+COFFEE,

+coffee is a small and cozy hidden cafe located in central Kyoto that sits on the second floor above a yakitori restaurant.

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Style: DIY Japanese
Area: Kyoto
Nearest station: Kawaramachi Station
Opening hours

About

Opened in August 2024 and located in central Kyoto, ‘+COFFEE,’ (instagram.com/pluscoffee.kyoto) is a tiny hidden gem, just a 10-minute walk from either Karasuma Station or Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line. The origin of the shop’s name, ‘+COFFEE,’ comes from the fact that the owner was encouraged by an acquaintance who ran a yakitori restaurant called Yakitori Seri on the first floor of the same building to open a cafe on the second floor, and thus it became so added the idea of adding a new yakitori restaurant to the existing one.

Tucked away in a small alley in a quiet neighborhood, the café sits on the second floor of a yakitori shop and can be a bit tricky to find as there are no signs marking the alley entrance. The entrance of the alley itself has a grey concrete exterior and is dimly lit inside, giving it an intriguing atmosphere. As you walk through, you’ll notice the alley is part of a defunct house with a high ceiling. The entrance to the café is through the first set of plywood doors on the left. Once inside, you’ll need to climb a steep metal staircase to reach +COFFEE, on the second floor.

Upon arriving upstairs, you’ll immediately be greeted by the kitchen counter, where you can order your coffee right away. Once your order is placed, take a seat on the L-shaped wooden bench by the window. The café’s small, intimate space is filled with music playing from a record player, creating a cozy atmosphere. The interior blends DIY touches with the original wooden framework and exposed sand walls of the building, adding a charming retro feel.

The menu primarily focuses on coffee, offering drip coffee, cold brew (with a variety of unique blends to choose from), and café au lait. For non-coffee drinkers, there are refreshing options like homemade lemon squash, lemonade, ginger ale, Coca-Cola, and orange juice. Additionally, the café serves donuts, but be sure to come early as they tend to sell out quickly.

Though +coffee may be a bit hard to find, it’s a fantastic spot to enjoy a cup of coffee and a donut while chatting with the friendly owner.