Went to a trendy restaurant near Karasuma Oike Station. The service was honestly a bit intimidating, but on the bright side, I was able to enjoy my time without any disturbances. They only accept cash on delivery. It was a holiday, past 6 pm, with 2 groups of customers before me and 1 group after me. I had the place to myself for a long time since I arrived right after another group left. It was empty and easy to use. [What I Ate] - Smoked quail egg fried potatoes (S) - Mushroom and olive anchovy pizza - Beer (S) Total: ¥2800 The taste, I'm sorry to say, was just average. Also, the prices were a bit high. However, it was the perfect place to enjoy some quiet alone time! The staff's sense of urgency was quite strong, so I couldn't take my time to carefully choose from the menu, which was a bit disappointing. But then again, maybe it was for the best since I'm not really at an age where I can handle flashy customer service... (laughs) Thank you for the meal!

On Friday after work. I arrived at 7 o'clock and was the first one there. Even at 7 o'clock, it is still bright and feels good in this season. I enjoyed a refreshing beer with a strong aroma, picking olives with very thin chopsticks. The menu is full of options, so I always have trouble deciding. I spent about an hour relaxing.

I decided to try another place after having a great impression last time. This is a place where you can drink local and craft beers. You order at the counter and then enjoy your meal at your table. The first floor has table seating and a standing counter, while the second floor has table and counter seating, with a nice atmosphere thanks to the high ceiling. This time, I relaxed on the second floor. You can order craft beers in small, medium, or large sizes, but I found the prices a bit high. The food is mostly around 700-900 yen per dish and tasty, but the portions are a bit small. It's a great place for drinkers though. I did spill some beer when bringing it up to the second floor, so I should have just stayed on the first floor. I will visit again. Thank you for the meal.

On the second day in Kyoto, I visited a shop known for its original beer, which was renovated from a machiya (traditional townhouse). Upon entering, I was told that I needed to order and pay at the counter. I ordered a beer from the tap, along with homemade pickles and Kyoto leek omelette. I was seated on the second floor where foreign movies were playing on the wall. The beer had a slight sourness to it but was quite delicious. The pickles were amazing, with a perfect balance of flavors. I was impressed by how the paprika in the pickles didn't have any bitterness. The omelette was flavorful with a nice dashi broth and paired well with the beer. The only downside was having to go back downstairs to order even when seated on the second floor. I would visit Kyoto just to have the pickles again. Thank you for the meal.

Business trip to Kyoto! I visited Another8, a sister store of Tokyo's Another8, and it was around 7:30 pm on Thursday. The atmosphere was wonderful as expected! There were about 3 groups of customers already there. I tried the Peach Weizen, the Kin-Oni Pale Ale, and the fried potatoes. The staff was very friendly and even recommended some great places to visit in Kyoto. The restaurant has a rating of 3.43 on Tabelog as of August 2020!

I went to a stylish place again. I wanted to drink craft beer. Beer tastes especially good on hot days. The food was elaborate and the staff were very friendly and attentive. If it was near my house, I would definitely visit it. It was such a wonderful place. Thank you for the meal.

Today, I went out for drinks with friends around Karasuma Oike. We decided to have one last drink at a craft beer pub called BEFORE9. The interior of the pub, renovated from a traditional Kyoto townhouse, offers a variety of craft beers and sake. They have 8 taps with different craft beers available each day. We enjoyed a small size (240ml) beer starting from 700 yen. Payment was made at the entrance before moving to the spacious second-floor seating area. The atmosphere was relaxed with remnants of the traditional Kyoto townhouse on the ceiling. We started with a toast! I tried the "SMaSH IPA" from Nito Brewery in Shiga Prefecture. It had a unique flavor using Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand. It was a bit unusual but had a deep flavor. My friend ordered a 13% alcohol Imperial Stout called Beer Geek Vanilla Shake from Mikkeller in Copenhagen, Denmark. It had a coffee and vanilla flavor, even without tasting it, you could feel the vanilla aroma. Imperial Stout was originally brewed in the UK for export to Russia and the Nordic countries during the Age of Exploration. It had a rich taste and high alcohol content to prevent spoilage during sea transport. The beer came with a set of chocolates, which was a unique combination. I also chose a beer from Mikkeller, the Spontan Quadrupel Blueberry. Quadrupel means "four times" in Danish, and it had a distinct blueberry aroma with 9.9% alcohol content. It had a wine-like mouthfeel. The price was 1,100 yen for 100ml, giving it a premium feel. Mikkeller's beers have a unique taste and charm. We enjoyed a variety of unique beers in a modern beer bar renovated from a traditional Kyoto townhouse.

