Dessert Cafe Chourakukan

Japan, 605-0071 Kyoto, Higashiyama Ward, Maruyamacho, 604
+81 75-561-0001
$$$ Cafe
(279 Reviews)
Price Range ¥1,000–3,000

Discover a slice of heaven at Dessert Cafe Chourakukan, nestled in the enchanting Higashiyama Ward of Kyoto, Japan. This cafe isn’t just a place to stop for a quick tea; it’s an exquisite experience poised to tantalize your taste buds and warm your heart.

Step inside and be greeted by a charming atmosphere that marries vintage elegance with contemporary comfort. The decor nods to the rich history of its location—an old Western hotel—while providing a cozy space to unwind and indulge. Whether you choose to sink into one of the plush sofas or enjoy a seat in the light-drenched main hall, each corner of the cafe emanates an inviting energy, making it perfect for special occasions, casual meet-ups, or introspective afternoons.

The menu at Dessert Cafe Chourakukan is a spellbinding selection of delights designed to please every palate. Picture yourself savoring the elegant Tea Millefeuille, featuring layers of rich custard cream encased in flaky pastry, paired with a scoop of complementary caramel ice cream. Priced at ¥2,280, this dessert is a triumphant celebration of flavor and texture that will surely evoke memories of your favorite childhood treats.

For those looking to delight in refreshing flavors, the Earl Grey and Fig dessert offers an intoxicating balance of tea-infused bliss and the sweetness of fig, served with a mini cup of coffee or tea. Alternatively, indulge in the Berry Pistachio creation—visually stunning and a harmonious blend of tart and sweet. Each dessert can be enjoyed as part of a set with your choice of tea or coffee, providing an ideal accompaniment to your sugar-laden adventure.

The experience is further elevated by the sophisticated Afternoon Tea, inviting guests to relish in the quintessential English tradition with a Japanese twist. Priced from ¥6,000 per person, this indulgence features delectable seasonal pastries and beautifully arranged scones, served alongside your choice of refreshing beverages. Note that this offering does require reservations, especially for those who wish to experience it in the charming ambiance of the main hall.

Customer feedback has consistently praised the cafe’s vibrant atmosphere and delightful offerings. One visitor, 'M G', emphasizes the comfort of walking in without a reservation for a casual visit—aside from the afternoon tea, which is a must-book for an elevated experience. Others, like 'beyondcompute', have raved about the quality of the mille feuille, declaring it among the best they’ve tasted. While some guests have found the savory options skewed towards seafood, it’s clear that the dessert menu reigns supreme and captures the heart of Chourakukan.

In this café, every detail is curated to amplify your culinary experience—a fact not lost on patrons who indulge in both the aesthetics and flavors. When looking for the perfect locale to treat yourself or a loved one, Dessert Cafe Chourakukan stands out as a premier destination for sweet indulgence in the heart of Kyoto. Book your visit today and prepare to be enchanted.

Service options
Serves dine-in
No delivery
Highlights
Has fireplace
Serves great coffee
Serves great dessert
Has great tea selection
Has live music
Has live performances
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves coffee
Quick bite
Serves wine
Dining options
Serves brunch
Serves lunch
Serves dessert
Has seating
Amenities
Has bar on site
Has toilet
Has Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Cosy
Romantic
Trendy
Crowd
Good for groups
Popular with tourists
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Accepts debit cards
Accepts NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking
Openings Hours
Checking

Monday

11:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Tuesday

11:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Wednesday

11:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Thursday

11:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Friday

11:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Saturday

11:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Sunday

11:00 AM - 6:30 PM

279 Reviews
M G

08 Oct 2025

Don't be afraid. You don't need reservation for this lovely cafe (except afternoon tea). You need to order one drink and cake per person.

Rachel Celestine

27 Sep 2025

Celebrated my besties birthday here and it was absolutely a lovely experience. The only reason I didn’t give it a 5 stars is due to some of the savory dishes. They were very seafood focus ( included a possibly steamed squid and some sort of fish egg dish). I was told by a Japanese friend that this catered more to a Japanese palette (which is totally understandable) and she absolutely loved these dishes. But overall the food and sweets were delicious, the various types of teas and drinks complimented the food very well, the staff were so kind, and the overall atmosphere and aesthetic were picture perfect.

beyondcompute

25 Sep 2025

This place is fancy, all right. I’ve been searching for good mille feuille (that would rekindle my childhood memories when this was my favorite cake) and everything I’ve been trying in many countries has been disappointing. However, Chourakukan finally delivers the amazing mille feuille that proves it can be one of the best cakes! I really like their Okura porcelain and they serve *real* first flush Darjeeling (not the over-strong English Breakfast-type stuff that many fancy-looking cafés call first flush Darjeeling). The atmosphere is exquisite (more European than Europe itself; given that Europe seemingly wants to forget its history and traditions). The service is diamond-standard, of course. Very attentive but also rather warm-hearted. There was a 30-minute wait to get inside (the café) without a reservation on a Sunday. An improvement I’d like to see is availability of “dietary restrictions” afternoon tea sets (vegetarian, pescatarian, maybe even vegan). It feels like the place can certainly afford some of those options (unlike the Pickwick café ). Also you need to have a minimum of two people for the afternoon tea experience. That’s a reasonable limitation that exists in many places. However I’ve been to places which I consider “fancy” and they allow afternoon tea sets for one. So there you have it!

Mariko

22 Sep 2025

Fanshy smanshy .. if ur feeling like imma treat myself or it's a special occasion I'd recommend this spot. You pay for the atmosphere and the service and the dessert is pretty good too but i don't think that's what you're actually paying for. Id check it out if you wanna splurge

zidanes senadiz

20 Sep 2025

Dessert Cafe situated in a old western hotel. As mentioned by some reviewers, best to make a reservation if you want to get a table in the main hall. I walked in, and they have seats available in a small room on the 2nd level. I ordered the set menu that was available, Beef Cheeks stew set which comes with a salad, Dessert and Coffee or Tea. Beef stew was nice and well cooked, but I feel the portions are abit small and nevertheless they are more known for their desserts then mains. The cakes that they have were very nice. Ambience was OK but it was hard to get a servers attention in the room we were seated in as the prioritiesed the main dining hall.

jumsimbab87

01 Sep 2025

Very cool building. Top notch service, but a bit pricey. Make sure to make a reservation for the better rooms with more decor. Walk ins are available, but the rooms didn't have as much of an ambiance. Very clean washrooms!

Jonathan Ben-Menachem

24 Jul 2025

Very tasty desserts, but I did not realize just how formal the atmosphere is in here. It feels like you’re eating at Versailles. I walked in wearing shorts and a t shirt, still wet from rain that day. Staff were very kind and accommodating, but being an underdressed gaijin made some other guests give us some nasty looks. No regrets though since there wasn’t much else open at 3pm in the temple district, and we were HUNGRY

ジエームス

24 Jul 2025

Beautiful architecture and elaborate desserts and drinks. Another draw is that it’s a quiet place so I recommend talking softly. You should come in nice attire! This place has atmosphere. The staff are professional. Dessert and tea for 2 is about ¥6,000.

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