First of all, did Tabelog make a mistake with the budget? With that budget, you can only have one drink. One for the Road? Gin and Tonic for 2000 yen (excluding tax and service charge), Smokey? Old Fashioned for 2600 yen (excluding tax and service charge), Kanosuke? for 3000 yen (excluding tax and service charge). I remember that the one for 3000 yen ended up being around 3800 yen with tax and service charge included, so around 25% more. There are Japanese whiskies at the counter, like Mars and Sakurao, clearly listed on the menu, and they serve cocktails with Horii-san's matcha. It has a Japanese and Kyoto-like atmosphere, which I think would make visitors from overseas happy. When I entered, I was greeted in English. It's a hotel bar, so I wasn't expecting much conversation, but they were quite talkative. The interior design uses geometric shapes with straight lines and curves, creating a sense of openness. The bar shelves are not visible, and the bottles are laid out flat, which might make it difficult to use. The snacks were delicious. There were dried fruits and rice crackers, I think. The dried fruits were sweet, and the rice crackers had a hint of cheese, which was nice. I was planning to have cocktails, but I ended up wanting whiskey. The gin and tonic was on the sweeter side. The cubed ice was pleasing to look at. I think it was No.3. The Smokey? Old Fashioned had a strong alcohol taste that matched well with the snacks. I remember hearing that they don't use cherries in cocktails abroad, so they don't use them here. Kanosuke? is from a distillery in Kyushu. It was recommended to me because it doesn't taste like a 5-year-old whiskey. Indeed, the color was rich, and it wasn't too sharp. They mentioned that the person behind it used to work at Suya, but I wonder what they did before that. It's a high-end hotel bar, but they were quite accommodating and made the drinking experience enjoyable. However, it's still a luxury, so it might be difficult for the average person to visit regularly. I will come back when I feel like it.

After having dinner in Kyoto, I decided to visit the bar at The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto that I had been wanting to try. The hotel grounds were so large that I got lost inside, but when I called for help, a staff member kindly came to escort me. I felt the warm hospitality of the hotel. I heard that the bartender at this bar had won a competition using Bacardi cocktails, so I was even more excited to try it! The winning cocktail, "ALIVIO," can be enjoyed at "The Bar." "ALIVIO" means "relief" in Spanish, and sipping on this cocktail while enjoying a leisurely time made for a wonderful evening. The cocktail, made with Bacardi rum and Chartreuse as the base, with added tropical flavors of banana and lime juice, was very refreshing and had a light, crisp taste. I felt that even people who don't like sweet drinks would enjoy this cocktail.

After having dinner at a Spanish restaurant near the hotel, we moved here. I had been wanting to visit here for a while, but it was closed due to the pandemic and the timing never worked out. Finally, we were able to visit this time! It had been a while since I visited a hotel bar, and as expected of the Ritz, the atmosphere was luxurious. We sat at the counter. The drinks we had were a Daiquiri, a cocktail with pear, a cocktail with strawberry, and a Mojito. We had already eaten a decent amount at dinner, so we were already a bit tipsy. For the first drink, my companion had the usual Daiquiri, and I had a short cocktail with my favorite pear and gin. Everything at the hotel was of high quality. We enjoyed our cocktails in a calm atmosphere. The bartender who served us was very friendly and we had a pleasant time chatting with him. Lately, we have been going to the same places, so it was a bit refreshing to try something new. I thought that visiting a hotel bar once in a while is also nice.

I had steak at Benjamin, passed by Honnoji Temple, and then went to the RITZ BAR for cocktails in an executive atmosphere. Feeling great, we had a lively discussion about tomorrow's golf topic. The most enjoyable time is the day before, not knowing the challenges of tomorrow. As the night deepened, the fun continued.

I came all the way to The Ritz-Carlton in Kyoto after hearing that they serve a Martini like in 007. The photo is of an Espresso Martini. On this day, I had Mouton wine and cocktails. The hotel is lovely, but the bar had a great atmosphere and the drinks went down smoothly.

