Challe (instagram.com/challe_kyoto) is a Kyoto café built around a fusion of Japanese and Mexican influences, housed in a renovated traditional wooden machiya townhouse that opened as a new concept by the team behind popular Kyoto donut shop Loose and Hoo. Located in Kyoto’s historic urban Nishijin area, it occupies a narrow, deep lot typical of machiya streets, a short walk from Keihan Line - Jingu-Marutamachi Station, making it easy to incorporate into a Kyoto café itinerary. ​

As you approach from the street, the striking two-story façade makes a bold statement with its monochromatic coral-pink exterior. A warm, inviting ground-floor entrance features hexagonal terracotta flooring, an intricate wooden double door, and large glass windows that reveal the glowing interior beyond.

The design balances contemporary minimalism with playful touches. Inside, the main visual statement is a deep red interior, with the kitchen positioned at the center and walkway seating wrapping around it. Structural timber from the original building has been thoughtfully reused for shelving and benches, adding texture and continuity to the space.

At the back, stairs lead to the second-floor seating area, where guests can sit around a large atrium that opens directly above the kitchen and also functions as a counter-style seating zone. The café was designed by UNC Studio, an award-winning firm recognized by Dezeen, Design Anthology, and Frame.

​The menu centers on specialty coffee, Japanese-style tacos, and churros, reflecting the cross-cultural concept in the food and drink offering as clearly as in the interior design. Espresso-based drinks and hand-brewed options form the core of the coffee program, complemented by soft drinks and seasonal beverages, while the taco lineup focuses on Japanese ingredients and flavor profiles interpreted through a taco format, with churros and other sweets available as snacks or dessert-style orders. Portions, plating, and the pairing of coffee with tacos and churros are designed to work both for quick café stops and for longer, sit-down visits.​

Challe operates as a specialty café that combines machiya heritage, a bold, uniform red exterior and interior, and a focused menu of coffee, tacos, and churros into a cohesive, design-driven experience in central Kyoto. Its accessible urban location, distinctive spatial composition, and clearly articulated fusion concept position it as a notable option for visitors planning a café-focused day in the city.

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