Kappou Toukichi
1-594 Sanjo Oji
Kappou's focus is Kaiseki Ryori, or traditional multi-course Japanese cuisine. The speciality of the house is a 14-course set costing 10,500 yen (HK$700), which includes fresh crab in most dishes. The crustacean plays two parts at Kappou: as a moving ornament in the restaurant's water feature and as main ingredient. For those on leaner diets and budgets, a steak course with 10 smaller dishes (4,200 yen) is also available. All diners are served shiso-leaf tea, which packs one of the most distinctive flavours in the herb world. Presentation is second to none at Kappou, with many of the dishes served in decorative bamboo trunks (right) or adorned with Japanese fans. After all, Kaiseki Ryori has as much to do with aesthetics as taste.
Aoyama
1-10-28 Sanjo Oji
Aoyama is a retro-style coffee shop, or Kissa-ten, serving mainly coffee, cakes and simple western food until midnight. The decor is Las Vegas kitsch, with faux Roman pillars, stained-glass panelling and flashing neon lighting complemented by red pub carpet. Aoyama's local clientele returns for its seasonal ingredients and the likes of its green tea sponge cake with azuki bean topping (472 yen) and slow-dripped cups of coffee (525 yen). As with most Nara establishments, Aoyama uses local produce to excellent effect.