Café guide

Cafes with English speaking staff in Kansai

A list of cafes in the Kansai area with English speaking staff. Page is updated regularly.

Last updated 22 Nov 2023

Cafes with English speaking staff

If you are visiting Japan and you feel overwhelmed by all the Japanese or simply don’t speak Japanese, ordering a coffee or food might be a daunting task. But fret not, just for you we have gathered a list of cafes with English speaking staff in the Kansai area.

Disclaimer: Please note that some of the cafes listed below have rotating staff which means that the English speaking staff might not be available.

Cafes with permanent English staff have been marked with an *

Osaka

Kyoto

* permanent English staff.

Osaka

Hughes Pizza, Nakazakicho

Hughes Pizza

Osaka · Nakazakicho Station

A New York-style pizza place in Nakazakicho, by the slice or the whole pie.

Japanese

9 Borden Coffee, Osakako

9 borden coffee

Osaka · Osakako Station

A spacious café of concrete, wood and plants between Osakako Station and the Osaka Aquarium.

Botanical
Casual

Haiku Coffee Roasters, Tenjinbashi 6-Chome

HAIKU Coffee Roasters

Osaka · Tenjinbashi-6-chome Station

A Hawaiian-style café and roaster near Tenjinbashi 6-chome.

Vintage
Eclectic

Brooklyn Roasting Company Kitahama, Kitahama

Brooklyn Roasting Company Kitahama

Osaka · Kitahama Station

Brooklyn's Kitahama café in its bigger new home, with a large terrace and plenty of seats.

Industrial

SOT Coffee Roaster, Temmabashi

SÖT COFFEE ROASTER

Osaka · Temmabashi Station

A Scandinavian-style café between Tenmabashi and Tanimachi 4-chome.

Casual
Scandinavian

Kyoto

2050 Coffee

Kyoto · Kawaramachi Station

A sleek, minimal coffee bar in the Shinkyogoku arcade, built around the future of coffee.

Contemporary
Minimal

SOT Coffee Roasters Kyoto

Kawama cafe

Kyoto · Kiyomizu-Gojo

A long Scandinavian-style café on the Kamo River, with river views from the lounge at the back.

Modern
Scandinavian

Kawama, Kiyomizu-Gojo

Kawama cafe

Kyoto · Kiyomizu-Gojo

A long Scandinavian-style café on the Kamo River, with river views from the lounge at the back.

Modern
Scandinavian

Vegginy, Kyoto ShiyakushoMae

Vegginy

Kyoto · Kyoto Shiyakusho-Mae Station

A cozy vegan and vegetarian café hidden near Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae, for vegans and non-vegans alike.

Casual

Okaffe Roasting Park, Gojo

Okaffe ROASTING PARK

Kyoto · Karasuma Station

A café by barista champion Okada near Karasuma Station, with outdoor seats under a canopy.

Modern
Outdoors

common., Marutamachi

common.

Kyoto · Marutamachi Station

A café and hair salon in one near Marutamachi Station, run by a couple.

Mediterranean
Modern

Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Karasuma-Oike

Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Kyoto · Karasuma Oike Station

Portland's Stumptown in the Ace Hotel at Shinpukan, above Karasuma-Oike Station.

Mid-Century
Contemporary

Kurasu Ebisugawa, Marutamachi

Kurasu Ebisugawa

Kyoto · Marutamachi Station

Kurasu's second Kyoto shop, a calm specialty coffee spot near the Imperial Palace.

Contemporary
Modern

Blue Bottle Coffee Kyoto, Nanzenji

Blue Bottle Coffee Kyoto

Kyoto · Keage Station

Blue Bottle's Kyoto café near Nanzenji Temple, in a renovated retro building.

Japanese
Retro

Len Kyoto Kawaramachi, Kawaramachi

Len Kyoto Kawaramachi

Kyoto · Kawaramachi Station

A hostel café and bar near Kiyomizu-Gojo, open early with a wide menu.

Industrial

Vermillion cafe, Inari

Vermillion cafe

Kyoto · Fushimi Inari Station

A cozy café in Fushimi Inari with a big terrace over Shin-Ike pond, with hummus and vegan dishes.

Casual
Cozy

School Bus Coffee Stop Kyoto, Jingu-Marutamachi

SCHOOL BUS COFFEE STOP KYOTO

Kyoto · Jingu Marutamachi Station

School Bus's Kyoto café, one of the city's most popular, with a modern interior.

Industrial
Modern

Kurasu, Kyoto

Kurasu

Kyoto · Kyoto Station

A small coffee stand with cheerful staff, five minutes from Kyoto Station.

Casual
Industrial

Piopiko, Karasuma-Oike

PIOPIKO