This is the main bar at The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto. It offers a stylish space where you can relax and enjoy a leisurely time. As a Marriott Platinum member, I was able to enjoy a 30% discount. I would love to visit again. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

After enjoying a crab feast, I wandered aimlessly around Gion and ended up by the Kamogawa River. Should I just head back to the hotel? Well, since I'm already out, why not go to a nice bar like Ritz for a drink! When I arrived, it was almost last order at 10:30, a bit early due to COVID, right? So, just one drink then! As always, the atmosphere was cozy and pleasant. A perfect place to relax and prepare for tomorrow's golf game. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of the cocktail I had... Sorry about that! 🍀

It's still early to return to the hotel in Kyoto at night, but the city is quiet. To play it safe, I decided to visit the hotel bar. Unfortunately, the main bar at the Tokyu Hotel was closed, so I made a detour to the Ritz. The main bar at the Ritz was open with a luxurious and welcoming atmosphere. I relaxed with an original cocktail. I am excited for tomorrow's visit to Nara's Todai-ji Temple, which I haven't been to in 40 years. It feels like an adult field trip!

I visited The Ritz-Carlton expecting a bar, but it had more of a lounge atmosphere. Perhaps due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there weren't many people. I ordered a Vesper Martini, which was made well. When I visited for breakfast, I was seated at a good table where I could enjoy my meal while looking outside.

On this day, I explored Kyoto with my wife. We ended up at this bar. The location is on the banks of the Kamogawa River in Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, on the 1st floor of The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto. It is one of the ultra-luxury hotels that opened on February 7, 2014. The room rate is over 120,000 yen per night!!! In my case, I can afford to pay 12,000 yen for a meal, but for some reason, I can't afford to pay for one night's stay (T▽T)ノ＿彡☆bam bam! The hotel I stayed in was not cheap, but it was a decent city hotel. After all, I just need a place to sleep, so it doesn't make sense to stay in a luxurious place. Instead, I prefer to spend on delicious food. That's why I don't stay, but I visit the main bar to experience a bit of that luxury. Usually, on the last night of a trip, I use the main bar of a luxury hotel. First, I entered the hotel and tried to find the main bar, but I couldn't figure out which one it was. There were bars that seemed like it, but there were no clear emblems or names. When I asked at the reception, it turned out that the bar I was looking for was the main bar. When I entered, I was told to sit at the counter or a table wherever I liked. In my case, the equation is usually Bar = Counter, so I decided to sit at the counter. It was a holiday that day, but it wasn't too crowded. There were two male bartenders handling the drinks. There were also a few service men. The background music playing was Western pop songs. I received the menu, but since I couldn't understand what kind of cocktail it was just by the name, I had to read through the English recipe explanations below each one. I thought it would be nice if there were pictures or explanations in Japanese. On this day, I ordered the following: ・Charm 0 yen The hotel service charge was included, but there was no cover charge, so I guess it's okay for 0 yen. It came with dried pineapple, dried tomato, and cheese-flavored mixed nuts. The cheese flavor was good. ・Seasonal Fresh Fruit Mix (Pear) 2,500 yen (excluding tax and service charge) This was my wife's order. The fresh fruits of the day were pear, Kyoho grape, and kiwi. So, she asked for a cocktail based on pear with low alcohol content and sweet taste. They used Western pears. The slightly rough texture of the flesh of the Western pear gave it a low-alcohol, sweet taste. ・Genuine Care 3,000 yen (excluding tax and service charge) This was my order. A cocktail with gin, citrus base, and green tea. Served on a stone plate that looked like it would be served at a high-end French restaurant, with colorful rock candies on the side. I expected the cocktail to be more eye-catching, but it was just okay. It was a sweet cocktail and quite delicious. ・Italian Black Mojito 2,500 yen (excluding tax and service charge) This was my order. The color was black, but the taste was almost like a regular Mojito. It was a bit dry. The alcohol content was also high. It was quite delicious. ・Seasonal Fresh Fruit Mix (Kyoho Grape) 2,500 yen (excluding tax and service charge) This was my wife's order. Following the Western pear, she went for Kyoho grape this time. The skin of the Kyoho grape was included. It had a slightly sweet and refreshing taste. With the addition of consumption tax and service charge, the total came to 13,283 yen. About 6,640 yen per person. Despite being the main bar of an ultra-luxury hotel, the bill was quite reasonable because there was no cover charge. I was expecting a charge of around 1,500 yen per person, so it was a pleasant surprise. The atmosphere was nice, but since there were only two bartenders that day, when a group of customers came in, it quickly became overcrowded. I could see that it was not very well managed. Not very Ritz-like. Thank you for the meal! (As of November 2019, rating: 3.28 points)

