Nara has a great selection of restaurants, ranging from traditional Japanese to Italian and French. Note that most restaurants are located in Downtown Nara or Naramachi. There are only a few restaurants in the Nara-koen Area, so plan your day and your route wisely.
Places To Eat In Downtown Nara
Mellow Café
This café/restaurant right in the heart of downtown Nara (very close to Kintetsu Nara Station) is a great casual place for lunch. Much of the menu is Italian, including pasta and pizza and it’s good for those who feel like a break from Japanese fare (or for those with children who prefer familiar items). Like the name suggests, it’s a cool, laid-back place.
Japanese name: メロー カフェ
Japanese address: 奈良市小西町1-8, axe unit 1F
English address: axe unit 1F, 1-8 Konishi-cho, Nara-shi
Telephone: 0742-27-9099
Opening hours: 11:00am-11:30pm
Nearest Transport: 1min walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
District: Downtown Nara
Website: Official website
:: Read reviews of Mellow Cafe on TripAdvisor
Places To Eat In Naramachi
Edogawa Naramachi
This brilliant unagi (eel) restaurant is one of the best places to eat in Naramachi and it’s worth soldiering through the sights in Nara-koen Park and waiting to get here to eat lunch. They also serve excellent sashimi and some other Japanese dishes. Naturally, this is also a good dinner choice.
Japanese name: 江戸川ならまち店
Japanese address: 奈良市下御門町43
English address: 43 Shimomikado-cho, Nara-shi
Telephone: 0742-20-4400
Opening hours: 11:00am-10:00pm
Nearest Transport: 10min walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
District: Naramachi
Website: None
:: Read reviews of Edogawa Naramachi on TripAdvisor
Kura
This izakaya (Japanese-style dining pub) is a fantastic place for dinner in Naramachi. While it might take some guts to enter, there is an English menu and you’ll be made to feel at home. Indulge in a variety of traditional Japanese dishes, along with good beer and sake.
Japanese name: 蔵
Japanese address: 奈良市光明院町16
English address: 16 Komyoin-cho, Nara-shi
Telephone: 0742-22-8771
Opening hours: 5:00pm-11:30pm (Mon-Fri), 5:00pm-10:30pm (Sat, Sun and Holidays)
Nearest Transport: 8min walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
District: Downtown Nara
Website: None
:: Read reviews of Kura on TripAdvisor
2Mistletoes
Formerly a café called Nonohana Ohka, this pleasant and open café sits right in the heart of the most atmospheric part of Naramachi. It’s an excellent place for a tea/coffee/sweet break while exploring Naramachi.
Japanese name: トゥーミスルトゥーズ
Japanese address: 奈良市中新屋町13
English address: 13 Nakanoshinya-cho, Nara-shi
Telephone: 0742-22-1139
Opening hours: 11:00am-5:00pm
Nearest Transport: 15min walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
District: Naramachi
Website: None
Wakasa Curry Honpo
This casual curry joint is located in a shopping arcade on the border between Downtown Nara and Naramachi. Like the name suggests, it serves curry, and if you’ve never tried Japanese-style curry, you’ll probably find it a very nice surprise. It’s a cheap and easy choice for lunch or dinner.
Japanese name: 若草カレー本舗
Japanese address: 奈良市橋本町3-1-110
English address: 3-1-110 Hashimoto-cho, Nara-shi
Telephone: 0742-24-8022
Opening hours: 11:30am-3:30pm, 5:00pm-9:30pm (-8:30pm on Sun.)
Nearest Transport: 5min walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
District: Downtown Nara/Naramachi
Website: Official website
:: Read reviews of Wakakusa Curry Honpo on TripAdvisor
Kameya
Kameya is a great okonomiyaki restaurant on the edge of Naramachi. There’s an English menu and they’re comfortable with foreign travelers walking through the door. It’s a great lunch or dinner choice and if you haven’t yet had the pleasure, this is a fantastic place to sample the wonders of okonomiyaki.
