Today, I am out drinking with my gym buddies. For our second stop, we went to a bar near Kyoto City Hall Station called Bar Next. It's a unique bar that specializes in old bottles from the 1980s. The atmosphere was authentic yet welcoming, making it easy to just drop in. We had some snacks to go with our drinks. Here is a Scotch whisky from the 1980s that they used to make a highball for us. It's a luxurious highball that allows you to enjoy the smoky flavor of Scotch. My friend who loves highballs was very excited about it. We also had a platter of assorted smoked snacks, including firefly squid, duck, egg, pork, gizzard, and sausage. They paired perfectly with the whisky. The counter seating was cozy and perfect for a relaxing drink. It was fun chatting with the unique bartenders. We also tried some seasonal fresh fruit cocktails. This time, it was a cocktail made with hassaku oranges, giving it a nice hint of acidity. My whisky-loving friend ordered an old Jack Daniel's to compare with the current one. The old Jack Daniel's had a higher alcohol content of 45%, and the taste and aroma were completely different. It was an interesting comparison. I ended the night with my favorite cocktail, XYZ. When we asked for the check, they served us a mysterious tea with a unique aroma. It turned out to be turmeric tea, meant to help prevent a hangover the next day. It was a thoughtful touch. Overall, we had a great time in this sophisticated bar. Bars like this are truly wonderful!

I haven't been drinking alcohol for about 10 years, so I really have no connection to this kind of place. I felt like I was climbing the stairs to adulthood a little bit! The assortment of smoked appetizers was amazing lol The smell of the smoked food was intense! The drink was non-alcoholic, but they made it to my liking and it was delicious.

Located a little outside of Pontocho, this spacious and bright interior bar offers refreshing ginger cocktails with a strong ginger aroma. The snacks are smoked, and for the second round, they serve a seasonal kiwi cocktail with a hint of smokiness. Overall, it's a pretty good place.

Go up a little on Kiyamachi Sanjo and turn left. You'll see a brick building that looks like a Western-style restaurant for a moment. I've used this place about 4 times now. Just like the Pig & Whistle near Sanjo Station mentioned in a previous review, if there was a category for "ease of use," I would definitely give it a rating of 4.5 or higher! When you open the door, you'll see many table seats and a few counter seats in a unique layout. I'm not a big fan of sitting at the counter and chatting with the bartender, so I prefer to sit at a table if possible. There are many tables here, and it feels clean and reassuring. I usually order cocktails, and the glasses are chosen to match the type of drink, sometimes served in a tumbler. It seems to come out in a more delicious state. The taste is consistently delicious, and the balance with the rock ice is great. There's always a snack that comes out, like a salty rice cracker, which gets me excited. On this day, I really wanted something fizzy, so I ordered the homemade ginger ale Moscow Mule for ¥900. The spicy ginger flavor is strong and really delicious. The bartenders are all very professional. I don't like places with a limited selection of alcohol, poorly made drinks, or lack of alcohol knowledge, as they tend to cater only to regular customers. This bar is excellent in terms of usability, atmosphere, cleanliness, and the deliciousness of the drinks. If I had to say something, I think it's about 20% cheaper than other bars that provide the same quality. There are bars that charge an extra 30% just for the atmosphere alone! Personally, I find hotel bars to be too formal, and while the atmosphere, cleanliness, and service are not that great, they still charge a lot and often have a cover charge. So, I often think, "Well, that's about right." In that sense, Next strikes an exquisite balance and always offers a safe place to enjoy delicious and reasonably priced drinks.

After dinner, I stopped by this popular restaurant. It was crowded with mostly young people. They have a wide variety of drinks and food on the menu. The appetizer was "salt rice cracker" and I think the cover charge is around 500 yen. - Frozen peach cocktail (1300 yen) - I ordered this attracted by the frozen aspect, but it wasn't very cold and tasted more like mixed juice. - Shikuwasa gin and tonic (1050 yen) - This one had a refreshing taste and was quite good. - Assorted appetizers (1200 yen) - This was a good deal. It included horse meat ham, oil sardine, smoked duck, tomato, sweet and sour shrimp, smoked cheese, and more. Everything was delicious and perfect for drinking. As it was getting late and I was getting sleepy, I had just one more drink before heading home. This place must be popular not only for drinks but also for their tasty food.

This is a bar I occasionally visit. It is located on the first floor on the south side, two streets west from the intersection of Kiyamachi and Sanjo. It's on the south side of the Royal Hotel. My first impression is that this bar has a great selection of food. In particular, they put a lot of effort into their smoked dishes. From classic fish to eggs and cheese, everything pairs well with whiskey, so I recommend trying them all! Unfortunately, the variety of drinks is not focused on Islay or single malts, but rather has a safe lineup. In my opinion, the best way to enjoy this place is to sit at the counter and chat with the bartender, or sit at a table, enjoy a hearty meal, and leisurely drink. It seems like a popular spot every time I go, so it might be easy to become a regular. It's definitely a bar that you'll want to visit occasionally!

