forever friends
On the second day in Kyoto, we headed to a coffee shop located about a 5-6 minute walk from the hotel where we were staying for breakfast. I found this new shop on Instagram, which opened on April 22nd, and it was not yet listed on food review websites, so I took the initiative to register it. We visited on May 1st, which was the 10th day since its opening. We arrived a little after 7 am, and since it was still early in the morning and the shop was newly opened, there were no other customers present during our visit. The female owner warmly welcomed us and managed the shop by herself at that time. The shop has two entrances, one facing the main street and the other on a small side street. The front entrance is right in front of the Gojozaka bus stop. The interior of the shop is bright and airy, with a predominantly white color scheme and large windows letting in plenty of natural light. We placed our orders at the counter before taking our seats. Self-service water was available from a water jug, and the owner kindly added some lemon to it. My husband ordered a pizza toast (without bell peppers or onions, as he doesn't like them) and a coffee separately, while I opted for a roll bread sandwich set with coffee. The shop was still getting used to operations, so it took a bit of time for our orders to be prepared with care and attention. However, we didn't mind as it allowed us to relax, take photos, and plan our day. The pizza toast (600 yen) was made with only salami, as per my husband's preferences, and he enjoyed the generous amount of mild and delicious cheese on top. The nana blend coffee (500 yen) was aromatic and smooth, perfect for a morning drink. The roll bread sandwich set (650 yen) was simple yet satisfying, with warm bread rolls and a freshly boiled egg on the side. My husband's separate orders of coffee and pizza toast cost a total of 1100 yen, while the morning set with coffee included was priced between 500-650 yen, making it a better deal. The portion sizes of the morning sets may be more suitable for women, as they consist of half a slice of bread, but men may find it less filling. Upon further research, I discovered that this shop was a renovation of the established "Kissa & Light Meal Nana" from the Showa era. The previous owner, who was 87 years old, was still actively running the business, so the current owner might be a grandchild. Next to this shop, there was a newly opened crepe shop as well. Kyoto is bustling with tourists, and it must be challenging to adapt to the increasing crowds, but I hope they continue to do well. We enjoyed our meal here. Thank you for the delicious food!