Bar Rocking Chair

I love this place. Hands down my favourite bar in Japan. Classic and inventive cocktails, old school service, excellent food, just so much atmosphere. Any time you come here feels like a special night out.

So good I came back twice more over five days and actually cancelled a restaurant I had booked so I could visit the third time.

I am going to be in Kyoto next year for three nights only, and one of my nights is set aside for Bar Rocking Chair.

Just wonderful.

One of the best bars in Kyoto. Get there about 6 to be able to get in with minimal to no wait. Food isn’t the best in my opinion but the cocktails are great.

Think we knocked back about 7-8 cocktails between us and each one was as impressive as the last.

Started with whisky sours as that’s our gauge as to whether they know how to make a good cocktail. They passed with flying colours and so we worked our way through the menu.

Atmosphere is very sophisticated, it’s like you’ve been sent back in time to an old speakeasy.

Bartenders are very classy and professional and treat this more like an art, masters of their craft.

Cocktails are cheaper than England prices and quality is up there with some of the best I’ve had.

We were even lucky enough to sit at the bar and a geisha came in to entertain a chap sat next to us puffing on a cigar.

Glad we found this place and recommend it highly!