After having lunch in Osaka, we went to Kyoto. I tried the cold glass parfait, a summer limited edition called #Coup de Glace, from Pierre Hermé Paris. The flavors of framboise, rose, and lychee in the Ispahan were absolutely delightful. We shared the Pleasure Sucré while enjoying ourselves. It was incredibly delicious. The Bar provided a relaxing adult space.

After the Gion Festival procession ended, the Mikoshi parade passed through Nijo Street. I have seen this many times, as the portable shrines gather on this day. This year, it was a night with a full moon. After finishing the Mikoshi parade at Yasaka Shrine, three portable shrines departed from the stone steps. The parishioners carried them along the course, chanting cheerfully. Later, at a gathering of food lovers, we enjoyed champagne, wine, and sake, along with delicious dishes. I was teased for eating a lot again. After the party, I was invited to the bar at The Ritz. Even though it's rare to drink at night in Kyoto, I decided to go, even though I had to drive back to Osaka. The bar was not crowded, and I enjoyed a Kyoto craft gin and tonic with dried fruits and nuts. It was a great selection. I shared the experience with a couple who were regulars at the bar. After a drink, I took a taxi to Shijo Kawaramachi and then caught the Hankyu train to Osaka. It was already morning when I arrived in Toyonaka. We reminisced about the Gion Festival and the many times we had attended it together. It was a good night, and I was glad to have a quiet and enjoyable drink at the bar.

After having lunch in Ogata, we decided to enjoy some post-meal drinks at the bar in The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto. Despite the fact that Momo's jokes were not as sharp as usual, we wanted to make the most of our trip to Kyoto. In the past, drinking alcohol was usually reserved for the evening, but lately, I rarely go out for drinks at night. I get tired late at night and end up with a hangover the next day. The bar lounge is located on the first floor of The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto. Although one might expect a bar to be deep underground where sunlight doesn't reach, this hotel's bar is situated in the brightest spot. The cocktails served in this very elegant bar lounge are exceptional! I had a Gimlet, a Spritz, and a Grasshopper, and even though I had two bottles of wine in Ogata and a Gin Lime here, I didn't overdo it. I felt great in this lovely bar lounge and didn't end up with a hangover.

I was guided to a large sofa seat by the window. Since I don't drink alcohol, I ordered a non-alcoholic cocktail. I asked to avoid anything too sweet, so I got a non-alcoholic cocktail similar to a mojito. After a full dinner at Shunsei Fuji, I was too full to eat, so I just had a drink. The charm was two types of smoked and cheese-flavored cashew nuts and two types of dried fruits. I was surprised by how delicious the cashew nuts were! Even though I was full, I couldn't stop eating the cashew nuts, haha. In a luxurious atmosphere, I relaxed and enjoyed a leisurely adult bar time. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Located on the floor facing the Italian restaurant "La Locanda", this stylish and modern space features a wine cellar with approximately 450 bottles that can be approached from 360 degrees. Guests can sit on beautiful sofas overlooking a lit-up waterfall in a famous Japanese garden. There is a cover charge of 1500 yen. The restaurant is open from Sunday to Thursday from 5:00 pm to 12:00 am (last order at 11:30 pm), and on Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00 pm to 1:00 am (last order at 12:30 am). Dry fruits and smoked cashew nuts are served as part of the service, and I particularly enjoyed the cashew nuts. There are four types of red wine available, including a Burgundy which costs 2500 yen per glass. The bar offers celebratory cocktails made with champagne. They also have cocktails with Kyoto-produced sake, roasted green tea, and yuzu jam, giving a Kyoto-like twist. I had a Martini and red wine, and the total cost including cover charge was around 8000 yen. For more details, check out my blog at https://ameblo.jp/erii-ashiya/entry-12430243090.html

