To Shijo Karasuma

The latest addition to the celebrated modern Japanese izakaya, To, has transformed an otherwise unremarkable ground floor of a multitenant building near Kyoto Kawaramachi Station into a dazzling venue. With soft globe pendant lights, a massive wooden bar counter, and a seductive ambiance, it’s a stylish destination. To Shijo Karasuma, which opened in 2024, might be a newcomer, but it plays the game like a veteran. The food menu is stacked with sharing plates of quintessential Japanese bar snacks, but with subtle creative updates that keep the degustation experience fresh and exciting. The kitchen delivers favorites winter-staple oden and beef cheek stew. A standout appetizer, potato salad made with sake lees and beef cheek, makes a return. If diners settle in for dinner, the menu broadens to Japanese flavors and contemporary items. There is salmon carpaccio and a Caesar salad tossed with prosciutto, but traditionalists can also enjoy comforts like clay pot rice mixed with butter and soy sauce and topped with green laver. If they can’t finish the hefty dish, staff will mold it into rice balls to take home. As with any exemplary izakaya, the drink list is not forgotten. Refreshing lemon sours, garnished with a half-cut lemon individually branded with the restaurant’s logo, are a hit, but the bartender also crafts non-alcoholic cocktails. In the evening, To Shijo Karasuma welcomes groups of up to 20. It’s the perfect spot for a night out or a laid-back date where every angle, including the beautifully decorated food, is picture-perfect.