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Kyoto · Japan · To eat

KOSA（コウサ）

Location & practical

The Steakhouse That Knows Its Farmers

  • Kyoto beef, growers first
  • Donabe rice with seasonal vegetables
  • Garden views above ShinPuhKan
  • €25–260 / person
  • Karasuma Oike / ShinPuhKan, Nakagyo Ward
  • Japanese, Contemporary japanese, and Californian

Kyoto's vegetables are worth getting excited about. At Kōsa, even the steak has to share the attention. Partner chef Katy Cole brought a Californian instinct for working directly with farmers to Ace Hotel Kyoto. Since 2026, the menu has leaned more firmly towards a modern Japanese steakhouse, pairing Kyoto's Kyō no Niku wagyu and Kobe beef with produce grown across the region.

On the hotel's third floor, the dining room looks onto a Japanese rooftop garden designed by Shunsaku Miyagi. Large windows, warm timber and an easy mix of textures make it quite different from a formal kaiseki counter. The wider ShinPuhKan complex brings together a former telephone exchange and a contemporary extension designed by Kengo Kuma; Los Angeles studio Commune Design shaped the hotel's interiors. It's a fine place for an unhurried lunch, especially if you like architecture with your appetite.

The dish I'd make room for is the donabe rice: Kyoto-grown grains cooked in a clay pot with whatever vegetables are in season. Then choose a steak, or one of the fish, duck or vegetable-led dishes. Sauces draw on Japanese flavours, including yuzu kosho and grated daikon. A lunch teishoku offers a straightforward introduction, while afternoon tea takes an unexpectedly savoury turn with rice, koji and produce from local farms. The Ippodo matcha cheesecake makes an appealing finish.

Kōsa is a spacious, sociable hotel restaurant, not a tiny chef's counter, and its mood is all the more relaxed for it. Come for the growers' produce as much as the beef, preferably with enough time to enjoy the garden view.

  • Urban setting Karasuma Oike / ShinPuhKan, Nakagyo Ward
  • Restaurant

Good to know.

Location
新風館 エースホテル京都, 3F, 245-2 Kurumayachō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8172, Japan
Open map & directions
Parking
Ace Hotel Kyoto does not have on-site parking. Public parking is available elsewhere in the neighbourhood; the hotel can advise drivers.
Getting around
At ShinPuhKan, directly connected to Karasuma Oike Station (Karasuma and Tozai subway lines). Kōsa is on the third floor of Ace Hotel Kyoto.
Arriving
Enter Ace Hotel Kyoto at 245-2 Kurumayacho in the ShinPuhKan complex and go to the third floor. Lunch 11:30–15:00 (last order 14:30); dinner 17:30–22:00 (last food order 21:00, drinks 21:30). Afternoon tea is offered during lunch hours. The restaurant website also lists breakfast; confirm whether non-residents can attend.
Accessibility
Kōsa is on the hotel’s third floor. Ask the restaurant to confirm the accessible lift route, toilets and seating arrangements if step-free access is essential.
Travelling with children
Children, including infants, and strollers are accepted according to the restaurant listing. Mention children and any seating needs when reserving.
Dietary options
Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten free

Worth knowing

  • Lunch is served daily from 11:30 to 15:00 (last order 14:30); dinner from 17:30 to 22:00 (last food order 21:00; drinks 21:30). The early evening teishoku is offered only during its advertised time window.
  • The restaurant also lists breakfast on its own site, but the hotel’s public dining page concentrates on lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Confirm breakfast arrangements for non-hotel guests.
  • A private dining room is available by arrangement and normally carries an additional room fee; inquire before booking. The restaurant also caters for groups.
  • Vegetarian dishes are a genuine part of the offering. Vegan and gluten-free requests are listed by the restaurant directory but should be confirmed with staff, especially when avoiding stock, dairy, nuts or cross-contact.
  • The restaurant asks to be informed about food allergies and dietary requirements in advance. Reservations cancelled on the same day can incur the full course charge, including for seat-only bookings.
  • Garden-facing seats are subject to availability. The Japanese rooftop garden is a view from the restaurant, not a promise of outdoor dining.
  • The wider ShinPuhKan/Ace Hotel site is the meeting of a historic telephone office and a newer building. Do not expect an old townhouse dining room or a traditional omakase service.

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