Visit Kyoto’s Shosei Café and enjoy a relaxing afternoon.

Photos & Text /Kavanagh

CAFE KOCSI (カフェ コチ) is situated near Kyoto City Hall. The area from the Hall to Sanjō-dōri is Kyoto’s prime café and restaurant district—so densely packed that there’s seemingly a restaurant every three steps and a café every five. Several renowned cafés and dessert shops are located here, including previously introduced spots like “Fire Lotus,” “Matsunosuke Honpo,” “Tsukigepō Machikanetomonai,” “Shinono Wakuden Machikanetomonai,” “INODA COFFEE,” and “Smart Coffee.” It’s truly one of Kyoto’s top café districts. But based on my personal experience visiting so many cafés, CAFE KOCSI stands out among Kyoto’s coffee shops in terms of interior design, comfort, and ambiance—it’s truly memorable and makes you want to come back again and again.

CAFE KOCSI is located on the second floor of a building tucked away in a back alley near City Hall. The shopfront isn’t particularly eye-catching, but once you climb the stairs and push open the door, you’ll enter a whimsical and intriguing space.

Upon entering, you’ll see a long counter on the left, with the cashier station at the very front. CAFE KOCSI primarily uses wood as the key material for furniture and décor.

The glass display case on the counter is filled with freshly baked bread, each loaf looking absolutely delicious.

Opposite the counter, on the right side as you enter, is a seating area surrounded by books.

The number of books is astonishing—I think this might be the café in Kyoto with the most books I’ve ever seen.

On the window side of this area is a long table stacked with paperbacks, creating a fantastic reading nook. Sitting by the window with a coffee and your favorite book for the afternoon... just imagining it is enticing.

The café is full of people reading—such a relaxed and comfortable vibe.

There are many quirky decorations scattered around. Though there’s a lot of stuff, it’s not cluttered—each item is placed perfectly to show off its charm.

On the other side of the counter.

The café’s space is cleverly divided into different seating areas using potted plants and bookshelves, allowing you to enjoy the atmosphere while maintaining a bit of privacy.

Each set of tables and chairs has a unique design and shape—no two are alike. For example, the chairs in the front of the photo above are rocking chairs (be careful not to tip over when sitting!).

Old appliances and glass bottles, thoughtfully arranged, also become unique decorative pieces.

Chairs not in use are hung on wall hooks, instantly transforming into creatively designed ornaments.

Time to eat—the menu itself has plenty of options. In addition to curry, there are many main dishes whose contents are not immediately obvious. This time, we decided to try something different, so each of us ordered dishes we weren’t entirely sure about.

This is what I ordered: homemade pâté (850円?). Pâté comes from the French word pâté, a meat pie made by grinding meat or fish and mixing it with various spices, herbs, and fats, usually spread on bread (like foie gras pâté, a famous type). CAFE KOCSI’s homemade pâté comes with lettuce and bread. Spread the pâté on the bread—its texture is similar to foie gras pâté, though a bit firmer, and the flavor is milder. It was quite tasty.

Today’s quiche (French savory tart), served with bread and salad (700円?). My friend said it was pretty good.

Salad with bread (800円?). A generous portion—the vegetables are topped with lots of diced fried toast and ham.

Today’s soup (780円?), served with bread and salad. The soup is a clear broth with finely chopped seasonal vegetables. It has a refreshing taste and is quite flavorful.

My friend also ordered jam toast (with jam and butter) (350円?).

Also ordered: iced coffee (around 450円?).

Summary: The French dishes are quite unique, though I found them a bit hard to get used to. Next time, I think I’ll just stick to the curry rice... but the soup and bread were really delicious. Everything else—the décor, atmosphere, and service—was wonderful. Strongly recommended.

[CAFE KOCSI]
Business Hours: 12:00–22:30.
Closed: Every Thursday and the third Wednesday of each month.
Access: Take the Kyoto City Bus to “Kyoto City Hall Mae” stop and walk 3 minutes.
Address: 2F, Kiiro P Building, 123 Fukuchō-chō, Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto

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