Kyoto is famous for temples and history.
However, it is also a great city for sweets.
You can find a good Kyoto dessert cafe almost anywhere.
For example, you can enjoy matcha, chestnut desserts, and soft mochi.
Here are five popular dessert cafes in Kyoto.
Each one offers a different kind of sweet experience.
1. Waguri Senmonten Saori
Best Chestnut Dessert in Kyoto
This shop is the most famous chestnut dessert cafe in Kyoto.
They make Mont Blanc using fresh Japanese chestnuts.
The dessert is made right after you order, so it tastes very fresh.
The chestnut cream is soft, smooth, and not too sweet.
Many people wait in line, but the quality is very high.
If you visit only one Kyoto dessert cafe, choose this one.
Official Site: Waguri Senmonten Saori
2. Kisshokaryo Gion
Famous Warabi Mochi
This cafe is known for its soft warabi mochi.
The mochi is covered with kinako, which gives it a nutty taste.
The texture is very smooth and melts in your mouth.
You can also try matcha toppings and sweet parfaits.
The shop has a calm Kyoto style.
Therefore, it is a good place to relax.
Official Site: Kisshokaryo Gion
3. Oboroya Zuiundo
Thick Cream Dorayaki
This shop is famous for its large dorayaki with cream inside.
The pancake is thick and very soft.
The cream is light and not too sweet.
Therefore, you can eat it easily, even though it is big.
Many people line up for this dessert.
However, most visitors say it is worth the wait.
Official Site: Oboroya Zuiundo
4. Kissa Soirée
Colorful Jelly Desserts
Kissa Soirée is a retro-style cafe.
It is famous for its bright and colorful jelly drinks.
The rainbow jelly soda is the most popular item.
It looks beautiful and is great for photos.
The cafe has a quiet and old Kyoto feel.
Meanwhile, the desserts look modern and fun.
Official Site: Kissa Soirée
5. Gion Komori
Classic Kyoto Sweets
Gion Komori serves traditional Japanese desserts.
They are best known for matcha parfaits and anmitsu.
They use high-quality Uji matcha.
Therefore, the flavor is deep and rich.
The shop is in a traditional Kyoto house.
So, you can enjoy sweets in a calm, local setting.
Official Site: Gion Komori
Final Thoughts
Kyoto has many great dessert cafes.
However, these five are some of the most loved.
If you like chestnuts, try Saori.
If you like matcha, visit Gion Komori.
For photos, go to Kissa Soirée.
Each Kyoto dessert cafe offers a different taste and mood.
So, you can enjoy Kyoto through sweets, one bite at a time 🍡
FAQ
Kyoto has clean water and cool air, therefore tea leaves grow slowly and develop a deeper flavor than other regions.
It comes from Uji in Kyoto, and it uses young first-harvest leaves, so the taste is smooth and naturally sweet.
The tea plants grow under shade, therefore they keep more umami and less bitterness than normal green tea.
Farmers steam and dry tencha leaves, then grind them into fine powder, so the color stays bright and the flavor stays fresh.