Ludens
ルーデンス
Italian in Imperial Palace Area, Kyoto, 5 min walk from Marutamachi Station
Our analysis
- #6of 17 Italian restaurants in Imperial Palace Area
- ¥8,800least expensive dinner course; median ¥15,730
- 1×Tabelog 100
- Japaneseonline booking only
Dinner ¥15,000–19,999Closed MondaysBook by phone
All 31 photos, by dishes, the room and the entrance
Dishes 24
Inside 5
Entrance 2
In our ranking, Ludens is 6th of the 17 Italian restaurants in Imperial Palace Area and 13th of 41 in Kyoto. Its least expensive dinner course is ¥8,800 (on Tabelog), 44% below the ¥15,730 median of the 21 Italian restaurants in Kyoto ranked nearest to it; at lunch, ¥6,800 (on Tabelog) is 14% below the ¥7,900 median of 20. Its record: Tabelog 100 in 2025. It takes bookings online only in Japanese, on Ikyu Restaurant; 18 of the 41 Italian restaurants in Kyoto can be booked online in English. Good for a seat at the counter, a private room, a less expensive lunch (from ¥6,800, 23% below its least expensive dinner course), and an anniversary (it prepares a celebration if asked when booking). Course prices that sources agree on: ¥8,800 on both Tabelog and Ikyu; ¥15,800 on both Tabelog and Ikyu.
How it compares
Italian restaurants in Imperial Palace Area with a dinner budget close to its own, nearest to it in our ranking.
| Restaurant | Rank in Kyoto | Dinner from | Lunch from | Booking | Awards | Walk | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vena | #9 | ¥24,000 | ¥12,000 | Online in English (Pocket Concierge) | ★ · Tabelog 100 2025 | 5 min, Marutamachi | — |
| Dodici | #10 | ¥19,800 | — | Online in English (OMAKASE) | ★ · Tabelog 100 2025 | 3 min, Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae | Mon, Sun |
| Ludens | #13 | ¥8,800 | ¥6,800 | Online, Japanese only | Tabelog 100 2025 | 5 min, Marutamachi | Mon |
| La Locanda The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto | — | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | ¥6,500 | Online, Japanese only | Tabelog 100 2025 | 5 min, Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae | Mon |
| mane | — | ¥11,000 | ¥8,360 | Online, Japanese only | — | 4 min, Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae | Mon |
| Da YUGE | — | ¥22,000 | — | Online, Japanese only | — | 6 min, Karasuma Oike | Sun |
For international visitors
Book through a concierge
No online booking in English and no menu or staff in English are listed. A hotel concierge can book for you.
| Menu | Not listed |
|---|---|
| Staff | Not listed |
| Payment | |
| Diet | Vegetarian |
| Seating and facilities | Counter seats, Private rooms, Sommelier, Wheelchair accessible |
How to book Ludens
- The restaurant also takes online bookings in Japanese through Ikyu Restaurant.
- Call 050-5595-5714 (+81-50-5595-5714 from outside Japan). Staff may speak only Japanese, so a hotel concierge can call for you.
- Reservations: required. Walk-ins are not accepted.
- Anniversaries and birthdays: the restaurant prepares a celebration if you ask when you book (a dessert plate with your message, a cake or a surprise). More in Kyoto.
Can't get a table? Italian restaurants nearby you can book online
Courses and prices
As the restaurant lists them on Tabelog. Prices are per person.
New Breakfast from June Sundays 【Medicinal Breakfast
Lunch · 1 hr at the table · 1–12 guests
- Seasonal ingredients
¥2,800
per person, tax incl., ≈$20
Cheapest
NEW! My Spice Medicinal Cuisine Lunch Course
Lunch · 6 dishes · 2 hr 30 min at the table
- Seasonal ingredients
- Duck
- Beef
What is served (4)
- Fruit cocktail (non-alcoholic)
- Nourishing soup aged for 9 years
- Chef Uchida's specialty pasta
- Seasonal dessert and Yakuzen tea
¥6,800
per person, tax incl., ≈$50
¥4,000 more than the one above
LUDENS Prefix Course
Lunch - New Course from October
7 dishes
- Seasonal ingredients
¥8,800
per person, tax incl., ≈$60
¥2,000 more than the one above
New Dinner Course: LUDENS Prefix Course from October
Dinner · 7 dishes
- Seasonal ingredients
¥8,800
per person, tax incl., ≈$60
New Lunch Course: Chef's Seasonal Omakase Full Course from October
Lunch · 9 dishes
- Seasonal ingredients
¥15,800
per person, tax incl., ≈$110
¥7,000 more than the one above
New Dinner Course: Chef's Seasonal Omakase Full Course from October
Dinner · 9 dishes
- Seasonal ingredients
¥15,800
per person, tax incl., ≈$110
Dinner Course of Seasonal Italian Cuisine Featuring Herb-Infused Wagyu Grilled Over Open Fire. Includes One Drink.
Dinner · 10 dishes
- Seasonal ingredients
- Wagyu
¥16,800
per person, tax incl., ≈$110
¥1,000 more than the one above
Lunch Seasonal Italian Cuisine Course featuring Herb-Infused Wagyu Grilled over Firewood. Includes One Drink.
