B Kyoto

B kyoto (instagram.com/b__kyoto) is tucked away in the Kiyamachi/Gion-Shijo area, just a couple of minutes on foot from both Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station and Gion-Shijo Station, and only a short walk from Shijo Ohashi. Right beside the Kamogawa, it’s also a convenient stop when exploring the river, Pontocho, or Gion-Shijo.

The café occupies the second floor of a more-than-100-year-old Kyoto machiya, renovated in 2025–26 while retaining much of the building’s original character. The substantial wooden columns and beams were preserved, creating a nice contrast between the traditional structure and the contemporary interior. B kyoto officially opened on January 9, 2026.

During the day, B kyoto specializes in coffee and Japanese tea, offering hand-dripped coffee, matcha, hojicha, and Japanese black tea. The matcha is made with high-grade Uji tea and whisked to order. The food menu focuses mainly on sweets, including matcha Basque cheesecake, hojicha terrine, matcha affogato, and matcha banana juice. With the owner having experience as both a pastry chef and barista, there’s clearly a strong focus on quality coffee and desserts.

The interior blends traditional Kyoto machiya architecture with contemporary Japanese minimalism. While the exterior retains the quiet, understated look of a traditional townhouse, the second floor feels much more like a stylish lounge, with a bar counter, sofas, tables, and a small raised tatami-style seating area where you can remove your shoes. The exposed timber adds warmth to the otherwise clean, modern space.

But the real highlight is the view of the Kamogawa. Large windows overlook the river, with views stretching toward Minamiza Theatre, and the raised seating area by the window is an especially nice spot to relax and take it all in. The combination of an old machiya, modern Japanese design, carefully made coffee and tea, and a beautiful view of the Kamogawa gives B kyoto a character that makes it well worth visiting.