アルボス
[September 2015] Located in a prime spot under the stone steps of Gion, Kyoto. Although it seems like a typical tourist cafe due to its location, it is a sophisticated cafe with attention to detail, such as high-end sound system playing classical music and a space design overlooking Yasaka Shrine and Nishi-Ote-mon Gate. Upon entering the second-floor interior after climbing the stairs, it was bustling with tourist groups, creating a lively atmosphere. As the number of customers decreased, the music resonated more, shifting to a more elegant atmosphere. Opening the menu book, you will find descriptions of high-quality ingredients for coffee, tea, sweets, alcoholic beverages, curries, and pastas, many of which are homemade. This time, I opted for the ■□ Whittard Darjeeling (tax included ¥650) with a tea warmer set pot and hourglass. The menu indicates the use of Whittard tea leaves from the UK, and you can see the tea leaves dancing. When poured into the cup, it had a rich aroma and the delicious taste typical of Darjeeling. In the back of the store, vertical speakers were installed, playing simple Baroque music created by bows and strings, adding an elegant touch to the moment. On the day of my visit, there was a lot of customer traffic, making it slightly less calm, but the friendly staff made the space comfortable and pleasant. Despite being a tourist cafe easy for tourists to visit, it exudes high quality in terms of excellent sound, a bright space overlooking Yasaka Shrine, a variety of menu options, etc. It is a genuine cafe where you can feel the high quality overall, creating a gentle atmosphere that does not discriminate against customer demographics or age groups.