Flow by Nozy Coffee, Kyoto

One of Tokyo’s most established coffee shops specialising in single-origin coffee, Nozy has opened an offshoot in Kyoto, and it is a beautiful one. Flow by Nozy Coffee is set in an elegant, meticulously restored traditional Kyoto townhouse located between the cherry blossom tree-lined Takase River and the famous Kamo River, with an outdoor terrace overlooking the latter.

Unlike many Kyoto coffee shops that close by 5pm, Flow by Nozy Coffee opens early at 8am and stays open until 9pm (or 8pm from December to February). The menu is also designed to take you from morning to night: classic espresso drinks like americano and latte as well as single-origin drip coffee during the day, followed by low-ABV, easy-drinking coffee cocktails and craft beer in the evening. Coffee lovers can also opt for a tasting flight to compare different single-origin beans and extraction methods.

The ground floor offers standing tables and a counter where you can watch the baristas at work. Upstairs, the space centres around a large communal table and features soothing Japanese aesthetics. Picture windows on both floors not only let in plenty of natural light but also look out over the riverside landscape and the area’s sakura trees.