middle
French in Takaragaike & Kitayama, Kyoto, 6 min walk from Kitaōji Station
Our analysis
- #1of 3 French restaurants in Takaragaike & Kitayama
- ¥24,200least expensive dinner course; median ¥18,150
- 1×The Tabelog Award
- Englishonline booking from abroad
Dinner ¥20,000–29,999Book online: Pocket Concierge
All 15 photos, by dishes, the room and the entrance
Dishes 8
Inside 6
Entrance 1
In our ranking, middle is 1st of the 3 French restaurants in Takaragaike & Kitayama and 5th of 63 in Kyoto. Its least expensive dinner course is ¥24,200 (on Pocket Concierge), 33% above the ¥18,150 median of the 21 French restaurants in Kyoto ranked nearest to it. Its record: a listing without a star in the Michelin Guide 2026, The Tabelog Award in 2026, and Tabelog 100 in 2025. From abroad it can be booked online in English on Pocket Concierge, AutoReserve, and OMAKASE; 32 of the 63 French restaurants in Kyoto can be. Good for an anniversary (it prepares a celebration if asked when booking). Course prices that sources agree on: ¥24,200 on Tabelog, Pocket Concierge, and Ikyu.
How it compares
French restaurants in Kyoto City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motoi | #1 | ¥25,300 | ¥13,200 | Online in English (TableCheck) | Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 5 min, Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae | Wed, Thu |
| Mashiro | #2 | ¥24,000 | ¥13,000 | Online in English (TableCheck) | ★ · Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 4 min, Karasuma Oike | — |
| Shimmonzen Yonemura | #4 | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | ¥15,000 | Online in English (OMAKASE) | ★ · Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 7 min, Sanjō Keihan | Tue, Wed |
| middle | #5 | ¥24,200 | ¥24,200 | Online in English (Pocket Concierge) | Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 6 min, Kitaōji | — |
| Yamaji Yosuke | #6 | ¥10,000 | ¥6,800 | Online in English (TableCheck) | Bronze 2020 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 6 min, Gion-shijo | — |
| Dodici | #7 | ¥19,800 | — | Online in English (OMAKASE) | ★ · Tabelog 100 2025 | 3 min, Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae | Mon, Sun |
For international visitors
Easy to book from abroad
Takes bookings online in English and has a menu or staff in English.
| Menu | Not listed |
|---|---|
| Staff | English |
| Website | In English |
| Payment | Credit cards |
| Seating and facilities | Wheelchair accessible |
How to book middle
- Book online in English on Pocket Concierge, AutoReserve or OMAKASE, the booking services the restaurant uses.
- The restaurant also takes online bookings in Japanese through Ikyu Restaurant.
- Call 075-744-0572 (+81-75-744-0572 from outside Japan). The restaurant says it has English-speaking staff.
- 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.
Courses and prices
As listed on Pocket Concierge, which takes bookings in English. Prices are per person. Book on Pocket Concierge
Omakase
Lunch
¥24,200
per person, tax & service incl., ≈$160
Cheapest
Omakase
Dinner
¥24,200
per person, tax & service incl., ≈$160
The food
Photos from the restaurant's pages on Tabelog and Ikyu.
Prices
| Dinner | ¥20,000–29,999 per person |
|---|---|
| Lunch | ¥20,000–29,999 per person |
| Diners report spending | ¥20,000–29,999 at dinner, ¥30,000–39,999 at lunch |
| Credit cards | Accepted |
| Electronic money | Not accepted |
Opening hours
| Monday | 12:00–15:00, 17:00–21:30 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 12:00–15:00, 17:00–21:30 |
| Wednesday | 12:00–15:00, 17:00–21:30 |
| Thursday | 12:00–15:00, 17:00–21:30 |
| Friday | 12:00–15:00, 17:00–21:30 |
| Saturday | 12:00–15:00, 17:00–21:30 |
| Sunday | 12:00–15:00, 17:00–21:30 |
| Public holidays | Open |
Seats and rooms
Inside
The dining room, in the restaurant's own photos.
| Seats | 10 |
|---|---|
| Private rooms | No |
| Private hire | Possible |
| Smoking | Designated smoking area Smoking space available The revised Health Promotion Act for passive smoking prevention has been in effect since April 1, 2020. Please check with the restaurant for the most up-to-date information. |
| Setting | Wheelchair access |
| Opened | October 2021 |
Getting there
6 min walk (460 m) from Kitaōji Station, Exit 5.
Also near: Kuramaguchi (Exit 2): 12 min · Kitayama: 14 min
- Leave Kitaōji Station by Exit 5 and walk north-east for 20 m.
- Bear right and walk 200 m.
- Turn left at wife&husband onto Kitaōji Street and walk 40 m.
- Turn left onto Kitaōji Street and walk 140 m.
- Turn left and walk 40 m.
middle is on your left.
On your left
The entrance, in the restaurant's own photo
Show this to a taxi driver
京都府京都市左京区下鴨上川原町5-3
The address in Japanese, as drivers enter it
Location
| Address | 5-3 Shimogamo Kamikawaracho Sakyo-ku Kyoto, Kyoto 606-0812 |
|---|---|
| Stations |
|
| Directions | ●If you are coming by train or bus:. |
Awards
Michelin Guide2026
Middle is one of the restaurants selected in the Michelin Guide 2026, without a star. middle in the Michelin Guide
- Selected for Tabelog French WEST “Tabelog 100”, 2025
Questions visitors ask
How much does middle cost?
The restaurant puts dinner at ¥20,000–29,999 per person and lunch at ¥20,000–29,999. Drinks may be extra; credit cards are accepted.
What is the nearest station to middle?
Kitaōji Station, about 6 minutes on foot (460 m). Kuramaguchi Station is about 13 minutes away.
Is middle in the Michelin Guide?
Yes. Middle is one of the restaurants selected in the Michelin Guide 2026, without a star.
Sources
Facts on this page come from Tabelog (checked in November 2026), Ikyu, Pocket Concierge, the Michelin Guide, and the restaurant's website; the walking directions from OpenStreetMap. Report a correction.