We had no expectations but saw great reviews & indeed this downstairs Bar is run by a super bartender / owner — lots of non whisky choices and he made my wife a very interesting drink with something called Tantakatan which was kinda like sake but is not sake - We were early birds and had a great time before dinner which Shaheed recommended to us a great teppenyaki place to us also called Hiros! Great person to meet and felt nice to be in a really relaxed casual and fun place. Cant wait to go back again!

Great bartender. Great place to feel like a local when you're visiting Kyoto. Tell Shaheed I said hello! The location is moving across the street, bit same great owner! Update 2022: the new location has been open for a while now. Amazing small area out back to view the river. Owner is better than ever :)

Great selection of drinks. Very cosy and friendly environment where many locals and tourists gather for a drink or two. The owner is very welcoming, friendly, fun, and really knows his drinks. Will be excited to visit Ki Bar next time I'm in Kyoto! A must visit for anyone!

Shaheed knows how to bring people from all over the world together and treat his patrons to a good time. The sake sampler he poured me was top notch and the location and tunes, too. Definitely recommend making a stop here if you're on the riverfront!

Awesome Bar with fabulous cocktails !! If you are in Kyoto, this is one place you gotta go - it’s got a vibrant feel, amazing cocktails, music and great conversation. Thanks Shaheed for making it such a lovely evening for us !! Cheers!!

The four star rating is for Shaheed’s talent for making great cocktails. Customer service was good. It would’ve been excellent if it was not for being ripped off for my birthday whiskey drinks. I ordered a shot of the hibiki harmony for 1000YEN and requested for another recommendation for comparison. He highly recommended the new dewars ‘Japanese smooth’ and mentioned the limited availability in local stores reflecting the charge of 2000YEN for the shot.

One of the coolest bars we have ever been to. Words can’t do it justice, you have to go here. Great music, a friendly clientele and a fantastic selection of high-quality drinks. What sets Ki Bar apart is the Canadian owner Shaheed, who sets the friendly vibe and makes sure that everyone that visits will have a great time. Shaheed is a really friendly and interesting person, and his bar is a wonderful manifestation of his unique personality. We met some great people and had a blast. Can’t wait to go back!

Nice little bar in downtown Kyoto. The staff makes this place great. We had an awesome bartender from New Zealand who was exceptionally friendly and great for conversation as we had a few drinks (sorry, forgot your name!). The bar is friendly to foreigners and you'll have no problem not knowing Japanese. The drinks were also great with generous pours and an overall wide selection of drink options. I would recommend the custom Chuhai's. The only downside is that like most Japanese bars, they do allow smoking in the bar but don't let this deter you!

10/10 bar. Owner is super nice and warm, and does a nice job of helping create a fun atmosphere in the bar by introducing different people to each other, which is always a good way to meet interesting people when traveling. Had a nice whiskey, gin, and shochu collection, and also had games like foosball and giant jenga. Definitely worth a trip if you’re in Kyoto.

Great bar in good location, cheaper than some in the area. Lovely Canadian owner. Can pay on international credit card. Good range of drink options with recommendations. Lots of rock music playing and the curry was superb. Would love to return!

Shahid (hope I spelled it right!) and his colleagues create an excellent atmosphere where anyone feels welcome. It feels like being at a friend’s home. Great drinks with a wide variety, and solid recommendations based on your preferences. The bar caters to a wide audience while still offering top notch Japanese service and hospitality. I would gladly recommend his bar if you’re looking for a fun time in Kyoto.

Incredible atmosphere, rock + alternative music played and more of a western vibe. Bartenders were so friendly and provided great service and the drinks were bomb. We had a wonderful time.

Nice atmosphere, great new cocktails based on your taste and friendly faces… Definitely helped us deal with our jet lag experience in Kyoto! Highly recommended✌️

Super cool bar in downtown Kyoto. Worth a visit! Plenty of games, great music and great food. The owner and servers are amazing! Highly recommend

Glorious place in Kyoto! Came here on a whim during our trip and we will be returning every time we visit! Shaheed is the warmest of hosts and I look forward to coming here again!

There wasn't much people when I came but the bartender was very nice and recommended great placed to meet Japanese people in Gion/Potoncho :)

Awesome bar with a great bartender! He makes the best Old Fashioned I’ve had in Japan. I’ll be coming back whenever I’m in Kyoto.

Amazing Kyoto Matcha beer here

My husband and I came here after a food tour when we were looking for a bar - and this one hit the spot. The owner is awesome and we had great conversation with him. Highly recommend this spot for drinks when staying in Kyoto.

Bartender insisted that the price of my Matcha beer was 1,200 YEN per bottle despite it being stated on the menu that it was 800 Yen (we ordered a few bottles for the four of us) and did not inform us about the incorrect price on the menu when we ordered. When we inquired, no reason was given, we were not able to get a itemized receipt, when we asked for one. We had no issues with the price, or any surcharge, but this was not the best service due to the lack of transparency.

Easily the best bar that i have ever been to. Excellent atmosphere, friendly crowd, great drinks, amazing prices, and most important- Shakheed is an amazing host with plenty of good cheer and deep knowledge about everything (whether it be local cultural spots, drinks, or simple ordinary everyday wisdom). Ki Bar is a must visit, if you are in Kyoto. Shakheed, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Next time I am in Kyoto-i will most certainly step by.

Great food and fun bartender. He's also great at recommending drinks.

By far the best bar in Kyoto. Especially for expats and foreigners.

Shaheed was an awesome host! We sat down for a drink & he immediately introduced us to another table of travelers, we spent HOURS talking and enjoying some drinks. Loved the environment. Thanks Shaheed!

Great bar - fun, relaxed and engaging. Very foreigner friendly and as a bonus the bartender speaks fluent English. I don't write reviews often but was inspired to after such a good experience!

Super fun to talk to the bartender and owner of the place! They screen fifa World Cup too!

The bartender was fantastic. Great atmosphere, great wingman! How can you go wrong. They were open past hours ;)

Owner is super friendly, very open space and great place to meet people. A little hidden away but always a welcoming environment :)

This is a great place to hangout a have a drink. We came in on a Monday at 7pm with the place getting ready to open. The bartender was incredibly nice and super friendly. Loved all his recs for drinks! Strongly suggest to stop by to have a few drinks here!

The bartenders are multilingual and very friendly. I found the bartenders very friendly. There are also wide varieties of drink available. The food is also very tasty. I enjoyed playing fuzzball and jumbo zinga there.

I loved the night I spent here. Just a few hours but it was an amazing experience with amazing new friends! Thank you Shaheed!

Great bar with an awesome staff! Very knowledgeable and great recommendations on drinks/alcohol. Highly recommend giving them a visit or two! They are only missing green chartreuse.

Great place to take friends and make new ones. The owner is a very nice guy. I do recommend start your night if you are around sanjo.

A great place for a weary traveler to feel nothing but welcomed. You never know who you might meet there. Interesting people from all over the world and I am happy to say I left Japan with new friends that I can't wait to see again. Shaheed is a fantastic host and has a way of bringing people together. If he likes you enough, he may just buy some milk so he can make you a delicious White Russian. Thank you for being a highlight of our trip to Kyoto and tell your grumpy French bartender I said hello! ❤️ 😂