Chii’s Kitchen

Chii’s Kitchen (instagram.com/chii.skitchen) is a charming cheesecake specialty café tucked away in a quiet Kyoto neighborhood. Located about a 15-minute walk from Imadegawa Station on the Karasuma Line, or a short walk from Horikawa Kamidachiuri bus stop (routes 9 and 12), the café rewards those willing to seek it out. Opened in January 2026, the shop occupies the second floor of a traditional machiya townhouse, giving it a warm, intimate atmosphere that feels like a hidden retreat from the city.

The café is run by Chisato-san, a young woman originally from Kagawa Prefecture, and the name Chii’s Kitchen is derived from her name, with “Chii” used as a friendly nickname that reflects the café’s personal, homemade feel. She moved to Kyoto to attend university, where she studied plant biology and DNA identification. While studying, she began selling homemade cheesecakes from her cargo bicycle and through online orders. What started as a small personal project gradually grew in popularity, eventually leading her to open her own physical shop in collaboration with a friend who operates a greengrocer on the ground floor of the same building. Many of the fresh fruits used in Chii’s Kitchen cheesecakes are sourced directly from this shop below.

Because the café is located on the second floor, it can be easy to miss at first glance. Visitors must enter through the greengrocer and climb a set of steep stairs inside to reach the café above. Once upstairs, guests are welcomed into a cozy space featuring a kitchen counter with seating, as well as a tatami room where shoes are removed. The tatami area is furnished with a low table and zabuton cushions, offering a relaxed and traditional setting for a leisurely visit.

The menu highlights a rotating selection of seasonal cheesecakes, ranging from classic New York–style cheesecake to more Japanese-inspired flavors such as matcha with red bean paste, and rare cheesecake topped with blueberry sauce. Drinks include drip coffee in three varieties, with the option to add milk, as well as sudachi cardamom, yuzu tea, and fresh mikan orange juice.

With its thoughtfully made desserts, welcoming atmosphere, and cheerful, friendly owner, Chii’s Kitchen is a cozy café that comes highly recommended for cheesecake lovers.