Hyotei

Hyotei sits at the edge of Nanzenji Temple grounds in Kyoto, a teahouse-turned-restaurant with a history stretching back more than 400 years. The main building's tea rooms, some dating to the restaurant's founding, host kaiseki service across lunch and dinner, while a separate annex offers a more relaxed table-and-chair setting for the restaurant's noted morning rice porridge and boxed lunches.

The kitchen holds three Michelin stars and is listed in the Michelin Guide. Dinner kaiseki runs from ¥37,650 per person, tax and service included; lunch service is also available, though pricing for that seating should be confirmed directly with the restaurant. Private rooms are part of the main building's design, with each tea room offering its own layout and atmosphere.

Service windows are split into a morning slot, a midday lunch period, and an evening dinner seating, running most days of the week. Reservations require at least two guests per booking. Seasonal specialties, including a summer morning porridge and a winter quail porridge, run for limited windows during the year and are worth asking about when booking.

Reservations can be made by phone or through the Pocket Concierge and TableCheck platforms, with separate booking links for the main building and the annex. Given the restaurant's reputation and limited seating in individual tea rooms, booking ahead is advisable, particularly for dinner.