Lunch · 10 dishes
- Seasonal ingredients
- Wagyu
¥16,800
per person, tax incl., ≈$110
Lunch LUDENS Seasonal Health Course (Includes 1 Drink) Italian Cuisine Course with Wagyu Tenderloin as the Main Dish.
Lunch · 10 dishes · 2 hr 30 min at the table
- Seasonal ingredients
- Wagyu
What is served (14)
- Pear and Jasmine Tea Cocktail
- Nourishing Soup
- Five Flavors Appetizer
- Sour: Shin-Kansen Kabosu
- Sweet: Butternut Squash
- Spicy: Bonito, Ginger
- Salty: Fig, Prosciutto, Black Sesame
- Bitter: Pacific Saury, Eggplant
- Risotto with Giant Sweet Shrimp
- Aqua Pazza LUDENS Style
- Hokkaido Black Beef Fillet with Wood Aroma
- Handmade Pasta with Porcini
- Grapes
- Herbal Tea with Small Sweets
¥19,800
per person, tax incl., ≈$130
¥3,000 more than the one above
Chef's Counter Premium Wellness Course with Sparkling Wine
9 dishes · 1–7 guests
¥20,000
per person, tax incl., ≈$130
¥200 more than the one above
Dinner Course Celebrating with WABARA Bouquet (Includes Celebration Plate) (1 Drink Included)
Dinner · 10 dishes · 2 hr 30 min at the table
- Beef
Drinks included
¥20,800
per person, tax incl., ≈$140
¥800 more than the one above
Lunch Special Course with Abalone, Wagyu, and Seasonal Ingredients (Includes 1 Drink)
Lunch · 10 dishes
- Abalone
- Wagyu
- Seasonal ingredients
- Spiny lobster
¥26,000
per person, tax incl., ≈$170
¥5,200 more than the one above
The food
Photos the restaurant posted on Tabelog.
Prices
| Dinner | ¥15,000–19,999 per person |
|---|---|
| Lunch | ¥8,000–9,999 per person |
| Diners report spending | ¥15,000–19,999 at dinner, ¥2,000–2,999 at lunch |
| Service charge | Including tax |
| Credit cards | |
| Electronic money | Not accepted |
Opening hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 12:00–15:00, 18:00–21:30 |
| Wednesday | 12:00–15:00, 18:00–21:30 |
| Thursday | 12:00–15:00, 18:00–21:30 |
| Friday | 12:00–15:00, 18:00–21:30 |
| Saturday | 12:00–15:00, 18:00–21:30 |
| Sunday | 08:00–11:00 |
Seats and rooms
Inside
The dining room, in the restaurant's own photos.
| Seats | 18 |
|---|---|
| Private rooms | Yes |
| Private hire | Possible |
| Largest group | 12 people |
| Smoking | Non smoking |
| Children | Ask the restaurant before bringing children |
| Dress code | smart casual |
| Setting | Hideout, A house restaurant, Stylish space, Relaxing space, Spacious seating, Counter seating, Wheelchair accessible |
| Drinks | Sake (Nihonshu), Wine, Particular about wine |
| Services | Parties over 2.5 hours, Celebrations and surprises, Sommelier available, Take-out |
| Opened | September 2017 |
Getting there
5 min walk (430 m) from Marutamachi Station.
Also near: Karasuma Oike (Exit 1): 8 min · Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae: 12 min
- Leave Marutamachi Station and walk south for 70 m.
- Turn left onto Takeyamachi-dori and walk 100 m.
- Turn right onto Higashinotōin Street and walk 20 m.
- Turn left and walk 20 m.
- Turn left and walk 40 m.
- Bear right and walk 30 m.
- Turn left onto Ainomachi Street and walk 90 m.
Ludens is on your left.
On your left
Look for
ルーデンス
The restaurant's name, as on its sign
The entrance, in the restaurant's own photo
Show this to a taxi driver
ルーデンス京都府京都市中京区間之町通二条上ル夷町560-8
The address in Japanese, as drivers enter it
Location
| Address | 560-8 Nakagyo-ku Kyoto, Kyoto 604-0000 |
|---|---|
| Stations |
|
| Directions | - 6-minute walk from Marutamachi Station on the Karasuma Subway Line. |
Awards
- Selected for Tabelog Italian WEST “Tabelog 100”, 2025
Questions visitors ask
How much does Ludens cost?
The restaurant puts dinner at ¥15,000–19,999 per person and lunch at ¥8,000–9,999. Drinks and a service charge (Including tax) may be extra; credit cards are accepted.
When is Ludens closed?
It is closed on Mondays.
Can I bring children to Ludens?
Ask the restaurant before bringing children.
What is the nearest station to Ludens?
Marutamachi Station, about 5 minutes on foot (430 m). Karasuma Oike Station is about 8 minutes away.
Does Ludens have a dress code?
smart casual
Sources
Facts on this page come from Tabelog (checked in November 2026), Ikyu, and the restaurant's website; the walking directions from OpenStreetMap. Report a correction.