Capella Kyoto is set to open on March 22, 2026, in Kyoto's Miyagawacho district — a historic geisha quarter nestled between the Kamo River and Kenninji, a Zen temple with over 800 years of history. Restaurant reservations opened on March 5, 2026, ahead of the hotel's launch.
The property features 89 guest rooms, including 29 suites (six of which include private hot spring baths), and offers four dining venues: two full-service restaurants, one night dining bar, and a pastry shop. The building was designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates as a low-rise structure that interprets traditional machiya townhouse architecture in a contemporary way.
SoNoMa by SingleThread (想乃間 by SingleThread)
The hotel's signature restaurant, SoNoMa by SingleThread, marks the first overseas location of SingleThread — a Michelin three-star restaurant and inn based in Sonoma, California, founded by Chef-Owner Kyle Connaughton and Head Farmer Katina Connaughton. SingleThread has been recognized as a "Miele One to Watch" by the World's 50 Best Restaurants, ranked 8th in the 2025 North America Best Restaurants list, and placed first on the La Liste World's Best Restaurants ranking.
SingleThread's philosophy has long been rooted in Japanese hospitality, the four seasons, and craftsmanship. If SingleThread in California was a restaurant inspired by Kyoto, SoNoMa by SingleThread is conceived as a Kyoto restaurant inspired by California. The omakase-style menu unfolds through conversation with chefs and staff, drawing on seasonal produce from the Kyoto and Kansai region alongside ingredients from California's Dry Creek Valley, giving voice to farmers, artisans, and producers from both regions.
Leading the kitchen is Chef Keita Tominaga, who grew up in a family running the Hana Japanese Restaurant in Sonoma, trained in Japan, worked under Ryohei Hayashi's Michelin-starred "Tenoshima," and subsequently joined the SingleThread team in Healdsburg before returning to Japan for this project.
The dining space takes inspiration from the intimate atmosphere of a traditional Kyoto ochaya (tea house), with a 12-seat counter overlooking an open kitchen and a 20-seat lounge bar.
SoNoMa by SingleThread Details:
- Seats: 12 counter / 20 lounge bar
- Menu: Omakase course from ¥45,000 (tax and service included)
- Hours: Dinner from 6:00 PM (last order: 8:00 PM)
- Closed: Sundays and Mondays
Lanterne (ランテーヌ)
Lanterne takes its name from the French word for "lamp," inspired by the paper lanterns of Miyagawacho. The French brasserie serves refined seasonal cuisine alongside a wine list of approximately 1,000 selections, and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — suitable for both casual visits and special occasions.
From inside the restaurant, guests can see an outdoor atrium designed by Kengo Kuma, featuring a contemporary reinterpretation of a karahafu-inspired silhouette drawn from the adjacent kabuki theater. The interior's feminine aesthetic pairs with this serene outdoor scene, blending Western sophistication with understated Japanese sensibility.
Lanterne Details:
- Seats: 90 / 1 private room (capacity: 8)
- Private room fee: Lunch ¥25,000 / Dinner ¥50,000
- Hours:
- Breakfast: 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM (last order: 10:00 AM)
- Lunch: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM (last order: 1:30 PM)
- Dinner: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (last order: 8:30 PM)
- Dinner service: Tuesdays and Wednesdays only
宵 (Yoi)
Themed around the transition from sunset into night, 宵 (Yoi) is a night dining venue built around a bar, with an itamae (Japanese chef) preparing omakase dishes at the counter, paired with carefully crafted drinks. The venue draws on the legacy of Sumiya — a historically significant gathering place that embodied Kyoto's social hospitality culture — reimagined for the present. City pop and 1980s music fill the space, and walk-ins are welcome.
The interior pays respect to the site's former life as an elementary school: pendant lights from the science room and flooring from the music room have been reclaimed and incorporated into the design, lending a refined sense of familiarity to the contemporary setting.
宵 (Yoi) Details:
- Seats: 46 / 10 counter seats
- Hours: 5:30 PM to 12:00 AM (last order: 11:30 PM)
- Closed: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- No advance reservation required
Patisserie (パティスリー)
Located at the front of the Miyagawacho Kabuki Theater building, the hotel's pastry shop offers seasonal desserts and confections inspired by Kyoto's culture, created by the SoNoMa by SingleThread pastry team. The menu includes "SingleThread Entremets" and an assortment of seasonal sweets, available for in-house dining and takeaway.
- Hours: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Reservations for all venues can be made via the official website (https://capellahotels.com/jp/capella-kyoto/dining) or by contacting the hotel at 075-541-8877.
