🍺 Bars & izakaya in Kyoto

12 well-rated bars spots within a 15-minute walk of central Kyoto, 10 of them open past midnight. Regular hours from Google; refreshed daily on demand. Confirm special hours before visiting.

Most bars in Kyoto are small — six to fifteen seats is normal — so the easiest way to drink here is to hop: one or two drinks per place, then move on. Izakaya (Japanese pubs) are the safest first stop if you also want to eat; standing bars (tachinomi) are the cheapest.

Expect a seat charge (otoshi) of roughly ¥300–¥800 at sit-down izakaya, which comes with a small dish. Cash is still common at older places, so carry some yen. Most bars open around 17:00–18:00 and many run past midnight.

Bars & izakaya near central Kyoto

Sorted by rating. Distances are from Kyoto's centre. Hours come from Google and can change — the "open past midnight" mark means the place closes between 00:00 and 06:00 on at least one day.

  1. 1.Bar Pontostand/ポントスタンドBar Pontostand / Pontosutando
    5.0 (352)459m · 6 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Ishiyachō, 122番地7
    Open past midnight
  2. 2.マッスルバー京都店 MuscleBar KyotoMassurubā KyōTo Ten MuscleBar Kyoto
    5.0 (343)456m · 6 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Daikokuchō, 71 木屋町 BESTB.L.D 1F
    Open past midnight
  3. 4.9 (328)631m · 8 min walk walk164 Takoyachō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto
    Open past midnight
  4. 4.9 (309)278m · 3 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Ebisuchō, 424
    Open past midnight
  5. 4.7 (385)829m · 10 min walk walkKyoto, Shimogyo Ward, 小橋西入ル真町455 第一小橋会館ビル3F
    Open past midnight
  6. 4.5 (272)515m · 6 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Kitakurumayachō, 267 佐野ビル B1F
    Open past midnight
  7. 4.6 (113)700m · 9 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Shimokorikichō, 203-5 田中ビル 3F
    Open past midnight
  8. 4.7 (97)593m · 7 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Nakasujichō, 2F
    Open past midnight
  9. 5.0 (72)568m · 7 min walk walk604-8041, Uraderachō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto
  10. 10.Music Barコイル アンド レインMusic Bar Koiru Ando Rein
    5.0 (57)307m · 4 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Ebisuchō, 446 葵センタ 2F
    Open past midnight
  11. 4.9 (57)796m · 10 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Nabeyachō, 214-1 朝日ビル 4F
    Open past midnight
  12. 4.8 (61)124m · 2 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Enokichō, 99−3 オカ建物 2F

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More in Kyoto

Read before you go

Plan your night in Kyoto

First night in Kyoto? Go with a local guide

A guided bar-hopping or food tour gets you into the tiny places that are hard to walk into alone — and you learn how ordering works before you go solo the next night.

See tours in Kyoto on Klook

Stay within walking distance of the nightlife

The last train leaves around midnight. A hotel near Kyoto's bars means you can stay out as late as you like and walk home.

Find hotels near Kyoto on Agoda

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Bars & izakaya in Kyoto: common questions

What time do bars in Kyoto close?

Izakaya typically close between 23:00 and 01:00; smaller bars often stay open until 02:00–05:00, especially on Friday and Saturday. The list on this page shows today's hours for each place, and marks the ones that run past midnight.

Do bars in Kyoto have English menus?

Chains and places near major stations usually have English or picture menus; tiny neighbourhood bars often don't. Pointing at what someone else is drinking works everywhere, and "nama biiru" (draft beer) or "haibooru" (highball) are understood at any bar in Japan.

Is there a cover charge at bars in Kyoto?

Many izakaya add an otoshi (seat charge) of about ¥300–¥800 per person, which includes a small appetiser. Some cocktail bars and Golden Gai-style micro-bars charge ¥500–¥1,000 instead. It is not a scam — but if a place has no posted prices at all, choose another one.