Ace Hotel Kyoto (located in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City) will open its third restaurant, the main dining area "KŌSA," on August 10, 2023. Chef Katie Cole of Locale, a popular farm-to-table restaurant in Meguro, Tokyo, will join Ace Hotel Kyoto as KŌSA's partner chef.

Courtesy of Ace Hotel Kyoto
Locale, run by American Katie, has been in Tokyo for 10 years and is highly acclaimed for its farm-to-table cuisine, which features luxuriously prepared vegetables fresh from domestic farms. The name of KŌSA, opening at Ace Hotel Kyoto, is derived from the name of a plant and is inspired by the hotel's concept: a space where East and West intersect (kousa), where people intersect (kousa), and where there is liveliness and interaction. The main dining room, which will serve as the venue, is located on the third floor of the hotel and is a spacious restaurant with a total of 118 seats, including private dining rooms and a bar counter. Farm-to-table, literally meaning "from farm to table," is a California spirit in which the restaurant primarily serves seasonal vegetables, meat, fish, and grains purchased directly from farmers and producers. KŌSA offers a sustainable dining style that uses all of its ingredients, realizing farm-to-table dining locally by using ingredients sourced directly from farmers and producers in the Kansai region, primarily in Kyoto.

Courtesy of Ace Hotel Kyoto
Sharing the same philosophy as its sister restaurant, Locale, KŌSA sources ingredients directly from farmers and producers in the Kansai region, and offers a uniquely Kyoto menu that incorporates Ace Hotel Kyoto's "East Meets West" concept. Key menu items highlighting the quality of the ingredients include "Sweet Corn and Clam Risotto with Morning Glory and Local Herbs," as well as "Seared Bonito with Sweet Onion, Bell Pepper, and Mitsuba," "KŌSA Chicken and Oven-Dried Cherry Tomato Panzanella with Roasted Kale and Savoy Cabbage," and "Black Sesame Panna Cotta with Summer Berries." An extensive drinks menu is also available, including cocktails, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks.

Courtesy of Ace Hotel Kyoto
The restaurant was designed by Los Angeles-based design firm Commune Design, and overlooks the rooftop Japanese garden designed by landscape architect Place Media. The slate floor and dark wood paneling on the ceiling and walls create a calming atmosphere. The restaurant's layout is modeled after a traditional Japanese tea room, with two private dining areas separated by high shoji screens, and a design inspired by kabuki box seats. The restaurant combines handmade karakami paper from Kyoto's Kamisoe with laser-cut brass pieces by artist Junichi Shimizu. Metal panels and a marble bar accent the dining space, while a giant 2.4-meter-tall paper lantern by Modulex adds a touch of glamour.


■ Chef Introduction

Courtesy of Ace Hotel Kyoto
Katy Cole, Supervised by KŌSA
Originally from Los Angeles, USA, Katy graduated from the California Culinary Academy at Le Cordon Bleu in San Francisco. She then honed her skills and built her career in the San Francisco Bay Area at well-known and popular restaurants such as Scott Howard, Michael Mina at the Westin St. Francis, and the Michelin-starred SPQR. She also gained experience working alongside chefs Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski at the renowned creative cuisine restaurant State Bird Provisions, which has been awarded a Michelin star and ranked among the world's top 10 restaurants. Throughout her years of visiting Japan, Katie developed a deep connection with the country, its people, and its culture, and decided she wanted to make Tokyo her home. In 2013, she moved from the United States to Japan. In 2017, after several years of establishing herself in Tokyo, she opened Locale, a 20-seat farm-to-table restaurant in the heart of Meguro Ward. Offering seasonal Japanese ingredients sourced from a deep network of local organic farmers, Locale combines traditional cooking utensils with culinary inspiration from around the world, including Italy, Mexico, France, California, and Morocco. Katie and Locale quickly gained recognition from both her peers and the general public. The restaurant has become one of Tokyo's must-visit dining spots.


Comment from Chef Katie Cole

"No matter how many times I visit Kyoto, there are so many wonderful places I always want to return to. This beautiful, historically rich, and culturally significant city has so much to explore. Over the years, I've been fortunate to have made many friendships here, and my diverse network has grown to where I am today. I'm thrilled and honored to be a part of the Kyoto community and the Ace Hotel family. At KŌSA, we will be serving exquisite ingredients sourced from incredible farmers and producers. In addition to providing a superb dining experience, I hope KŌSA will grow into a welcoming gathering place that helps connect locals, Ace Hotel Kyoto guests, and the entire region."

About Ace Hotel Kyoto

Courtesy of Ace Hotel Kyoto
Name: Ace Hotel Kyoto (Japanese) / Ace Hotel Kyoto (English)
Address: ShinPuhkan, 245-2 Kurumaya-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Opening Date: June 11, 2020
Total Number of Rooms: 213 (Guest rooms on floors 2-7, 26 rooms in the preservation building, 187 rooms in the extension building)
Food & Beverages : Facilities: 3 restaurants, 1 coffee shop
Other facilities: Original goods shop, gallery, 1 banquet hall, 3 conference rooms, rooftop, rooftop garden, fitness gym, photo booth
Parking: None
Website: https://jp.acehotel.com/kyoto/
Official LINE account: https://lin.ee/t2Y6HcB (Delivering restaurant, event, and accommodation deals, as well as LINE-exclusive content.)



＜Hotel Overview＞
Founded in 1999 in Seattle, USA by a group of young creators, the company now has 10 hotels worldwide. With a focus on art and music, the hotel has attracted attention in Japan as an unprecedented type of hotel that connects not only with travelers but also with the community, with its creative interior design and spacious, open lobby spaces. Ace Hotel Kyoto will be the company's first hotel in Asia and Japan. Ace Hotel Kyoto was designed under the concept of "East Meets West" in collaboration with renowned architect Kengo Kuma and longtime partner Commune Design. A balanced blend of aesthetic philosophies, ideas, and traditions—crafts by artists and artisans from Japan and the US West Coast, nature, local materials, and custom art—creates a new aesthetic space and artworks that are present throughout the hotel, including banquet halls, guest rooms, and more. Other features include an inspiring lobby featuring Ace Hotel's retail shop and dedicated art gallery; three distinctive restaurants led by award-winning partner chefs Wes Avila, Katie Cole, and Mark Vetri; flexible event spaces meticulously crafted, including a spacious grid of white oak and full-length glass walls overlooking the garden courtyard; a café featuring Japan's first Stumptown Coffee Roasters; and a lush courtyard garden. Ace Hotel Kyoto offers a place for friendship, discovery, and cultural exchange for locals and visitors alike.