In December 2018, I had lunch at La Locanda in The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto, and then moved to The Bar for cocktail time. Since it was a Sunday, it was nice to be able to enjoy it from noon. I was seated on a sofa and decided to order a cocktail pairing with Pierre Hermé's Christmas limited edition macarons. There were two options available: Truffe Blanche et Noisette macaron with Golden Age cocktail, and Chocolat et Foie Gras macaron with Strawberry Actually cocktail. I chose the white truffle macaron and the Golden Age cocktail. The cocktail was served in a small ceramic sphere with dry ice smoke coming out from a hole, making it very Instagrammable. The cocktail had a strong alcohol content but was easy to drink due to the intense espresso flavor. The truffle was the best I've ever had, with a great texture and a strong white truffle taste that balanced well with the sweetness. The collaboration with Pierre Hermé was truly impressive. The atmosphere in the restaurant was also great, allowing me to relax and enjoy cocktail time. Thank you for the wonderful experience.

Enjoying the daytime hotel life at The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto, not only with breakfast but also with a full-course Italian lunch and wine. It was so relaxing and cozy! After that, to sober up, we relaxed on the sofa seats at The Bar which faces the restaurant. Although The Bar operates from 5pm, from 2pm to 5pm, it can be used as a café lounge. We couldn't resist the temptation to try the Xmas limited edition cocktail after seeing the huge wine cellar and the bottles at the counter. The staff said they could make it, so we decided to have one more drink! We tried the pairing cocktail with Pierre Hermé's Christmas limited edition macaron: Chocolate and Foie Gras Macaron paired with Strawberry Actuary for 3000 yen (excluding tax and 15% service charge). My friend chose the Truffle, Blancmange, and Hazelnut Macaron paired with Golden Age. The cocktails arrived after a 15-minute wait, and they were served in a black and white round ceramic pot with a paper straw inserted in the hole, emitting dry ice smoke. The red macaron on top looked like a cute hat. When we opened the lid, we found a fruity cocktail made with strawberries. Despite the strong alcohol, it was very easy to drink due to the sweetness and refreshing acidity of the strawberries. The fluffy red macaron had a perfect harmony of chocolate and foie gras, spreading a delightful aroma in the mouth. It was not just a dessert but more like a dish, and it was by far the best macaron I had ever tasted. After relaxing for about 30 minutes, we headed to the Pierre Hermé Paris Boutique in the hotel to get some cakes before returning to Osaka. Bon appétit! (●^o^●)

Kyoto is squared by the Kamogawa River. This hotel is located near the Kamogawa River, on the banks of the Nijo Bridge. After having a meal nearby, I wanted to slowly enjoy some drinks. So, I decided to come here. I usually sit at the counter, but the view from the sofa seats seemed really nice, and luckily there were some available, so I chose the sofa seats for a change. And it was a great choice! The view from the sofa seats was even more luxurious and extravagant than I expected, making me feel really special. The cocktails were a bit different from the usual ones, with a subtle unique twist, which was a bit strange but still delicious. Overall, I have no complaints because it was delicious. The service was also great, with the staff being more mature and calm compared to the Ritz in Osaka. If I have the chance to drink in Kyoto again, I feel like I will definitely come back here.

A stylish bar located at The Ritz-Carlton.