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Speakeasies are well suited to Kyoto given the city’s penchant for keeping things low-key. To find Bee’s Knees, you’ll need to track down a bright yellow door in the lively Kiyamachi nightlife district that says “The Book Store.” Beyond that entrance, the bar embraces the spirit of 1920s New York through its vintage furnishings and whimsical artisanal cocktails. Try the Prohibition Mule, a delicate mix of herb-infused vodka and dashes of absinthe, or the Not Godfather, based on Templeton rye whisky infused with apple and cinnamon—it’s even served with a miniature Capone-style hat. The menu also borrows heavily on local botanicals and ingredients. A fan favorite is the Wa Smash, a light yet zesty concoction featuring Kyoto’s very own Ki no Bi gin, lemon, mirin syrup, and sparkling sake with fresh shiso leaves. The preparation of each drink is also a visual spectacle thanks to the skills of award-winning flair bartenders Toru Ariyoshi and Tatsunari Namatame. —Bryan Eastlake
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bees.knees.kyoto/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="broken_link">instagram.com/bees.knees.kyoto/</a> 
+81 75 585 5595 
<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/Vh4qsAB4P8UXhRRn8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">364 Kamiyacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan</a>

Cocktails at Bee’s Knees are a visual spectacle.

Bee’s Knees

Kyoto Nightlife

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