After having dinner by the riverside, I took a leisurely stroll from Kyoto City Hall towards Karasuma Oike area. The Karasuma Oike area is full of trendy and stylish shops, making it quite interesting. In one corner, there is a craft beer bar called BEFORE9. I thought of having a quick craft beer, but when I approached the shop, I saw that the first floor was bustling with foreign tourists. It felt like I was not in Japan! You order at the entrance with a cash on delivery system. They mainly serve Kyoto Brewing beers, about 7-8 types. I felt like having curry for some reason, so I ordered today's curry and homemade pickles. They told me there were seats available on the second floor, so I carefully carried my beer upstairs. For some reason, they were showing Jean Reno's "The Big Blue" on a big screen. Jean Reno looks so young! The beer had a tangy and refreshing taste. It was slightly smaller than a pint size. The pickles were delicious, more like pickles than traditional pickled vegetables. The curry at the end was small in size but really tasty. I can see why people crave it late at night! The place was still lively with foreign visitors downstairs, but it might be fun to stop by for a quick craft beer when you feel like it.

Subway Karasuma Oike. When you come out of exit 1 and walk about 20m north, you will find Before 9 at the northeast corner of the intersection. The entrance has a white door, but inside is Before 9, a craft beer bar that was converted from a traditional townhouse sake brewery called Sakemoto Sakehachi. They open at 5 pm. I visited right at opening time. I have been interested in this place for a while. The first floor has about 4 counter seats, a few simple table seats, and standing space. The second floor has table seats and a counter. The stairs are a bit narrow, which was a bit challenging for someone like me who is afraid of heights (laughs). Now, about the craft beer. They always have 8 taps available. The taps are right next to the refrigerated storage, and the pouring spout and the keg are close by, creating a great environment. A good environment seems to lead to good beer. It seems best to start with the lower numbered taps, as they are related to the beer's richness. I brought the beer to my seat in a full glass from the cash-on-delivery counter. You have to bring it yourself, but be careful as there is a step on the first floor. The snacks are also cash-on-delivery, but the staff will bring the food to you. They are thoughtfully paired with both craft beer and sake, and they are delicious. The visually appealing snacks are plentiful. I tried the Middle Eastern-style dip with chickpeas and smoked nuts. They have beers from breweries like Kyoto Brewing and Minoh Beer on tap, making it a very enjoyable place. I would love to visit again. Thank you for the meal.

Craft beer in a two-story old-fashioned house, the best!

I arrived before 7 o'clock and it was already last order. It would be nice if the last order was at 8 o'clock, making it easier to stop by after work. I enjoyed a refreshing beer with a strong acidity to cool off.

Quietly enjoy a relaxing drink. The second floor is nice. The staff's friendliness may be lacking. It's not good to be noisy.

I'm glad I casually walked in and got the manager's recommendation.

A quick drink. The atmosphere of the restaurant is quite nice. There were mostly customers in their 20s to 30s on this day. I thought it would be a good place for a meeting.

Craft beer is available in various sizes - small, medium, and large. However, the attitude of the female staff is curt and not very customer-friendly. The service at this restaurant is mediocre.