Kyoto has a surprisingly good cafe scene. Less flashy than Tokyo but more consistent — lots of small owner-operated places that have been around for decades.
Standouts
Weekenders Coffee — small, serious about their beans, good pour over. Worth the walk.
% Arabica — yes it’s touristy but the location by the canal is genuinely nice in the morning before the crowds arrive.
Inoda Coffee — old school kissaten. Order the Kyoto blend with milk. Don’t fight it, just order it with milk.
General notes
Kissaten culture is worth engaging with if you haven’t. The coffee is often not exceptional by specialty standards but the experience — counter seating, morning set, newspapers — is its own thing.