Japanese name: かめや
Japanese address: 奈良市樽井町9
English address: 9 Tarui-cho, Nara-shi
Telephone: 0742-22-2434
Opening hours: 11:00am-10:00pm
Nearest Transport: 5min walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
District: Downtown Nara
:: Read reviews of Kameya on TripAdvisor
Yoshinohonkuzu Tengyokudo Narahonten
This place on the edge of Nara-koen Park, a short walk from Isui-en Garden specializes in Japanese sweets and tea, but you can also get light meals. It’s good for a break en route to Isui-en or Todai-ji Temple.
Japanese name: 吉野本葛 天極堂 奈良本店
Japanese address: 奈良市押上町1-6
English address: 1-6 Oshiage-cho, Nara-shi
Telephone: 0742-27-5011
Opening hours: 10:00am-7:30pm
Nearest Transport: 10min walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
District: Downtown Nara
Website: Official website
:: Read reviews of Yoshinohonkuzu Tengyokudo Narahonten on TripAdvisor
Nara-koen Area
Mizutani-chaya
They simply don’t make restaurants more picturesque than this traditional little teahouse, which sits roughly between Nigatsu-do Temple and Kasuga-Taisah Shrine. It’s got a beautiful thatched roof and it sits in a little tree-lined ravine. In addition to tea and Japanese sweets, they also serve simple Japanese meals like noodles. This is one of the few places to eat in this part of Nara, so keep it in mind.
Japanese name: 春日野もみじの里 水谷茶屋
Japanese address: 奈良市春日野町30
English address: 30 Kasugano-cho, Nara-shi
Telephone: 0742-22-0627
Opening hours: 10:00am-4:00pm
Nearest Transport: 25min walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
District: Nara-koen Area
Website: Official website
Le Case
Le Case is a new casual French restaurant that specializes in quiche. It’s located in Nara-koen Park, en route from Todai-ji to Kasuga-Taisha Shrine, making it a great place to stop for lunch while doing the standard Nara tourist route of Nara-koen (there aren’t many places to eat in this part of Nara).
Japanese name: レ・カーセ
Japanese address: 奈良市春日野町158
English address: 158 Kasugano-cho, Nara-shi
Telephone: 0742-26-8707
Opening hours: 11:30am-5:00pm
Nearest Transport: 25min walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
District: Nara-koen Area
Website: Official website
:: Read reviews of Le Case on TripAdvisor
Kasugano
Kasugano is a simple restaurant attached to a souvenir shop located in the strip of shops at the base of Mt Wakakusa-yama. If you’re exploring Nara along the usual route (Todai-ji Temple then up to Kasuga-Taisha Shrine), you’ll often find yourself in this area around lunchtime. The noodle and rice dishes here are decent and they’ve got an English menu. The place is often crowded with foreign tourists because it’s in various guides to Nara.
Japanese name: 春日野
Japanese address: 奈良市雑司町494
English address: 494 Zoushi-cho, Nara-shi
Telephone: 0742-26-3311
Opening hours: 8:30am-5:30pm
Nearest Transport: 23min walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
District: Nara-koen Area
Website: Official website
Main Dining Room Mikasa at Nara Hotel
This French restaurant in the old Nara Hotel serves decent continental fare in atmospheric surroundings. Definitely try to grab a table with a view of Kofuku-ji Temple etc.
Japanese name: メインダイニングルーム「三笠」(奈良ホテル)
Japanese address: 奈良市高畑町1096
English address: 1096 Takabatake-cho, Nara-shi
Telephone: 0742-26-3300
Opening hours: Breakfast 7:00am-9:30am, Lunch 11:30am-3:00pm, Dinner 5:30pm-9:00pm
Nearest Transport: 15min walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
District: Nara-koen Area
Website: Official website
:: Read reviews of Main Dining Room Mikasa at Nara Hotel on TripAdvisor
Where Are These Places Located?
See these places on our Nara Google map:- Open the Nara map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Nara Travel Guide:
- Nara Travel Guide Overview
- Things To Do In Nara
- Nara Walking Tour
- Places To Eat In Nara
- Nara Itineraries
- Nara Districts
- Nara Hotels
- Nara Ryokan
- Nara Cherry Blossoms
- Nara Fall Foliage
- Best Time To Go To Nara
- How To Get To Nara
- Getting Around Nara
- Nara Annual Festivals And Events
Nara Districts Map
Click for more information about each Nara district
