river and city. And Tadg's cooking is also justifiably renowned; … [Read more...]
Sunday at the Vegan Earth Festival
The sun was out and so were the crowds for Sunday's Vegan Earth Day festival. Now obviously, the big thing at this kind of event is the food (apparently there's no meat in it - but it still tastes ok!), but even if you aren't hungry, just wandering around people-watching is pretty entertaining. I saw some familiar faces - like Falafel Garden's Amir for example. And … [Read more...]
Speak Easy
UPDATE!! JUNE 14th 2010: Hankering for a gluten burger and onion rings yesterday, I went along to the Karasuma branch of Speak Easy only to be deeply disappointed. It's not there any more. Presumably the Shugakuin branch is still intact though. Mewby and I intend to venture north next weekend and find out. Every now and again I am overcome by a terrible yearning for junk … [Read more...]
Yoramu
Last Thursday Nick Coldicott, was in town and invited me out to sake bar Yoramu. Nick is the editor of Time Out Shortlist Kyoto and also writes a drinks column for the Japan Times, so when he said that Yoramu was his favorite bar, I was naturally intrigued. Yoramu lived up to his promise. The master, Yoram, a quietly spoken Israeli perfectly fluent in English and Japanese, … [Read more...]
Kei’s Cafe Oggi
Our Mewby was very pleased with her lunch yesterday. We ate at Kei's Cafe Oggi on Gojozaka. It's famous for its antique furniture and for its light and fluffy rice-filled omelettes. Neither of us was in an オムライス mood though. I went for the vegan option and got myself a fantastic vegetable sandwich instead. Just look at the way the colours of those fresh vegetables leap … [Read more...]
In the mailbag…
Every now and again I get an email like this that makes everything seem worthwhile: As a vegetarian, I found your website SO HELPFUL! And I was happy to see you featured in the current issue of the Kyoto Visitors Guide. In that guide, I found the name of Mariko's Kitchen Japanese Cooking classes, which I attended last night. It was such an amazing, special night, and I … [Read more...]
Na no hana
Out for a stroll last night I stumbled across health and whole food shop 菜花 (na no hana). They have plenty of organic vegetables and fruit here, all kinds of natural cooking ingredients, vegan food supplies and earth-friendly cleaning products. 菜花 sits about halfway between Demachiyanagi and Hyakumanben. If that isn't convenient, they do deliveries. To find it, just walk east … [Read more...]
In Search of… Cafe Peace
I've noticed that a lot of people discover Deep Kyoto, when googling for Cafe Peace. Sadly, Kyoto's famous animal-loving emporium of vegan fake meats, Heartland beer and happy hippy clutter closed earlier this year. However, the ideals of Cafe Peace are continued each year at the annual and ever popular vegetarian festival, and as for eateries, in Kyoto, vegetarians are spoilt … [Read more...]
Kairasu Vegan Cafe & Restaurant
Now here's a cool and leafy spot! Some time ago, a reader sent in a recommendation and it went like this: Have you been to Kairasu, at Marutamachi Higashioji? It's a nice vegan lunch and sweets spot. It's got two floors, it's cozy, the staff are friendly, and I've never had a bad lunch there. They have a daily lunch set for ￥880 that comes with genmai, miso soup, a nice … [Read more...]
Hale ~晴~
Hidden away in the heart of the bustling market on Nishiki Dori is a tiny little alleyway that leads to Hale. This is a fully organic and vegan restaurant, specialising in seasonal dishes, yuba tofu and Kyoto's famously distinctive vegetables. For lunch you can have a ￥1000 set or the "Special Lunch" for ￥1800. I settled for the ￥１０００ lunch which you can see amid the pictures … [Read more...]
Raju Indian Restaurant – BLACKLISTED!
UPDATE January 30th 2012: This is not something I like to do, but having experienced consistently poor service at Raju restaurants at different locations my former enthusiasm for their food has completely vanished. The infamous occasion at their Shichijo branch when I was served chicken in a vegetarian curry and told "Don't mind" should have been enough. Being told I could not … [Read more...]
Cafe Proverbs [15:17]
Better a dish of herbs where love is, than a fatted ox and hatred with it. [Proverbs, Chapter 15: Verse 17] It's spring in Kyoto and time for something fresh. Though Kyoto's best-known vegan restaurant and purveyor of fake meats Cafe Peace did not survive the winter, new management has stepped into the breach and established a strong new vegan presence on Hyakumanben: Cafe … [Read more...]
Mole
On Gokomachi Dori, just a little north of Oike Dori and just removed from the hubbub of the city, is a little corner of peace-of-mind: the ambient cafe Mole. The entrance is wreathed in greenery and looks for all the world like a flower shop. Enter and be greeted by the sound of chimes. Everything here; the plants, the decor, the music and the softly spoken staff, all are … [Read more...]
