7 Fine Dining Restaurants in Kyoto to Savor Japanese Sake

7 Fine Dining Restaurants in Kyoto to Savor Japanese Sake

1. Bistro Kappou YAOYA (ビストロ割烹 YAOYA) / Izakaya

Bistro Kappou YAOYA is a Japanese-style pub, or izakaya, that specializes in delicious fish and creative cuisine. It was recognized as one of the top 100 restaurants in Japan for 2021 and 2022 by a famous local food review website.

The restaurant offers an impressive selection of over 100 types of sake. Thanks to their strong, long-term relationships with sake breweries, they feature many rare and limited-edition labels that you can't easily find elsewhere. Their extensive and high-quality sake list is so well-regarded that it even earns praise from fellow Japanese chefs.

The food menu is centered around the freshest seafood, adding innovative twists to traditional Japanese cooking. A must-try is their signature "Assorted Sashimi Platter," which features a generous variety of the best seasonal fish. It's a wonderful dish that lets you savor different flavors with each season. Every item on the menu, including their other small plates, is thoughtfully designed to pair perfectly with sake.

2. Sushi Hayashi (鮓 はやし) / Sushi

Sushi Hayashi is a renowned restaurant that earned one Michelin star from 2021-2024 and was selected as a Michelin Selected Restaurant in 2025.

From a curated selection of about 20 kinds of premium sake, the chef will choose around 10 on the day of your visit, considering freshness, optimal drinking temperature, and how well they pair with the day's dishes. The selection is constantly changing, allowing you to enjoy different seasonal flavors.

Chef Yoshio Hayashi honed his skills in Kyoto and abroad. Building on traditional Edomae-style sushi, he also incorporates Kyozushi (Kyoto-style sushi) techniques for certain pieces. A distinctive feature is his use of two types of shari (sushi rice) depending on the topping: Edomae sushi is paired with rice seasoned with rice vinegar and salt, while Kyozushi is matched with sweeter, dashi-infused vinegar rice.

Fish is directly sourced from nearby regions such as Mie prefecuture, Wakayama prefecture, and Awaji Island. Upon arrival, the fresh fish undergoes optimal preparation based on its specific condition.

3. Gion Sushi Tadayasu (祇園 鮨 忠保) / Sushi

Gion Sushi Tadayasu is a highly acclaimed sushi restaurant that was awarded one Michelin star from 2019 to 2022. It also received a Bronze Award in 2019 from a famous Japanese food review site and was named one of the top 100 restaurants by the same site in 2021, 2022, and 2025.

The restaurant offers a fine selection of sake, chosen specifically to complement the sushi. You'll find local sake from Kyoto as well as famous brands from other regions of Japan. The lineup changes with the seasons, ensuring there is always something new and interesting to enjoy.

Chef Tadayasu Morita, who trained for 20 years in Tokyo, serves authentic Edomae sushi made with natural, domestically sourced ingredients. The seafood is procured from Toyosu Market and then aged to deepen its umami flavor.

A special feature is his use of two different types of shari, which he alternates depending on the topping. While both use red vinegar, the regular rice is made with one kind, whereas the rice for tuna is a unique blend of two. He even adjusts the size of the rice portion to perfectly showcase the unique character of each piece of fish.

4. Kyoto Saeki (京都 さえ㐂) / Sushi

At Kyoto Saeki, you can enjoy authentic Edomae sushi with a view of a beautiful garden. The counter seats are spaced generously, offering a relaxed and comfortable setting where you can savor the live culinary experience. They also boast a wide selection of sake that pairs wonderfully with their refined sushi and other dishes.

Chef Takashi Taniguchi has even showcased his skills as a guest chef at "Carousel London." He highly values his ingredients, focusing on minimal preparation to maximize their inherent flavors. Before cooking, he presents the day's ingredients to guests, inviting them to appreciate the preciousness of seasonal produce. For the shari, he uses red vinegar, which has a mild acidity and rich umami, creating a harmonious blend of sweetness, tartness, and aroma.

5. Miyawaki (宮脇) / Japanese

Japanese restaurant Miyawaki earned one Michelin star in 2025 and was also recognized as a Michelin Selected Restaurant from 2023-2024.

They consistently stock 20 to 30 varieties of sake, primarily featuring brands from the chef's hometown of Kagawa Prefecture. You can enjoy not only a wide range of excellent sakes, but also the abundance of rare labels is also a major draw. The chef himself is a sake enthusiast and will suggest the perfect pairing for your meal. Even other Japanese chefs are impressed by the extensive sake selection.

Chef Masaya Miyawaki, who trained at "Kappo Chihiro" in Kyoto, never forgets his respect for his roots. For instance, his white fish otsukuri (sashimi) served with shiokombu (salted kelp) for added umami is a dish that carries on the spirit of "Kappo Chihiro." He also pays close attention to his tableware, allowing guests to enjoy different seasonal aesthetics.

6. Sushi Kappo Nakaichi (鮨割烹 なか一) / Sushi

Sushi Kappo Nakaichi is a popular sushi and kappo (traditional Japanese cooking) restaurant, favored by local foodies and international guests who love Japanese cuisine. It has continuously held one Michelin star from 2018 to 2025 and was even selected among the top 100 on a famous Japanese gourmet review site in 2022.

Their carefully chosen sake selection perfectly complements the dishes, featuring about 20 varieties, ranging from rare, premium labels to more affordable options.

The restaurant's first owner trained in sushi in Tokyo, and the second generation studied Japanese cuisine in Kanazawa prefecture, making them pioneers in the sushi kappo style. Here, you can enjoy authentic Kyoto kaiseki (traditional multi-course meal) and nigiri sushi made with seasonal ingredients.

Ingredients, including fresh fish directly from Awaji Island, are sourced daily to ensure peak seasonality. Every dish reflects the changing seasons. The diverse selection of Kyoyaki (Kyoto ware) ceramics used for plating is also a highlight, adding beauty to the dishes and delighting the eyes.

7. Wagokoro Izumi (和ごころ泉) / Japanese

Wagokoro Izumi is a Japanese restaurant that has consistently earned one or two Michelin stars for 16 consecutive years since 2010. It received the Bronze award on a famous Japanese gourmet review site in 2018 and from 2020-2023, and was also selected among the site's top 100 in 2021 and 2023.

Their sake selection is truly exceptional, even by Kyoto standards. They boast many rare labels, including original sakes you can only taste here, and exclusive limited editions typically reserved for brewery insiders.

Chef Masaki Izumi trained at the renowned Kyoto cuisine restaurant "Sakurada." His dedication lies in dashi, the fundamental broth for all his dishes. He meticulously fine-tunes every step to ensure there's no bitterness from kelp or acidity from bonito flakes.

Furthermore, it's his practice to visit production areas personally and engage in deep conversations with producers. By fostering these trusting relationships, he ensures he receives ingredients that perfectly match his cuisine.