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Tucked away down an unassuming alley one block west of Sanjo Bridge, (and facing the side of a Catholic church,) a low-slung kura storehouse is home to this intimate and sophisticated inner-city bar. As your eyes adjust to the dimly lit interior of <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/veCXTdzdH7mzuy3a6">Bar Bunkyu</a>, you may notice its distinct lack of decor; charcoal-gray clay walls, a hanging scroll in a traditional tokonoma alcove, and a lone flower vase on the wall. These are the only accompaniments—save for an eclectic collection of rare Japanese whiskies and gins—to the beautifully worn cedar bar counter. The simplicity here is no accident. This unique space was designed to replicate a chashitsu, a traditional Japanese teahouse where patrons meditate while sipping green tea. However, any philosophizing at <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/veCXTdzdH7mzuy3a6">Bar Bunkyu</a> will be done over one of bartender Nao Sakauchi’s masterfully made cocktails, which are perfectly balanced and garnished with seasonal leaves. As there’s no regular menu, take your pick from the daily list of drinks or just ask for a recommendation. Nao’s encyclopedic knowledge of local liqueurs is simply astonishing; if you’re lucky, he may even offer some of his signature green tea whiskey. —Bryan Eastlake
+81 75 211 1982 
<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/veCXTdzdH7mzuy3a6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">534-25 Ebisucho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan</a>

Bar Bunkyu: Simply Unique