Elegant Tea Time in a Stylish Western-style House in Kyoto｜Introduction to Recommended Spots

From long-established sweet stores to cafes that are the talk of the town on SNS, Kyoto offers a wide variety of stores.
In this issue, we will introduce some of the spots in Kyoto that make use of Western-style buildings built between the Meiji and prewar periods.
Tea time spent in an antique space unique to old Western-style buildings is exceptional. If you are looking for a spot to take a break during your trip, please take a look.

Table of Contents

■Dessert Cafe Chorakukan

■Gospel

■ Summary

■Dessert Cafe Chorakukan

Dessert Cafe Chorakukan" is located near Yasaka Shrine and Maruyama Park.
Built in 1909 as Kyoto's guest house, it is now used as a cafe, hotel, and wedding facility.
The room that serves as the café has chairs and tables on a dark blue carpet, giving it the atmosphere of a medieval European palace.

The menu includes a lineup of sweets such as shortcakes and scones.
It can be set with teas such as Darjeeling and Assam, or wiener coffee.
The restaurant also offers a food menu that includes sandwiches, grilled Kyoto vegetables and Kyoto chicken, and is recommended for lunch.

Afternoon tea for two is also available by reservation.
You can try a little bit of the sweets and food menu offered at Dessert Cafe Chorakukan, as well as some original afternoon tea dishes.
For groups of 8 or more, private rooms can be reserved in advance (during the months of January-February and May-September).

Name of store:Dessert Cafe Chorakukan
Address: 604 Maruyama-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0071, Japan
Phone: 075-561-0001

HP:https://www.chourakukan.co.jp/

■Gospel

Gospel" has an impressive green exterior with a pointy roof and tangled ivy.
This cozy Western-style building is located about a 5-minute walk from Ginkakuji Temple.
The architectural firm founded by W.M. Vories, an American-born architect who came to Japan in 1905 and later became a naturalized Japanese citizen, was involved in the construction of the building.

The second floor, originally used as a living room, is now a café space, filled with antique goods and furniture from the 1920s, creating a relaxed atmosphere.
Every time a cake is baked or a cup of coffee is brewed, the delicious smell fills the air and makes you want to stay longer.

The menu consists mainly of sweets such as scones and cakes. The scones, served with refreshing sour cream or sweet and sour jam, are crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, making them a regular favorite.
Enjoy a luxurious moment in the restaurant with jazz and classical music playing.

Name of store:gospel
Address: 36 Kaminamida-cho, Jodoji, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8405, Japan
Phone: 075-751-9380

■ Summary

In Kyoto, there are many cafes here and there that make use of old Western-style buildings that have stood since before World War II.
The food served in an extraordinary setting is exceptional and will make your trip memorable.
When you visit Kyoto, please spend your tea time at one of the Western-style houses introduced here.

There are many more cafes in Kyoto. If you are interested, check out the video below!