Ace Hotel Kyoto

The Ace Hotel Kyoto is a Kengo Kuma project opened in 2020 ideal for digital nomads seeking a trendy home base.

• The property's lively, communal vibe, centered around the lobby workspace (and Stumptown Coffee shop) and Mexican and Italian restaurants
• The Tatami Suite, which offers traditional tatami beds
• The hotel's pop-up event programming, which can range from live music performances or art exhibitions to a temporary installation of René Redzepi's celebrated Copenhagen restaurant Noma

Just a ten-minute train ride or fifteen-minute drive from Kyoto station, situated halfway between Nijo Castle and the Gion district, the Ace Hotel Kyoto opened in 2020 within a partially new, partially historic building (the former Kyoto Central Telephone Office) that was designed by famed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and the L.A.-based studio Commune Design. The property is the first in Asia for the Ace brand, which is known for catering to a younger, digitally-savvy, trendier demographic (especially remote workers and "digital nomads"), with more relaxed service.

The hotel has a contemporary aesthetic with a neutral, masculine color palette. Rooms emphasize greys, browns and blues, while common spaces have a slightly more industrial look, with playful touches of warmth like painted ceramic vases, leafy plants, neon art and lighting and pops of ochre and pink. Accommodations in the historic building tend to be more airy and spacious.

The 213 guest rooms and suites are simple, with modern furnishings that nod to traditional Japanese design, and fun touches like vinyl record players (with Japanese pop albums), acoustic guitars, rice paper lanterns and smart TVs. Bathrooms are bright with Japanese pine, and they are functionally laid out, with black tile showers and soaking tubs. Products are sourced from the Tokyo-based brand Uka.

The food and beverage programming at the Ace Hotel Kyoto is a highlight. There is the brass-ceilinged Piopiko, a Mexican-inspired restaurant and bar with fresh cocktails (and wine, beer and sake) and small bites like tacos, and a main rooftop Italian-American restaurant, Mr. Maurice's, serving pasta and pizza. There is also a sprawling indoor-outdoor lounge with a DJ. Breakfast and afternoon tea are served in the main dining room—and there is also a new farm-to-table restaurant, Kōsa, by chef Katy Cole (of Tokyo's Locale).

In the lobby, there is a Stumptown Coffee shop—the brand's first location in Japan—and a co-working space with library-style communal desks that is popular with locals and guests alike. Here, there is also a small gallery space that hosts rotating exhibitions spotlighting local creatives and other events like a vinyl record market or live music performances.

The property opens out into a courtyard garden and outdoor shopping complex where travelers can browse an array of stylish international/American and Japanese brands, from Café Kitsuné to a shop serving hand-crafted bean-paste ice cream.

Additional on-property amenities include a 24/7 fitness center and event spaces, which can be reserved for professional events—or sometimes host exclusive experiences, like the Ace Hotel Kyoto x Noma Copenhagen restaurant pop-up.

René Redzepi will bring back his sold-out Noma pop-up, from October 8 to December 18, 2024. And when you book the Ace’s Noma package, you’re guaranteed a table for two. Reservations open on May 14 at 4:00 a.m. PDT—or 7:00 a.m. EST. Sign up for more details here.

Business travelers, solo travelers, friends, couples or laid-back families looking for a hip, younger-leaning and convenient home base with some fun food and beverage outlets, basic amenities and simple but comfortable rooms. Pets are allowed for a fee.

Travelers seeking more traditional, sophisticated, full-service, five-star accommodations in Kyoto.