Rocking chair

A hidden gem in Kyoto! This cocktail bar is an absolute delight. The cocktails here are exceptional—beautifully crafted, balanced, and bursting with unique flavors. The bartenders are true artists who clearly put their heart into every drink, using both local ingredients and classic techniques. The ambiance is intimate and stylish, with a cozy, welcoming vibe that makes you feel like you’re in on a well-kept secret. Whether you’re looking to relax after a day of sightseeing or seeking an unforgettable night out, this place is a must-visit. Keep in mind that there is an entrance fee and the minimum consumption is one drink. Highly recommended!

Excellent bar to enjoy cocktails. We just walked in and we found a place. The cocktail RS were served quite fast and they were super tasty! Also prices were reasonable and overall we were really happy both with the cocktail and the service.

I love this place. Hands down my favourite bar in Japan. Classic and inventive cocktails, old school service, excellent food, just so much atmosphere. Any time you come here feels like a special night out. So good I came back twice more over five days and actually cancelled a restaurant I had booked so I could visit the third time. I am going to be in Kyoto next year for three nights only, and one of my nights is set aside for Bar Rocking Chair. Just wonderful.

Loved it! Cocktails were fantastic and the quality is great. Interesting flavour combinations on their signatures and on their takes of the classics. I can see why this place is popular. As for the wait due to being at max capacity and other people's complaints about it, the wait was worth it. The "rudeness and arrogance" some people mention is just silly. The guys are busy. And there's a sign in front that lets everyone know that they are. So if you do like us and just pass the sign and pop your head in to hope for the best. Don't get offended by the short interaction you might receive. You ignored the sign. Maybe the sign could say "expect to wait 15 minutes". Other than that, service was 10/10👌

An absolutely stunning bar from the entrance to the inside. It’s very ‘old-world’ with the dark wood cabinets and shelving and classical music playing. I came around 7:30pm on a Sunday and was able to be seated right away. There is a cover charge of ¥880. The drinks were so delicious, I had the signature The Best Scene, which was beautiful fresh with some sweetness. Really recommend. Followed it up with a classic negroni, which was nice and then a Kyoto martini which was a perfect end. Really recommend the bar for a wonderful experience.

Old-world classic style bar in Kyoto. Owned by revered Tsubokura-san, with his ultra-professional and elegant style of cocktail making. Limited food options are also available. The only down side for non-smokers is that smoking is permitted. Very popular bar so avoid peak times if you don’t want a long wait outside.

Best cocktails in Kyoto. Takes a bit of time to prepare but wouldn’t have it any other way. Bar tender knows what he is doing. Atmosphere is classy and cozy. Service is excellent. Price of cocktails/whiskey very competitive when compared to other bars which charge the same but don’t even come close to the quality offered here. Had the best Moscow mule and old fashioned with some Japanese single malts to go with. Must visit

Awesome bar with great ambiance and craft drinks. Extensive selection and delicious mock-tail creations as well. The food was delicious and the Parm fries were great!

Classy, cozy and chill. With phenomenal drinks and the option to smoke a cigar. If that's what you're in the need for, Bar Rocking Chair has you covered. Let's be clear, this is not a place where you're gonna "get lit" or "rage." This is where you come to relax after a long day of touring and/or shopping. This place has a gentleman's club vibe. Yes, there is a cover charge of 800yen per person (which is not too bad for an American in January 2025). And yes, you might need to wait a little while to get in. I suggest you show up early if you can. 5PM is ideal. The space is small and fills up quick. The bartenders are all very pleasant and try hard to speak to you in English. Google translate is your friend. I had an old fashioned, whiskey sour and Iyu-raku. All were delightful and perfectly made. Also had the Kyoto sausage sampler and the butter cake dessert. All great. The price was right at the end of the night. If I had this experience in the US, I probably would've paid twice the amount. If you're on a really tight budget, this might not be for you. But hey, splurge if you can.

