Hidden behind an unassuming facade near Pontocho Alley, housing over 3,000 records collected by its cool, bow-tie-wearing owner, Momo, who doubles as DJ and bartender. The whisky selection features bottles that range from accessible to rare.
The yellow door with ‘The Book Store’ sign in Kiyamachi district hides Kyoto’s finest cocktail den. Bee’s Knees hits you with a beautiful contradiction, a Prohibition-era aesthetic pulsing with ’90s hip-hop.
Tucked above the bustling Pontocho district, it also requires intention to discover. The space is dark, polished, and has an innovative approach to classic cocktails, transforming familiar recipes with unexpected ingredients.
In Nakagyo Ward, an unmarked white door that pedestrians walk past daily. This 20-year-old establishment is the size of a typical living room, with just 10 seats hugging a bar crafted from darkened cedar.