Salon de le François

Opened in September 1934, Salon de le François is a classic music café with an impressive Italian Baroque décor reminiscent of the halls of a luxury cruise ship with beautiful stained-glass windows. The coffee and snacks are served in a tranquil setting with classical music playing in the background. In 2003, it was designated a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, and is definitely one of most prominent coffee shops in Kyoto.

The menu includes a wide range of drinks such as coffee, tea, Le France pear juice and grape juice, as well as light meals of sandwiches and tarts.

From the time of its opening, Salon de le François put effort into being an authentic classic music café. At that time, the classical music in the café was selected by vocalist and composer Tadasuke Seki, a friend of founder Shoichi Tatsuno. Records of Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, and Bach were often played.

The store also collected reproductions of many famous paintings, including Francois Millet's "The Sower" and “The Gleaners” which gave the store its name. Other masterpiece paintings hung on the wall of the cafe were Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa," and Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring," and more. The cityscape picture of Paris on the right wall at the back of the store has been there since the establishment of the store, and the paintings collected by the founder Tatsuno himself still decorate the café.

Many cultural figures and students, including writers, painters, potters, and people involved in film and theater, have gathered here. The cafe has appeared in novels such as Harumi Setouchi's "Family Story" and Kosaburo Yoshimura's "Kyoto's Back Alley.” This café that promoting Kyoto's culture throughout its history still attracts many customers today.