This stylish Italian-style bar in Marutamachi, "mati," is the first store of its kind. Their specialty is the Duck 100% Pate Camo Burger, which is light and easy to eat. I was impressed by the delicious bread I had at mati, and here you can also enjoy mati's focaccia, which is lucky. The young corn fritters are also delicious.

IL LAGO in the Gion Sanjo area of Kyoto is a small and stylish Italian bar where you can enjoy hamburgers during the day and wine, meat, cheese, and more at night. I visited for lunch on a Saturday and was able to get a table without a reservation, perhaps due to the rainy weather. The cozy atmosphere made me feel like having a drink even in the afternoon (laughs). On weekends, they offer only two types of burgers: a 100% duck meat burger for 1,200 yen and a coarsely ground burger for 1,000 yen. I added cheddar cheese for 200 yen and jalapenos for 100 yen as recommended toppings. They also had lunch beer, but I opted for a small size of Kyoto Brewing's black beer for 700 yen. It was served in a wine glass and was quite satisfying. The amount of fries was small but crispy and delicious! The burger was juicy, and you wouldn't even know it was made of duck meat unless told. The cheese was excellent, and the spiciness of the jalapenos added a nice kick. I'm looking forward to coming back at night next time. Thank you for the meal ♩

Kyoto City Hall Station "IL LAGO" is an Italian-based bar where you can enjoy craft beer and natural wine in a casual atmosphere. They also offer a standing counter for quick drinks. For lunch, they have a "Duck Burger" available. On this day, I enjoyed small plates of appetizers such as "Chicetti Assortment," "Red Clam with Salt Lemon Marinade," and "Duck Hamburger" at a table in the back with some wine. The "Duck Hamburger" was flavorful with a good balance of meatiness and fat, without being too heavy. The wine I had was the "Own Vineyard Red 2021" from HITOMI WINERY (Shiga Prefecture). It was a delicious meal.

Roughly ground beef burger for 1,000 yen with cheddar cheese topping for 200 yen. This restaurant is only open for lunch from 12:00 to 14:00 (closed at night). Fries are included, but drinks are separate. I was torn between the duck and beef, but ended up choosing beef. Wow! The meaty flavor is just perfect for me. It's definitely all about the "meat", but when you bite into it, the juices come rushing out from the side, catching you off guard. The bun is crispy while the meat inside is juicy. If you only know chain restaurants, you're missing out! You must visit this place. If I had to compare, it's completely different from McDonald's burgers...I was worried it might be small, but even for big eaters, it fills you up nicely. The fries are shaped like McDonald's, not like Mos Burger. (I'm not from Kansai.) I've been feeling weird about McDonald's ketchup lately. The ketchup here is Heinz. McDonald's fries tend to get soggy after a while, but here they stayed pretty crispy. I wonder what the difference is...Of course, the atmosphere of the restaurant is also lovely. The tables are a bit high, so it might be a bit of a stretch for kids...One more thing. It might depend on where you sit, but the signal...

All the dishes were delicious and looked great in photos, so I was very satisfied. Be careful not to drink too much because it goes well with wine. The staff's service was good, they recommended great wines and dishes. I would like to go again! Thank you very much.

I visited this place as my second stop, so I didn't eat too much, but they offer natural wines featured in the VIN notebook. Of course, they also have other drinks available! The friendly service from the nice staff makes it a comfortable place to be, and they explain the wines well. You can enjoy delicious food without any pretense. The atmosphere is lively, like a Spanish bar, but it's quite popular so it's better to make a reservation. I recommend trying a bottle of wine, along with the penne with gorgonzola and tempura of spring vegetables - I was very satisfied. It would be nice if you could just walk in and enjoy, but good places like this always require some planning. I definitely want to come back again!

On the day of the Vernal Equinox, after visiting the grave at Honno-ji Temple, I stumbled upon a shop that was still open at 4 p.m. and was amazed by the great value it offered. I enjoyed delicious items such as Kyoto Brewing Beer Rokuyuki, tapenade, country-style pate with pork and green peppers, and slightly fermented red wine Lambrusco at a very impressive price. The standing counter was a nice touch, making it easy for solo diners to feel comfortable.

I visited the restaurant because I heard they serve dishes made with burrata cheese and fruits. The interior lighting was bright and the staff were all very friendly, which left a good impression on me. I tried a few drinks, but the most recommended one was a white wine called Malvasia. It had an orange color and a very fruity and fresh flavor. As for the food, everything was delicious, especially the burrata cheese and peach caprese, fig and prosciutto (forgot the rest), anchovy egg, and 100% duck meat hamburger. I look forward to exploring more of Kyoto and discovering more great restaurants. Thank you for reading!

- What I liked: The prices are reasonable - Points to note: Food orders must be placed by 6:00 PM - No parking available - No specific rules A bar in Sanjo, Kyoto, where you can enjoy standing and have light dishes. It's a casual place where you can easily walk in and have a drink. I arrived shortly after the opening and was the first customer, so I sat at the corner of the counter. Food is available from 6:00 PM onwards. However, small dishes are served quickly, so you can enjoy your drinks and small dishes while you wait. I had Kyoto Brewery's black beer, "Awakening from Hibernation," and a red sparkling wine, which was a bit unusual. Both were around 200 yen each, very affordable. At 6:00 PM, I ordered more food - pate, which had a rich meat flavor without any unpleasant smell. It went well with strong drinks. I also had harami skewers, which had a good meaty flavor and a satisfying texture. The drinks and food were delicious and cheap. I left the place feeling satisfied.

