Review: Mizuki at The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto

I’ve always been fascinated by Japan’s culture and its meticulous attention to detail, so visiting Japan had been a long-standing dream of mine.

After stumbling upon some last-minute award availability on Alaska Mileage Plan, I seized the opportunity to secure a coveted Japan Airlines First Class ticket from New York (JFK) to Tokyo (HND). To my delight, not only did I successfully avoid the recent devaluation, but the timing of the flight also worked out perfectly for me to return to my current home base in Bali.

While Osaka is often considered the ultimate foodie destination in Japan, as it has an amazing selection of street food, Kyoto has its own remarkable culinary offerings as well. In Kyoto, you’ll find a perfect blend of traditional cuisine and Michelin-starred restaurants.

This is what brought me to The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto, where Mizuki offers four restaurants in one. Instead of reviewing it for just one meal, I took on the epically delicious challenge of sampling Mizuki for three meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Mizuki Kyoto – Location

Tucked away inside the elegant Ritz-Carlton in Kyoto, the hotel offers a prime location near some of the attractions on your Kyoto to-d0 list, such as the Nishiki Market and Gion. A little further afar, the fabled Bamboo Forest awaits, along with many other interesting things to see.

Mizuki is actually four restaurants combined into one, with unique culinary styles at each to sample during your visit. I went for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to showcase the detailing of the food this immaculate restaurant could provide with different meal services.

This was the first time I’ve ever done anything like this, as usually, I’ll visit several different dining establishments to compare and contrast amongst them. 

However, at Mizuki, I found the surroundings instantly comforting, and I knew it was going to be a difficult place to leave. It’s a cozy setup, with polished dark granite and touches of wood amid attractive yet dim lighting.

The elegant feel continues as you make your way to the seating area, where the central focus is watching the chef, a master in this ritualistic cuisine, prepare every gourmet delight just for you, right before your eyes. 

Kaiseki

Kaiseki is one of the four restaurants within Mizuki that focuses on things in…