The second establishment of Weekenders Coffee opened in a cosy 100-year-old machiya, a traditional Kyoto-style house with a charming inner courtyard framing an old, tall tree. At first glance, it might seem that the roastery from Mototanaka, well-known to all Kyoto coffee enthusiasts, has simply relocated to a new location after closing in 2016. However, nothing here, including the equipment, resembles the previous establishment.

Even though this is primarily a roastery, and as a café it is only open on weekends, if you do find time to pay it a visit, your weekend will not be wasted. It’s not just the awe-inspiring Japanese interior design that makes this place special, but of course, the coffee itself, which boasts a perfect specialty taste. Many establishments in Kyoto and other cities in Japan use Weekenders Coffee beans, but perhaps only here can one truly feel the true perfection that owner-barista Masahiro Kaneko strives for when roasting the beans.