Gion Roiro

Hiroyuki Koshimo, the chef and owner of this French restaurant in Gion, has accumulated some strong cooking credentials over the years. He started working in a top Osaka hotel at just 14 years old, and went on to have quite a successful stint competing in cooking competitions. In fact, he was a silver medalist in the Escoffier French Cooking Contest. His Kyoto establishment serves French food in an omakase style which is très Gion. This is the second of his Michelin starred restaurants (Michelin Guide 2020), the other being Koshimo Plus in Hyogo. There’s a feeling of total class inside the doors, with lighting used to achieve a subliminal calming effect, and a long black lacquer counter. The entire menu changes bimonthly, so it’s impossible to predict exactly what will be offered. However, you can always expect some excellent chargrilled meat followed by rice and noodle dishes. The manager also happens to be head of the Japan Sommelier Association’s Kyoto branch. He was given free rein by the chef when setting up the cellar at Gion Roiro, and ended up collecting 1000 bottles from California, Italy, France, Turkey, Greece, and several Eastern European countries. It’s hard to imagine anywhere else in Kyoto being able to match the sheer number and range of bottles on offer here. Michelin Stars: 2020 - 1 Michelin star 2021 - none