&HoeK

Located in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district, &HoeK (instagram.com/and_hoek) is a recently opened machiya-style café that began welcoming guests since December 2025. A five-minute walk from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station, the café sits on a quiet side street just beyond the main tourist route to Kiyomizu-dera, offering a calm retreat from the area’s busiest thoroughfares. The name “&HoeK” (AndHoek) is formed from the first syllables of the owners’ names, Fuka and Kuho, and also echoes a Dutch word meaning “corner” or “view,” subtly reflecting the café’s perspective and sense of place.

From the outside, &HoeK appears as a carefully renovated traditional townhouse, preserving the character of a classic Kyoto machiya while introducing subtle, contemporary elements. Inside, warm wood tones are paired with clean lines to create a dimly-lit, double-height interior with an open and inviting atmosphere. Seating is varied and thoughtfully arranged, with counter seats along the windows, an open counter encircling the kitchen where guests can watch pastries being prepared, a semi-private upstairs area suitable for small groups, and a climate-controlled inner terrace at the back of the cafe. This openness, particularly the visibility of the pastry-making process, makes the act of ordering and waiting an integral part of the visit.

The menu focuses on pastries and sweets that highlight seasonal fruit, complemented by coffee, alcoholic options, and non-alcoholic drinks made with house-prepared syrups. The display case typically features a rotating selection of baked goods, such as seasonal fruit cakes, Basque cheesecake, pie-style desserts, and custard pudding, with offerings changing daily. Preserved fruits, including yuzu and plum, are used to create juices and sours behind the counter, ensuring the beverage program remains closely connected to the café’s pastry work.

&HoeK is a stylish and cozy machiya café that brings together a renovated Kyoto townhouse setting, an open kitchen, and a refined selection of seasonal sweets and thoughtfully prepared drinks. Conveniently located for those exploring eastern Kyoto yet set slightly apart from the crowds, it offers a destination that feels both accessible and quietly distinctive.