Kyoto, Tachibanacho. March 2024. Bar Rocking Chair is a quiet classy bar in a small restored machiya. The theme is centered on rocking chairs, several in a small parlor w a working fireplace, and a pair with a window view of the tsuboniwa. The music is classical solo cello suites. Smoking is allowed at any seat. The 9 seat bar is manned by up to three bartenders. The distinguished owner, Kenji Tsubokura, is usually moving around behind the bar or in front talking to customers. The cocktail list has signature and seasonal drinks w Japanese spirits prominent. There is also a good back bar of whisky. Food ranges from housemade Omi Beef jerky, Fries topped w shaved karasumi, Kyoto made sausages, and pasta. A limited English menu is available. The seasonal cocktail list also has English. Foreigners are presented w a brief written listing of the house rules. For Japanese, it is verbally explained. One of the best bars in Kyoto, Japan, and Asia. Well worth seeking out.

Quiet. Very slow even by craft cocktail standards, staff aren't communicating with each other. Does not have coins for cash so essentially giving themselves at tip in a country that does not tip. Allows smoking -- awful. Drinks otherwise are good but big worth the experience of getting one.

The cocktail bar scene in Japan is just out of this world. I usually don't hit up bars in Kyoto as often as other cities because I like to be up early to visit temples. That plan doesn't bode well with drinking and staying out late. However, I made an exception on my last visit since we were doing things differently this time round. I'm so glad I did. I was able to experience hand crafted, creative cocktails in an old school setting. We sat at the bar because that's what was available. However, that would be my preference anyway so you can see the drinks being made. We got there soon after opening and the place was already filling up. I recommend try a fresh fruit ones. The muscat (a type of green grape) cocktail tasted like the freshest fruit. Grapes in Japan are amazing and taste like the fruit instead of a lot of sugar. This cocktail was no exception. They also had savory flavored cocktails if you'd prefer that flavor profile. The fig and miso cocktail was insanely good. Umami and sweetness in perfect harmony. My husband loved his whisky drink. It was fun to watch the bartenders at work and see the variety of drinks being served. The atmosphere is really nice with all the wood, books, and dim lighting. Kyoto may not have as many bars as Tokyo, but don't count it out as a cocktail spot. There are still many places to explore in that area as well.

Man .. what an amazing cocktail experience at Bar Rocking Chair. We were in town for our honeymoon and decided to stop by this spot to try the winning cocktail of the World Cocktail Championships of 2016. "The Best Scene" uses Geranium Premium London Dry Gin, Giffard Fleur de Sureau Sauvage Liqueur, Midori, Georges Monin Fruit Mix Yuzu, Fresh Lemon Juice, Fee Brother's Cardamom Bitters. The cocktail tasted of melon, flowers, and fresh lemon. Perfect cocktail for those who appreciate a not too sweet with a nice citrus note to it. My favorite cocktail of the night however was the Hojicha Espresso Martini. Vodka, Espresso, Roasted Green Tea (Hoji-cha), and a touch of honey. The roasted green tea and espresso was so nicely balanced, and being in Kyoto you just have to try everything with green tea/matcha in it! This place doesn't stop with just being a bar with awesome cocktails, they also serve food here! We ordered the club sandwich and it was phenomenal! Maybe because we were so hungry, but I've had a lot of sandwiches in my life and they cooked the egg perfectly. The place is tucked away in a street. But google maps should take you there with no issues. They are tourist friendly and many were tourists in there. The spot also has a bookshelf (which is actually a secret entrance to head up stairs). I do believe that those who were headed upstairs were locals. They also have rocking chairs near a fireplace for those who would like to enjoy their cocktails by the fireplace.

