Kyoto book cafe serves up cute cat parfaits in traditional Japanese 'machiya' townhouse

Now you can enjoy all the delights of a cat-shaped dessert while immersed in the traditional culture of Kyoto.

Machiya, traditional wooden townhouses, dot the landscape in the historical city of Kyoto, creating a distinct atmosphere and extending the spirit of old Japan for all who step inside. While a large number of machiya have been transformed into shops and coffee houses, there’s one cafe that stands out from the rest with a very unusual menu item: the cat parfait.

Called “Kotoba no Haoto”, which translates to “The Buzz of Words”, the cafe is home to a large collection of books which customers can flick through while dining. There’s also a cute cat on the noren curtain at the front door to welcome visitors. Inside, customers sit at low tables on tatami mat floors, surrounded by dark wood interiors.

While the traditional 150-year-old townhouse is beautiful in itself, what really draws the crowds is the chance to try one of their cat parfaits, which are available from 1 p.m. and limited to only 15 servings a day. The cat designs change regularly so you never know what type of kitten you might meet.

Their latest cute cat comes with chocolate cake and strawberries and retails for 1,200 yen. While the adorably chubby cat makes for a beautiful centrepiece, sometimes the desserts feature more than one kitten.

During the holiday season, they bring out some special themed designs. The fruits used in the desserts change according to the season, making for some beautifully coloured displays.

The hardest thing, though, is having to eat the face as it looks up at you with those soulful pussy cat eyes. We never knew ice cream could fill us with such emotion.

The desserts are so popular they often sell out shortly after going on sale, so if you’d like to try one of these beauties in person be sure to get there before 1 p.m.

Cafe Information Kotoba no Haoto/ことばのはおと Address: Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Kamigyo-ku, Aburanokojidori Shimochojamachi Sagaru Daikokuya-cho 34 京都府京都市上京区油小路通下長者町下ル大黒屋町34 Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays)

Source: Iroiro

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