cenci

Kyoto / Italian Cuisine 1 Star3 toques

An innovative Italian restaurant which truly values its ingredients, and was the first restaurant in Kyoto to be included in ASIA'S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS.

  • Gourmet guide-listed
  • children 13up
  • Counter Seat
  • Private Room
  • Solo Booking
  • Lunch

“Ingredients” are the most important thing in the cuisine at cenci.

By adding a personal touch to premium ingredients sourced from local producers, bringing out their best qualities and serving them to guests, the restaurant believes that it is its mission and role to raise the standard of innovative Italian-based cuisine in Kyoto.

Owner and Head Chef Ken Sakamoto states, “I was raised within a culture of ‘dashi’ and surrounded by vegetable fields. So even when seasonal Kyoto vegetables are unavailable, I can work with local farmers to produce the type of vegetables I need and by refining these through the culinary ideas I have within myself, I can express my identity to its fullest extent.”

The cuisine at cenci breaks down traditional Italian cuisine and reconstructs it together with Kyoto’s identity which is added through ingredients and cooking methods. The reason each dish is created, the reason why it’s delicious, and the reason why such food combinations are put together all lie in the fundamental act of “thinking” at cenci.

Chef Sakamoto’s cuisine has garnered high praise and in 2022 was ranked 43rd in the Asian version of “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants,” also known as “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants”. It further leapt up to 20th place in the 2023 edition. cenci has also been awarded a Michelin star consecutively, and continues to enchant guests who always return to experience its cuisine multiple times.

While it is housed in a nearly 100 years-old traditional Japanese-style building, the interior of the restaurant offers an aesthetic which is completely different from its exterior appearance, in which all the bricks were meticulously placed by hand. The team of staff work together to create a charming and warm atmosphere which welcomes all those who visit.

The chef highly recommends savoring cenci’s cuisine together with drink pairings.
Both alcohol pairings and tea pairings are available to be selected and this helps guests of all inclinations to enjoy cenci to the fullest.

Address 〒606-8323 44-7 Shogoin Entomicho, Sakyoku, Kyoto
Business hours From 12:00 (Last entry time at 12:00 and closes at 15:00)
From 18:00 (Last entry time at 18:30 and closes at 21:30)
Closed Mondays
Irregularly on Tuesday and Sunday
Directions 12 minute walk from Jingu-Marutamachi Station.
15 minute walk from Higashiyama Station.

Take the 206 City Bus from Kyoto Station to "Kitaoji Bus Terminal Via Takano".
Get off the bus at ""Kumano Jinja-mae"" and walk 7 minutes.
Price 【Lunch】
・¥21,780 Lunch Course
・¥12,100 Lunch Course (Only available on weekdays)

【Dinner】
・¥21,780 Omakase Course

※ Please note that one of the pairing options below must be selected in addition to the Lunch or Dinner course

【Pairing】
・¥14,520 Alcohol Pairing
・¥9,680 Tea Pairing
Service Charge 10%
Seating 4 Counter seats
2 Tables for 6 guests each, 1 table for 4 guests
Private Room (Cannot be requested. For 4 to 6 guests)
Smoking Prohibited
Children Children 13 years and older who can order a course are welcome.
Wi-Fi None
Language English
Parking None
Dresscode Smart Casual required.
Short pants, sandals and sportswear etc are not allowed.
Wearing of perfume and cologne is not allowed.
Payment method 【Advance payment for online reservation】
PayPal or Credit Card
【Payment for additional orders at the restaurant】
Cash or Credit Card
Cancellation Policy ※ All changes to the reservation are required to be made by 15:00 JST of 3 days before the reservation date.
※ Requests to change or cancel a reservation made after the specified days above will not be eligible for any refund and requests to change the reservation to an alternative date/time will not be accommodated.
※ Your reservation will be cancelled if you are more than 15 minutes late and no refund will be available to be made.

〒606-8323 44-7 Shogoin Entomicho, Sakyoku, Kyoto

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