[Let's make Review 300 something special] This is one of those all-time DP flukes that I manage to pull off whenever I am travelling. I'll catch the wrong train; take a left turn instead of a right; OR walk into the city's best bar without even realising it. On this occasion it was a bit of all 3 - and what an absolute find this place is. There was limited seating at the bar, so I was lucky enough to get the final spot - I began with something familiar to start (Lagavulin 16; Laphroaig 10) before exploring more interesting territory by sampling Japanese Rum (9 Leaves; 7 Seas). Both rums were very different to what I was expecting. Almost sour notes coming through that would really work well against something sweet to provide a nice balanced drink, but truly terrible sipping on its own. The service here is meticulous high-end Japanese level. The bartenders are impeccably dressed and superbly mannered; using minimalist movements in their mixology only serves to highlight the precision and care with which they deliver every drink they create - Yes, they also speak English. A friendly Japanese lady seated next to me decided at this point to converse with me in English (her husband didn't speak English - but his smile and nods gave us some form of communication). She revealed that she and her husband travel to this bar every single year on their anniversary to drink. They are from a small fishing village whose name eludes me, and she pushed a laminated page in front of me and urged me to try a special cocktail called The Best Scene. Little did I know that the creator of The Best Scene, Kenji Tsubokura, was not only in the bar, but had been serving me all night up until this point. As I requested the drink he humbly accepted the opportunity to make it for me, and I perused the laminated recipe further. This cocktail isn't just special, it's the cocktail that won Kenji the prestigious title of "World Bartender of the Year 2016". Ummmm, Wowwwwww! So how was it? It somehow managed to capture all 5 taste profiles in the one drink (sweet, sour, bitter, salt, and umami), with a remarkably refreshing finish, probably from the magical yuzu in the drink. It comes on sweet but then the yuzu enters with sharp citrus sour that wipes the sweet from you mouth but ur left with a few things happening, flavours bouncing around in a complex dance on your palate, before leaving you with that final refreshing clean finish. Then you are ready for another sip to repeat the journey again! So, at this point I am having an amazing experience - I've scored the final chair at this wonderful wood-crafted bar; I'm being waited on hand-and-foot by the impeccably dressed and well-mannered World Bartender of the Year, and I've met a lovely couple willing to share their anniversary experience with this flukey traveller - It's all rather humbling, and exciting at the same time... and they were not done yet. The bill when it came was exceptionally reasonable (less than $20 SGD drink) which prices it lower than most Singapore bars that I am used to. I was expecting somewhere in the vicinity of double what I ended up paying. Cannot recommend Bar Rocking Chair highly enough - I would live here if I could! If you come to Kyoto this is the one bar you MUST try.

Drinks tasted amazing, had the old fashioned, mule, shiso sour, and ginger yuzu, and rum and coke in between me and the ms's and it was phenomenal. Besides the high end selections of cigars, RP my go to, they served water, to keep me from pissing on the bar, their attentiveness was on point. Much better than high five!

First class cocktail bar, really great experience, each drink is truly made with a great deal of consideration, this is not the place to have a cosmopolitan or a glass of wine-- Maybe 10-15 bar seats, and four to five bartenders, impeccable service, have your hotel call ahead if you can, we walked in, but I could see this not always working Would definitely repeat

We heard about this place and decided to check it out. It has limited seating but we got there early and were able to get the table close to the fireplace. The ambiance was great. The service was impeccable. We had a number of the appetizers and all were good. Now on to the drinks. They were superb.any of the combinations you think wouldn't work well together but they did. The drink prices are approximately 1600 yen, but well worth it and the experience.

No menu, first place original cocktail winer, cozy atmosphere, very knowledgeable bartenders, English speaking. Perfect. Drinks starting at about 1000 yen.

Exceptional bar with a great atmosphere. Reminds me of a speakeasy bar you would find in most US cities. Seating is limited, so it might be difficult for groups greater than 6. Excellent selection of whiskey. They make craft mix drinks, if you like one. Limited English is spoken, but wasn't an issue.

We were fortunate to stumble upon this lovely little bar. The cocktails are amazing and everything is served in remarkably delicate glassware. There is an extensive whiskey collection. I ordered my first whiskey neat but my second on the rocks was the highlight. The ice cube stole the show. It was perfectly clear and spherical, you almost don't even notice it's there.

