Kyoto Nightlife

This sophisticated bar in Pontocho is ideal for Kyoto's long hot summers, thanks to its expansive outdoor platform that overlooks the Kamo River. Those lucky enough to nab a seat will rub shoulders with the city's young and beautiful, who gather to loosen their ties and let off steam over post-work cocktails.

Tucked away down a discreet backstreet, this sought-after cocktail bar occupies a 90-year-old machiya townhouse. Its chandelier-lit interiors are rich in atmosphere, with rocking chairs huddled around a roaring wood-burning fire. Behind a wooden bar, a team of excellent award-winning mixologists shake up fiery cocktails infused with Japanese ingredients.

For a true education in sake, Japan’s heady rice wine, take a seat along the counter of this tiny tucked-away bar. It certainly packs a punch with its impressive selection of sake bottles spanning fruity and floral, newly produced and dust-collecting vintage. The expert owner has personally curated his stock and is on hand to advise which brew to sample next.

One of Kyoto’s most long-standing, trendsetting nightspots, Club Metro draws creative types to its intimate underground music rooms found at the Jingu-Marutamachi metro station. Music aficionados can find their groove amid its eclectic music mix and schedule of international and local DJs. The venue also hosts the occasional film screening and visual arts performance.

This forever popular club is set in a cavernous space that’s ideal for dancing until the late hours. As its name suggests, World attracts big names from across the globe but also makes time for traditional geisha events and local acts. If you've come to Japan to party, this is definitely the place to be seen.

Kyoto’s principal venue for classical music and the home of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra occupies a futuristic new-build with thick concrete ceilings and light timber floors that create fantastic acoustics. The venue contains two halls, the larger playing host to the city’s most prestigious concerts with its shoebox styled auditorium, while the smaller is well-suited to chamber music.

Established in the late 1980s, this long-standing live jazz venue attracts both international and Japanese acts of various genres. Its small, intimate interiors fill up fast so be sure to snag a ticket early to avoid disappointment. Live sessions of acoustic, fusion, jazz and rock usually kick off earlier in the evening before winding down to mellow drinks later on.

For an authentic Japanese evening, join the city’s arty crowd at this avant-garde venue that offers long wooden bench seating, traditional izakaya food, live music and acts that pushes the boundaries of experimentation. Each act brings something new and often obscure, from improvisation to Latin groove, but can always count on the applause of an appreciative audience.