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Best izakaya in Kyoto

Kyoto izakaya cluster in Pontocho, Kiyamachi and the streets around Karasuma, with obanzai (Kyoto home-cooking small plates) as the local specialty. The riverside Pontocho rooms charge for the view; the 3.5+ counters are on the side streets west of Kawaramachi.

Open izakaya in Kyoto on the map

Top-rated izakaya in Kyoto on Tabelog

The 15 highest-scoring izakaya restaurants in Kyoto right now, by Tabelog score. Open the map to see where each one is, its hours and whether it takes cards.

  1. Karasemi TeiTonkatsu · Nijojo Mae Sta. 924m
    3.76524 reviewsDinner JPY 3,000 - JPY 3,999
  2. Gion RohanIzakaya · Gion Shijo Sta. 117m
    3.76297 reviewsDinner JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999
  3. Hotel De OgawaIzakaya · Gion Shijo Sta. 177m
    3.76198 reviewsDinner JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999
  4. Nominokoji YamagishiIzakaya · Kyoto Shiyakusho Mae Sta. 315m
    3.73441 reviewsDinner JPY 8,000 - JPY 9,999
  5. ShinmeIzakaya · Kitano Hakubaicho Sta. 1044m
    3.71388 reviewsDinner JPY 8,000 - JPY 9,999
  6. AkagakiyaIzakaya · Kyoto Shiyakusho Mae Sta. 406m
    3.70995 reviewsDinner JPY 3,000 - JPY 3,999
  7. KANEGURAIzakaya · Shijo Sta. 502m
    3.69411 reviewsDinner JPY 5,000 - JPY 5,999
  8. Sake Dokoro TerayamaIzakaya · Kyoto Kawaramachi Sta. 284m
    3.69337 reviewsDinner JPY 6,000 - JPY 7,999
  9. Muromachi KajiJapanese Cuisine · Gojo Sta. 419m
    3.68533 reviewsDinner JPY 8,000 - JPY 9,999
  10. Kitchen PapaYoshoku · Kitano Hakubaicho Sta. 1181m
    3.68529 reviewsDinner JPY 1,000 - JPY 1,999
  11. Takatsuji KasuiIzakaya · Kyoto Kawaramachi Sta. 462m
    3.68346 reviewsDinner JPY 5,000 - JPY 5,999
  12. Hiiragi TeiIzakaya · Higashiyama Sta. 338m
    3.68152 reviewsDinner JPY 8,000 - JPY 9,999
  13. Raku AnIzakaya · Karasuma Sta. 193m
    3.67283 reviewsDinner JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999
  14. HenkotsuIzakaya · Kyoto Sta. 270m
    3.65794 reviewsDinner JPY 2,000 - JPY 2,999
  15. Soba RoujinaSoba · Kyoto Shiyakusho Mae Sta. 482m
    3.65647 reviewsDinner JPY 2,000 - JPY 2,999

Ranked by Tabelog score as of November 11, 2026, refreshed daily from Tabelog's ranking. Prices are Tabelog's per-person budget bands. Check hours and book with the restaurant before you go.

More on eating in Kyoto

More from the TabeDog Blog

Where to find the best izakaya in Kyoto

The neighborhoods where Tabelog's highest-rated izakaya in Kyoto clusters:

  • Pontocho the narrow riverside alley of restaurants and the bar street beside it
  • Kiyamachi
  • Karasuma
  • Kawaramachi the shopping center, Nishiki's food stalls, and the densest cluster of cheap, well-rated lunch spots

What izakaya costs in Kyoto

Lunch
Most are dinner only; lunch sets where offered are ¥900 to ¥1,500
Dinner
¥3,000 to ¥6,000 with drinks

How to order izakaya, reservations and etiquette are on the Izakaya guide.

Reading Tabelog scores for izakaya in Kyoto

Kyoto holds more 4.0+ Japanese restaurants than anywhere outside Tokyo. For kaiseki, 3.7 and above is the top tier and lunch is the way in. For everything else, locals are tough graders and 3.4 is a solid recommendation. Many top places require a phone reservation; TabeDog shows the hours and whether the listing has online booking.

Izakaya scores run lower than other categories because the format is casual.

Izakaya in Kyoto: questions people ask

Where is the best izakaya in Kyoto?

Pontocho, Kiyamachi, Karasuma and Kawaramachi are where Kyoto's top-rated izakaya clusters on Tabelog. Kyoto izakaya cluster in Pontocho, Kiyamachi and the streets around Karasuma, with obanzai (Kyoto home-cooking small plates) as the local specialty. TabeDog shows every listing in those neighborhoods on one map, sorted by Tabelog score, distance or price.

How much does izakaya cost in Kyoto?

Lunch: Most are dinner only; lunch sets where offered are ¥900 to ¥1,500. Dinner: ¥3,000 to ¥6,000 with drinks. TabeDog shows each restaurant's lunch and dinner price band before you go.

What is a good Tabelog score for izakaya in Kyoto?

Izakaya scores run lower than other categories because the format is casual. 3.4 is already a very good neighborhood izakaya; 3.6 and above means the food is restaurant quality. Kyoto holds more 4.0+ Japanese restaurants than anywhere outside Tokyo. For kaiseki, 3.7 and above is the top tier and lunch is the way in. For everything else, locals are tough graders and 3.4 is a solid recommendation. Many top places require a phone reservation; TabeDog shows the hours and whether the listing has online booking.

Which neighborhood in Kyoto should I stay in for izakaya?

Pontocho. The narrow riverside alley of restaurants and the bar street beside it. Kiyamachi is the alternative.

Where can I find izakaya in Kyoto late at night?

Kiyamachi is Kyoto's main late-night district, so start there. TabeDog shows opening hours for every listing and marks what is open right now, so you can filter to what is actually serving.

Which izakaya in Kyoto accepts credit cards?

Many small izakaya shops in Japan are cash only. TabeDog shows whether each restaurant accepts credit cards, IC cards or QR payment, pulled from its Tabelog listing, so you know before you sit down.

Every izakaya shop in Kyoto, on one map.

TabeDog shows all of Kyoto's izakaya with Tabelog scores, hours, prices and payment methods in English. Filter to what's open now.

Open izakaya in Kyoto

More in Kyoto

Izakaya in other cities