Cafe Bibliotec Hello!

Books line the walls of this cool cafe housed in a converted machiya (traditional Kyoto townhouse), attracting a mix of locals and travellers. Huge banana plants guard the entrance, and inside the atmosphere shifts between quiet reading nook and buzzy neighbourhood hangout depending on the hour. The coffee is solid, the light lunches are satisfying, and it's open until midnight — making it one of downtown Kyoto's best spots for a late-evening drink in a setting with character.