Really nice atomisphere, and if you're looking for some classic, fancy but also cosy bar, this is where you wanna go! I had Vocka with kyohou (巨峰) as my first drink, and it was so fresh! The second drink I got was Fig with white sesami and white miso (I think it was also Vocka based), and it tasted sooo good! I couldn't really picture how it tastes before I got it because I never had any alcohol with Miso, but everything was mixed it so well! The price range is not where I can go often, but if you have some special day or want to treat yourself, I'd recommend this place!

Phenomenal bar on a quiet street in Kyoto. HIGHLY recommended. Definitely bring a friend that speaks japanese or google translate with you. Snacks are tasty, drinks aren't heavy handed. It's smokey in here, so be warned!

Such a lovely place! They'll make you your cocktails based on your usual drink preferences. And most likely, you won't go wrong trusting them with this. The drinks were amazing, the service is super friendly too(although they don't have an English menu, our server was rather helpful in helping us decide our orders).

If there's a better bar in Kyoto, I never found it. This place combines impeccable service with outstanding cocktails. The food is also surprisingly good. Hard to find, but worth it.

Waaaayy overpriced. And they can smell a sucker (foreigner) from a mile away because they'll offer you things that you already said you don't want. But when they bill comes, they charged you anything they wanted anyway. For those who were fooled by the showmanship, the drinks were lame and weak. I didnt want to go to a bar and pay to watch people mix rum in ice cubes with a long spoon. I came for good drinks and to meet some locals and travelers. But everyone was pretty much whispering to each other. I feel like I payed 2100 yen for 1 rum and coke (Cuba libre) because they were wearing suspenders and an arm band. I wouldn't waste my money here. If you want good drinks with master mixologists, there's another great spot in Kyoto.

By far one of the best bars to check out in Kyoto. Service is superb and second to none. The drinks were amazing, even though there was a language barrier I said I wanted a bourbon cocktail with a sour flavor and they made an amazing drink. The even checked my coat.

This bar has an old school "library" ambiance. We were seated right in front of the wood burning fireplace. The customer service was amazing and the drinks were exceptional. The rice cracker snacks was a nice touch. It was nice and quiet to have a conversation. Look forward to coming back!

This is the best place you could ever go in Kyoto. Best bar, friendly staff, whatever you want is available, warm and nice environment. This place would be a reason I would like to go back to Kyoto.

Really wonderful cocktails. Truly an art form. Four of us sat at the bar and watched the owner make one cocktail after another. We tried number of his award winning cocktails, martini, and manhattan. I asked him to make me a cocktail that's slightly bitter, sweet, and citrusy. He made one using gin steeped with tea leaves. Delicious. Not too sweet. Just a hint of bitterness. We stumbled back to the hotel after.

Stumbled upon this place while walking back to our hotel. They make amazing cocktails. It's a quite atmosphere, like a speakeasy bar. They ask for your favorite alcohol/drink and make something similar. Sit on the bar area so you can see the bar tenders make the drinks, it's an art form. They have a good collection of domestic Japanese whiskies.

We saw this bar on Yelp- walked mapped it out to get there- when we arrived people were walking out and there were clearly open seats in he place. Well not so lucky for us- because we were told they were full to capacity. Lost in translation??? Nope- I am pretty certain it was because we were not from here.... sigh

This place is amazing. Not at all what I was expecting to walk into from the quiet street. It felt like I had walked into mens club but wasn't treated that way. They have a maximum of 20 seats, there were only 7 people when we walked in with 4 staff with low lights and classical music playing. They gave us a "no English" card but that was no issue. Just tell them the alcohol of choice and they will bring you delicious drinks. 500 yen cover charge. Totally worth it.

Cool little bar. Would be 5 stars but they have a 500 yen cover... Which is pretty silly on a small sidestreet in Kyoto.