Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Stumptown was right downstairs from my motel, which was super convenient. Every morning of my stay, I got an iced oat milk latte for 700 yen. It’s a steal! The coffee blend during the time was earthy and nutty, and it paired nicely with oat milk. There was a hint of fruitiness and a bit of sourness in the middle, which I also liked. It leaned strong; I wasn’t sure if it was a single or double shot, but probably just one. I wished I had some stomach space for their bakes, which all look great… The space itself is clean and minimal, with warm wood tones and simple seating. There’s a bit of natural light if you sit near the front, and the vibe is relaxed without being too quiet.

The tasty coffee and cool concept of the American brand Stumptown Coffee but make it Japanese. And the result is great! Tasty coffee in Japanese style. The cold brew was delicious. Tasty pastries and wraps. You can seat in the high chairs or in the hotel lounge.

I spent a few days in Kyoto working remotely and really enjoyed my time at Stumptown Coffee Roasters. The café is located inside the hotel area, which also has stylish shops and restaurants. The space is beautifully designed with a minimal and warm atmosphere, making it a comfortable place to sit for hours. They don’t mind how long you stay as long as you order a drink or pastry, and they even have charging stations, which makes it perfect for working. The vibe is relaxed, the staff are friendly but not intrusive, and the setting feels like a mix between a specialty coffee shop and a cozy hotel lounge. It is definitely one of the best spots in Kyoto if you are looking to enjoy quality coffee while getting some work done or just taking a break.

Stumptown Coffee inside Ace Hotel Kyoto serves genuinely good coffee, made with care. Drinks are well balanced (no oversized cups or milk overload), and it’s refreshing to have proper cups, cutlery and tableware rather than disposable everything. Coffee is a little pricier than many Kyoto cafés, likely due to the hotel location, and merchandise and juices are expensive. That said, every drink we ordered was carefully prepared — my cortado consistently took a little longer, but the extra care showed. The atmosphere is mixed, with hotel guests and café customers blending together. A shared long table is a nice touch, though seats fill up quickly. Service is relaxed and functional, in either English or Japanese — American in style, but with a welcome hint of Japanese polish. Would we visit if we weren’t staying at the Ace? Probably once — more a reflection of Kyoto’s excellent coffee scene than any failing here. As part of a stay, though, it’s a real asset and makes mornings easy without committing to hotel breakfast every day.

Coffee good. Can use ACE hotel lobby to chill a while, just like library at the university. There are some exhibition from time to time. Enjoy the vibes.

I’m from Portland, OR where I’ve enjoyed Stumptown for many years, and was excited to try their first branch outside of the US here in Kyoto. Unfortunately, the coffee here isn’t as good as their Portland locations, the latte is thin and weak (as is typical of espresso based drinks in Japan). The best thing about this branch is the stunning location and great atmosphere, I can be both cozy and productive. It’s also one of the only good coffee shops that open early at 7 AM, so that’s an added bonus. I’d only get items that contain more concentrated coffee.

Quick service and great coffee. Offer pastries and cookies also that were delicious. Bags of beans also available. In the lobby of Ace hotel, plenty of seating space and although we went early in the morning, it was not too busy.

Great coffeeshop in the lobby of the hotel we used whilst in Kyoto (the Ace). Coffees and soft serve all really good!