This delightful cafe first opened in 1970 and has since become another of Kyoto’s much loved “legendary places”. I guarantee you will be pleased as punch to find this cafe. Though the menu is not especially pricey, the interior is absolutely gorgeous. No expense has been spared on the state of the art audio equipment, the elegant furniture or its upkeep. And you may find yourself wanting to bow down and worship before the fantastic jazz collection in the far corner of the establishment. The key thing about Yamatoya is the loving attention to detail, which extends even to using the freshest spring water (drawn that day from the source) for their coffee. And their coffee tastes good. Come in, relax, soak up the elegant atmosphere, listen to some classic tunes and spoil yourself – all for the price of a ￥500 cup of coffee. You may never go back to Starbucks again. Here are some pictures. As always you can click through to flickr for a closer look.
To find Yamatoya, go east on Marutamachi Dori, and not long after you have passed Higashioji Dori you should see a sign on the road reading “Yamatoya Jazz Spot” and pointing you down a wee alleyway on your right. Here is a map.
Tel: 075-761-7685
Open 12:00 p.m. ~ 24:00 a.m. every day but Wednesday.
-Yes I can only concur.
This vinyl jazz spot heaven has to visited.
Check out this site to get a for a taste of it;
http://web.mac.com/fredriku/Site/Kyoto_Jazz.html
Thanks for the link Fredrik. Those are some great pictures! I was in Yamatoya again the other day enjoying Viennese coffee, Miles Davis and cheese on toast! The best cheese on toast in Kyoto I swear!
I soon as we visited this place I thought, – Why is there not places like this in every city with a local touch and a great single malt. Us living in Sydney without a place like this feel short changed!
I haven’t been to Yamatoya in (OMG) twenty years!!! Thanks for the reminder.
Time you went back Charles. Maybe we should have a wee dram there together one evening?
Since discovering, and loving, the Moon and Sixpence through your posts a few years back, this sounds like another great place to visit. One question, is Yamatoya non-smoking.
No, I don’t think it is non-smoking. I usually go during the day when it is not so busy though, so passive smoke has never affected me there.