Such a great place to hang out with friends and make new ones! Masako is such an amazing owner and she speaks English (from what I could tell, she is fluent) - if that is one of your concerns! She has created such a friendly and welcoming atmosphere at Cafe Istanbul! The drinks, food, and hookah (shisha) are all fantastic! I’ve never had a bad experience here; only unforgettable memories with new and old friends! My recommendations: Kebab, hummus plate, their Turkish beer, and blueberry & mint mixed hookah!

Worth my hour-long journey to get there! The bar feels so homey and welcoming. The chicken kebab is *fantastic*, and the winter ale(s) I had matched it perfectly. The owner really knows what she’s doing! If I lived a little closer, this would be my local bar! Go give it a try ☺️🤗

There is so nice,veryy funny and cafe owner she is wonderful a japanese people :))

The kebab and hummus I had was amazing! The Shisha flavors were great too! Close to Gion-Shijo, so it is easy to just pop in and chill for a bit. They are super friendly there and that is why I like to come here.

We had a great night at this restaurant. Delicious, homemade Turkish food and a great selection in the bar, too. The owner took time with us to explain all of the options and was attentive to our needs. Highly recommended!

If you're looking for a great Shisha experience, you've found it. At Masako San's Cafe Istanbul, you'll fit right in. Don't speak Japanese? No problem! Istanbul is the ngliah friendly! Don't smoke Shisha? No worries! Stop buy for the community and delicious drinks! After a long day of touring historic Kyoto, this is the perfect way to end the day.

Lovely little shisha place with a great atmosphere! The owner Masako is very friendly and helpful too. Definitely worth a visit when you're in the area!

Cafe Istanbul is a Kyoto gem. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy quality sheesha (hookah) that serves great food and Turkish/Japanese brews, look no further. The vibes here are great, and exactly what my friend and I were searching for when we visited. The owner, Masako, has created an authentic atmosphere of an old traditional Turkish cafe that blends into a “divey” neighborhood bar, and all this right in the midst of the busy and beautiful Kyoto. For someone who has traversed the earth and even lived in Middle Eastern countries for a time, Cafe Istanbul captures the essence of what a hookah cafe should be...chill vibes, a place to hang with friends and quality hookah. The owner is really sweet, and during the time we visited, handled the cafe all by herself with finesse and the professionalism and customer experience you’d expect from any Japanese establishment. Don’t miss the opportunity to spend an evening here!

As someone from Istanbul, I recommend Cafe Istanbul!