We used it after dinner on the 2nd day of the Kyoto gourmet tour. We originally planned to go to a bar we had researched in advance, but unfortunately it was closed for the New Year holidays! However, we happened to stumble upon a bar near our hotel in the early morning, and it was open, so we decided to give it a try. The atmosphere was more like a restaurant bar than an authentic bar, and it was bustling with people. The counter was almost full, so we were seated at a table. They had fruit cocktail options on the menu, which my wife was excited about. Here's what we ordered: - Grapefruit Martini 1100 yen? Tasted almost the same as a Gimlet (laughs), but it was delicious! - Martini 1100 yen? This one was simply delicious! - Bloody Mary 800 yen? I had been drinking too much the day before, so I decided to go for something healthy like tomato. It was delicious. - Strawberry Frozen Cocktail 1300 yen? It was a bit watery, I wish it had more strawberry flavor. Almost there! - Orange Cocktail 950 yen? This one was just okay, nothing special. Total: 6150 yen They also provided us with 2 bags of peanuts and 1 bag of dried persimmon snacks on the table, and warm turmeric tea at the time of payment. It's always nice to receive these little touches! I may have become a bit picky about fruit cocktails after drinking too many delicious ones in Ginza and Kanagawa. It seems like ordering standard cocktails here is the way to go, as they were delicious. The food menu is also extensive, so it could be a good spot for a first round. The atmosphere is casual and the staff are friendly. Thank you for the meal!

There were no more trains running, so a friend took me out for drinks. We each ordered our favorite drinks and a little bit of food. When I asked for a whiskey on the rocks, they even brought a chaser without me having to ask. The drinks were great, and there was a variety of food options as well. I was already full, so I couldn't eat much, which was a shame. I'm not sure if they make the round ice for the rocks here, but the ice in the rocks glass was beautiful. The atmosphere was quiet, so we could enjoy our drinks and conversation. I want to bring someone else here next time! 🍻

Barnext is a calm yet warm bar. I stumbled upon it for a second round of drinks at a drinking party. The interior is moderately spacious with sofa seats and a counter. The lighting is soft and calming. There is a gentlemanly bartender behind the counter. The young woman who took our order was very professional and gave precise explanations of the alcohol. There is something about the way she speaks and her expressions that draws you in. I feel that bars like this place more emphasis on the soft side compared to restaurants, as everyone comes here to relax. Since it was our second stop, we didn't order food, but the alcohol selection is plentiful. I especially recommend the cocktail named after your birth month. In my case, it was the Blue Moon for February. It has violet liqueur which gives it a subtle blue hue and a delightful fragrance that lingers. Although it was lively with a crowd, I think next time I would prefer a quiet time for two at the counter.

One notable thing about this restaurant is the wide variety of food menu options available. You can enjoy hearty dishes like pizza and pasta here, making it a good choice for a first stop. They also have a good selection of appetizers and ala carte items. They offer a decent range of drinks as well. However, the bartender at this place seems to change from day to day. I usually like to have the bartender remember my preferences and make me a drink based on that, but with the bartender changing frequently, it makes it difficult. The main reason for going to a bar is to see the bartender, so I wish they would have a consistent one.

This is a bar I used to visit in the past. It was close to my old workplace and had a stylish exterior that caught my eye, but I hesitated to go in because I thought it might be expensive. When I finally mustered up the courage to enter, the sharp-looking bartender made me nervous, thinking "It must be expensive." However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the prices were actually quite reasonable, similar to other bars. The bartender was friendly and made me feel at ease. They had a variety of drinks, including the rare "Asahi Jukusen draft beer" which was delicious and memorable. Another bartender, who I heard used to work in a French restaurant, served a complimentary dish of baguette topped with liver pate that was absolutely amazing. I'm not sure if they are still there, but I have never tasted liver pate as delicious as that before in my life! I look forward to the day when I can enjoy it again.

It seems like a bar with a classic atmosphere where the lighting is not too dark or too bright. I was surprised in a good way when I entered, as the prices were mostly around 800-1000 yen despite the flyers outside showing starting prices at 500 yen. I only had a malt drink and felt like they mainly offered standard options. Sitting at the counter might have given me a better idea, but as a first-timer, I was seated on a sofa away from the regulars, which was a bit disappointing. It's a good option for those looking for a slightly more casual experience than a hotel bar.