Nara — Where We Ate & Drank
We've visited 11 restaurants in Nara — from SAKURA BURGER to Kappo Matsuki — plus LAMP BAR (a world-class cocktail room) and stayed past sunset when Nara Park empties out.
Nara was two spring visits of bowing deer, the Daibutsu's genuinely staggering scale, and — the sleeper hit — LAMP BAR, a world-class cocktail room a few streets from the park. SAKURA BURGER for lunch is the right kind of silly.
Most people day-trip it from Kyoto or Osaka; we stayed past dusk when the park empties into something magic. Below are the 11 restaurants, 1 bar, and 1 hotel we actually visited.
- 2 visits since 2024, most recently April 2024
- Best months to visit: April, June–September
- 5 Michelin-starred tables · 2 UNESCO sites
- Also covers Ikoma, Sakurai, Seika
- Worth timing: Cherry blossom season (March–April)
Plan your Nara days with these picks →