Today, I had plans to go out for drinks with friends in Kawaramachi. I had about 45 minutes to spare before the start time, so I decided to visit a Italian restaurant that I sometimes frequent. ■ IL LAGO This restaurant offers authentic Italian cuisine, but only orders at the counter for small dishes called "chicchetti" are available. They are popular and affordable starting at 100 yen, making it suitable for a quick drink like today. For my drink, I ordered soda water. ● Moroko Tempura The Moroko tempura was fluffy and crispy. ● Anchovy Egg This is a must-order for me whenever I visit IL LAGO. I love the creamy egg with the perfect saltiness of the anchovy. I quickly finished the chicchetti. ● Pistachio Gelato By the way, my friend chose this dessert to finish off the meal. Even though we only stayed for 30 minutes, we had a fun time. The standing counter in a "ko" shape allows for casual conversations with regulars and staff, making it a friendly place to enjoy drinks.

Today, I went to an Italian bar that I often visit with my gym friends. ■ IL LAGO Located near Kyoto City Hall Station, IL LAGO is an Italian restaurant where you can enjoy standing and eating. The popular menu item is "chicchetti," small dishes that allow you to try a variety of different foods. It is one of the restaurants I have visited the most this year, despite usually not going to the same place twice. I started with a San Pellegrino sparkling water, while my friend had white wine. The chicchetti are displayed in a showcase, with each dish ranging from 100 to 200 yen, making it easy to order and try a variety of dishes. I indulged in the following chicchetti: - Persimmon and prosciutto with gorgonzola sauce - Tapenade with bread - Anchovy and egg - Mini country-style pate - Fried anchovy shrimp and colorful vegetables frittata - White fish fritters - Boiled whitebait in Genovese style - Grissini The frittata and Genovese dishes were colorful and full of vegetables, perfect as appetizers. The combination of persimmon and prosciutto was uniquely delicious, and each dish was enjoyable on its own. The tapenade with black olives paired well with wine. I also tried the popular menu item: - Coarse-ground duck hamburger The duck hamburger was juicy and flavorful, with a great texture. It was a satisfying dish. I also ordered an additional serving of anchovy and egg, another popular dish at IL LAGO. To end the meal, my friend had cider. It was another enjoyable day spent at IL LAGO. I recommend the counter seats for a small group, as you can easily interact with the staff.

I visited the restaurant right at 12:00 on Sunday when it opened. There were no other customers yet. I ordered the weekend lunch limited burger menu "Duck Burger" for 1200 yen (tax included). Since it was my first time, I opted for no toppings. The taste of duck was distinct and delicious. If I hadn't been told it was duck, I would have wondered what kind of tasty meat it was. Drizzling olive oil on it made it even more delicious. I freely poured it on, enjoying the flavor. Personally, I felt that the mayonnaise wasn't really necessary. The strong junkiness of the mayonnaise seemed to overpower the taste of the duck and olive oil. There was ketchup and mustard on the table, so maybe mayonnaise would go well with those who use them. It's just my personal preference, but I think next time I'll ask if I can have it without mayonnaise.

This time, I purchased takeout. The famous duck burger, which was becoming popular, unfortunately is now only available for lunch on weekends and holidays, according to rumors. It's very disappointing, but oh well. The fries were thinner and crispier compared to last time, which was an improvement. I gave it a higher rating for that. I hope this high-end burger restaurant originating from Kyoto will continue to do well.

I met up with a friend at Kyoto City Hall and went to my favorite bar, IL LAGO, for drinks. They serve burgers for lunch and Italian food for dinner. Since it was a holiday, they had shortened hours with last call at 6:00 PM, so we started drinking while it was still bright outside. I tried their "Winter" craft beer from Kyoto Brewing, a strong saison with 7.5% alcohol content. It had a fruity and crisp taste. We also ordered some small dishes called "cicchetti" which are like tapas in Italy. We tried the monkfish terrine and mortadella mousse, as well as soft shell crab fried in a crispy batter. The highlight was the fresh oysters from Hokkaido, which were creamy and rich in flavor. IL LAGO always has interesting menu items, and we had a great time drinking and eating there.

The cooking was great, and the interior and the service from the staff were also wonderful. However, I went before dinner time and there were a few menu items that were already sold out, which was a bit disappointing. I will definitely go again.

It was delicious! I especially enjoyed the seasonal fruit caprese, which lived up to its reputation. I would like to visit again! If I had to point out something, the overall saltiness was a bit strong and it was concerning that none of the staff were wearing masks.

Duck burger!! I was curious about this restaurant. They have standing tables as well as regular tables in the back. The duck burger looks meaty, but it's actually light and delicious! I want to go back to try other menu items as well.

Today's ticket was placed on a baguette, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was perfect for a second visit - a hidden gem with a cave-like space where you can enjoy delicious drinks! The highlight of the meal was the stewed venison! There are no photos, but I'm curious about the burgers too!!

• Coarsely ground duck meat burger • Piadina with prosciutto and mozzarella cheese ===========

I was looking for a rare duck 100% burger and ended up at this shop on a side street, completely ignoring the crowded line by the river. I had read about this place in some online article but couldn't remember where. The duck burger had a simple seasoning, but I asked for no mayonnaise and it was delicious with just salt and olive oil. The duck meat was juicy and the bun was tasty, with a crispy top. The staff was nice and even suggested adding more olive oil for a different flavor, but I was so engrossed in eating that I finished before I could add more. The interior was nice and I thought it would be a great place to visit at night for a cozy atmosphere. I definitely want to come back when I'm in Kyoto again. Despite the tough times, I hope this shop can continue to thrive.