Rocking Chair

Hidden away so deep in Kyoto’s backstreets that taxi drivers flinch when they’re asked to drive there, Rocking Chair is a legendary little bar boasting lots of the titular furniture, an open fire and one of Japan’s top bartenders in owner Kenji Tsubokura. He makes vividly flavourful cocktails using Japanese ingredients, and his expert mixology was recognised at the Japan Bartending Competition last year.