Salon de Muge is a café owned and operated by world-class Kyoryori/Kaiseki restaurant Kikunoi. Salon de Muge was first opened by Kikunoi as a place for them to offer their high-quality dishes in a less formal setting. As a result, Salon de Muge has a slightly more approachable casual atmosphere than Kikunoi’s other locations. However, no matter how casual it may be, Salon de Muge is still Kikunoi through and through. The famous Michelin starred restaurant put their best foot forward with this cafe and made sure that everything, from the quality of the food and service to the ambiance and design of the space, was genuine and the real deal. The name Salon de Muge uses two characters “無碍” (muge) which refer to the idea of “Thoughts and actions without obstruction and obsession.” The sentiment held within these two characters can be seen and felt throughout the café. An excellent example of this is the floor tiles. When you first step inside, your eyes are immediately drawn to the magnificent windows supplying views of the wonderfully Kyoto moss garden. However, as you look around, your eyes are then brought to the beautiful tiles that cover the floors. These unique tiles are made the Japanese pottery known as Oribe ware. Such original and unrestrained ideas as using pottery, which is typically reserved for teacups and plates, as floor tiles imply exactly the kind of aesthetic sense that defines Kikunoi. Another aspect of Salon de Muge teeming with the feeling of Kikunoi is their customer service. The staff work to serve each and every customer as individuals and actively avoid lumping people together. It’s precisely because Salon de Muge considers such a high level of service an absolute must, that their customers are able to enjoy their meals in such comfort. We highly recommend going to Salon de Muge at least once and experiencing the affectionately prepared food, incredibly well-designed space and caring customer service of this world-class café for yourself.