🍸 Cocktail & whisky bars in Kyoto

12 well-rated cocktail 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.

Japanese cocktail bars are quiet, precise places: one bartender, a dozen seats, hand-cut ice and a menu you may not be handed at all. In Kyoto the best ones are usually a few floors up in an unmarked building or down a side street — the list below gives you the door to look for.

Budget ¥1,200–¥2,000 per cocktail plus a seat charge of ¥500–¥1,000. Ordering is easy even without the language: name a spirit and a mood ("gin, something refreshing") and the bartender will build it.

Cocktail & whisky bars 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.Scotch & Branch (speakeasy)
    ★ 4.9 (584)580m · 7 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Iseyachō, 354番地1 伽羅ビル 1階 奥（電話ボックス
    Open past midnight
  2. 2.Cavalier
    ★ 4.9 (426)558m · 7 min walk walk5F, 188-3 Zaimokuchō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto
    Open past midnight
  3. 3.Torinokoku Bar Time to Drink
    ★ 4.9 (309)278m · 3 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Ebisuchō, 424
    Open past midnight
  4. 4.Seven & Seven Bar
    ★ 4.8 (171)377m · 5 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Toraishichō, 40-2 八盛ビル 1FA 6
    Open past midnight
  5. 5.Caamm bar
    ★ 4.7 (182)323m · 4 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Kamiōsakachō, 528 ゆりかビル 2階
    Open past midnight
  6. 6.Cordon Noir
    ★ 4.5 (188)451m · 6 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Ishiyachō, 121 松嶋屋ビル ３F
    Open past midnight
  7. 7.GIN BAR KAIROS
    ★ 4.5 (166)512m · 6 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Hashishitachō, 134番地 古都会館 2F
  8. 8.bar K-ya main building
    ★ 3.9 (344)520m · 7 min walk walk105 Yaoyachō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto
    Open past midnight
  9. 9.Yanagi
    ★ 4.8 (113)621m · 8 min walk walk757 Tenshuchō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto
  10. 10.Bar Bacchus
    ★ 4.4 (160)514m · 6 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Hashishitachō, 135 先斗町ビル １階奥
    Open past midnight
  11. 11.BAR NEXT
    ★ 4.6 (116)287m · 4 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Ebisuchō, 534-18 ステラム 1号室
    Open past midnight
  12. 12.Rum And Whisky
    ★ 4.6 (103)555m · 7 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, 光ビル 木屋町三条下る材木町188-3
    Open past midnight

Already in Kyoto? Use your location to see cocktail bars within walking distance of where you are right now.

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More in Kyoto

🍺 Bars & izakaya🍜 Ramen shops🥩 Yakiniku restaurants🍣 Sushi restaurants🎤 Karaoke rooms🌃 Kyoto nightlife guide

Read before you go

10 Bar Hopping Tips for First-Time Visitors to Japan
Essential tips for enjoying Japan's nightlife, from cover charges and etiquette to finding the best bars.
A First-Timer's Guide to Golden Gai, Shinjuku
Everything you need to know before visiting Golden Gai — Tokyo's legendary tiny bar district in Shinjuku.
A Guide to Japanese Alcohol: Every Drink You Need to Know
From sake and shochu to whisky and craft gin — a comprehensive guide to the many types of Japanese alcohol.

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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Cocktail & whisky bars in Kyoto: common questions

How much does a cocktail cost in Kyoto?

At a proper cocktail bar in Kyoto expect ¥1,200–¥2,000 per drink, plus a seat charge of ¥500–¥1,000 per person. Highballs and house cocktails at izakaya are far cheaper (¥400–¥700) but made with much less care.

Can I just walk into a cocktail bar in Kyoto?

Usually yes, for one or two people. Groups of four or more should call ahead or split up — most serious cocktail bars have fewer than fifteen seats and won't seat a large party at once. Weekday early evenings are the easiest time to get in.

What should I order at a Japanese whisky bar?

Ask for a Japanese whisky highball (whisky and soda) to start — it is the national default and shows off the ice and the pour. If you want to taste, ask for "osusume" (recommendation) at your budget; bartenders in Kyoto are used to guiding visitors.