The Best Hotels In Kyoto, According To Vogue Editors

In among the historic streets and traditional guest houses of central Kyoto, the Ace Hotel is a buzzing microcosm that combines innovative design with modern conveniences and a lust-worthy culinary offering. After a long train journey with two heavy suitcases, it was a relief to find that the hotel was located directly above Karasuma-Oike subway station, and as we waited for our room to be ready, my husband and I enjoyed an iced coffee from Stumptown Coffee Roasters, and observed the comings and going of the artsy digital nomads who populated the soaring open-plan lobby.

First opening its doors in 2020 (just as the global pandemic was breaking) on the Shin-Puh-Kan complex, which was once home to Kyoto’s Central Telephone Office, the sheer scale of the hotel is impressive, especially for Kyoto, boasting 213 rooms, three restaurants and a gym, all fronted by a spectacular brick and wood-beamed facade designed by Commune Design in partnership with acclaimed architect Kengo Kuma.

During our three-night stay we made our way around the hotel’s gastronomic offerings, sipping cocktails on the rooftop terrace that adjoins Mr. Maurice’s Italian, devouring tacos and margaritas at PIOPIKOs and sampling a mouth-watering eight-course menu at the top-floor restaurant, Kōsa. It is quite the international affair. And while the overall set-up has the sheen and efficiency you’d expect from a global boutique hotel chain, it’s the small details that gave it that personal touch, whether it’s the local map populated with the staff’s favourite eateries, the record collections in the room, or their hidden rooftop garden. The perfect base for exploring this historic city. – Joy Montgomery, British Vogue’s shopping editor

Amenities: Restaurants, fitness center, barEditor’s tip: For a chilled morning activity, rent out the hotel’s bikes, which are free of charge (they offer both regular and electric options) and enjoy pootle along the river.Address: 245-2, Aneyakojidori Higashinotoin-nishiiru, Kurumayacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8185, Japan

Photo: Courtesy of The Aman