{"id":1206,"date":"2011-08-09T00:00:17","date_gmt":"2011-08-08T15:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/?p=1206"},"modified":"2011-08-11T12:47:51","modified_gmt":"2011-08-11T03:47:51","slug":"alfresco-dining-in-kobe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/2011\/08\/alfresco-dining-in-kobe\/","title":{"rendered":"Alfresco Dining in Kobe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Though summer in Hyogo can be sticky, there are<\/em> days when the oppressive humidity gives way, and one\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s thoughts turn to evenings of frosty beers in the open air as a light breeze rolls in.<\/p>\n

Until recently I believed that, besides beer gardens, Japan just doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t do <\/em>alfresco dining, but I have happily been proven wrong.\u00c2\u00a0 Here is a selection from the Kobe area.<\/p>\n

Central Sannomiya<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Pizzeria Tana Forno<\/p>\n

www.tana26.com<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/r.gnavi.co.jp\/k412102\/lang\/en<\/a><\/p>\n

On the street behind the McDonalds opposite the Hankyu Station and Tully\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Coffee.\u00c2\u00a0 Lunch until 3pm; dinner from 5pm.\u00c2\u00a0 Reasonably priced lunch sets, and there is a wide variety of pizzas and appetizers for dinner. \u00c2\u00a51500 for lunch, \u00c2\u00a53000 for dinner.\u00c2\u00a0 Also offers an all you can drink option.<\/p>\n

Korean Cuisine Japuche<\/p>\n

www.ko-z.com\/japuche<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/r.gnavi.co.jp\/k130402\/lang\/en<\/a><\/p>\n

Up the small street on the left of \u00e3\u0192\u2030\u00e3\u0192\u00b3 \u00e3\u201a\u00ad\u00e3\u0192\u203a\u00e3\u0192\u00bc\u00e3\u0192\u2020, this restaurant holds a table for 12 on the terrace, plus ten counter seats and four tables indoors as well as a party room to seat 40 guests.\u00c2\u00a0 Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t miss the platter of assorted kimchi, cream cheese and chanja ganache, fresh spring rolls, yam salad with ume dressing, octopus and nori omlette. An average meal will set you back around \u00c2\u00a53000.\u00c2\u00a0 Open 5pm – midnight.<\/p>\n

Laputa the Flanders Tale<\/p>\n

http:\/\/r.gnavi.co.jp\/c350315\/lang\/en<\/a><\/p>\n

Lunch sets start from \u00c2\u00a5890, an average dinner costs \u00c2\u00a53500; a la carte dishes include salads, seafood carpaccio, fresh pasta, gratins, pizza, rice dishes and dessert. Located behind Sogo department store on the 8th<\/sup> floor of Progres Kobe; open for lunch and dinner.\u00c2\u00a0 Seats 40 on the terrace and 60 indoors. English menu and English-speaking staff available.<\/p>\n

Tooth Tooth Garden Restaurant<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.toothtooth.com\/dining.html<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/r.gnavi.co.jp\/k113401\/lang\/en<\/a><\/p>\n

At the top of Kokusai Kaikan next to the Sogo Department Store, this restaurant looks out onto a rooftop garden.\u00c2\u00a0 Popular for lunch, quieter at dinner, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll find something to tempt you, whether one of the reasonable lunch sets (~\u00c2\u00a51000) or from the dinner menu, the roast lamb, charcoal grilled beef, oysters and salmon stewed with cabbage in a cream sauce and scrumptious desserts.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The mid Diner<\/p>\n

www.mid-kobe.jp<\/a><\/p>\n

My personal favourite and popular with the locals, I considered for a moment keeping this to myself.\u00c2\u00a0 But as it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s easy enough to find (behind Tokyu Hands, opposite Ikuta Shrine and above the live venue, Chicken George) you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d likely find this on your own.\u00c2\u00a0 Offers pasta, sandwiches and desserts; will run you about \u00c2\u00a51000 for lunch and \u00c2\u00a52000 for dinner.\u00c2\u00a0 There are 12 seats outside, 30 inside.\u00c2\u00a0 Best of all, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s open 24 hours.<\/p>\n

Little Shanghai<\/p>\n

www.little-shanghai.com<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/r.gnavi.co.jp\/ka2f800\/lang\/en<\/a><\/p>\n

Walk up Higashimon-suji from the south, the restaurant is halfway up on the left side.\u00c2\u00a0 Open for dinner only, dishes include standard Chinese fare – chilli prawns with mayonnaise, steamed gyoza, minced pork wrapped in lettuce, beef stew, balsamic pork and vegetable stir-fry, fried noodles and desserts.\u00c2\u00a0 Expect to pay about \u00c2\u00a53500.<\/p>\n

Motomachi<\/strong><\/p>\n

Caffera<\/p>\n

www.ufs.co.jp\/brand\/cfr\/index<\/a><\/p>\n

Outside the northeast entrance to Daimaru department store.\u00c2\u00a0 Good for a coffee and cake while people-watching.<\/p>\n

Caf\u00c3\u00a9 Terrace & Bistro Mark Place<\/p>\n

www.trusty.jp\/kobe\/event_plan\/food\/index.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Walk south on Ikuta Road, two blocks past the large torii gate.\u00c2\u00a0 Located on the 2nd<\/sup> floor of Hotel Trusty.\u00c2\u00a0 A great place for a relaxed lunch, with modern western-style dishes and a pleasant setting.\u00c2\u00a0 Open 7am-11pm; breakfast until 11am from \u00c2\u00a51050, lunch from \u00c2\u00a51500 to \u00c2\u00a53500.\u00c2\u00a0 A la carte options and course sets served for dinner; after the kitchen closes at 9:30pm, stay on to enjoy the bar.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Bar & Bistro 64<\/p>\n

www.kobe64.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Next to the Trusty Hotel, open 11am \u00e2\u20ac\u201c midnight.\u00c2\u00a0 Lunch sets from \u00c2\u00a51050 and include soup or salad, bread bar and drink.\u00c2\u00a0 Meat, seafood and pasta for dinner.\u00c2\u00a0 Offers a free-drink plan for \u00c2\u00a51575.<\/p>\n

Central<\/p>\n

www.cafe-restaurant-central.com\/central.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Down near the Immigration Office, this caf\u00c3\u00a9 is a convenient spot for a bite while grabbing a re-entry visa.\u00c2\u00a0 Lunch sets from \u00c2\u00a51200, dinner from \u00c2\u00a51500. Open 11am-10pm.<\/p>\n

Kitano<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chada Thai<\/p>\n

www.chada-thai.jp<\/a><\/p>\n

Keep going up Higashimon-suji past Yamate Kansen and you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll find Chada Thai on the right.\u00c2\u00a0 Lunch sets start from \u00c2\u00a5980 and include dishes like tom yum ramen, coconut curry noodles, beef with basil stir-fry, green or red curry and pineapple fried rice.\u00c2\u00a0 The dinner menu also offers Thai sausages on skewers, spicy pork and lemongrass salad, minced pork and prawn spring rolls, soft-shell crab curry and tapioca with coconut milk for dessert.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Alo Aro<\/p>\n

http:\/\/aloaro.net<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/r.gnavi.co.jp\/c916400\/lang\/en<\/a><\/p>\n

Located on Yamate Kansen near the four-way pedestrian overpass at the intersection with Flower Road. This little caf\u00c3\u00a9 serves healthy meals with lots of veggies on the pasta, pizzas, sandwiches and salads.\u00c2\u00a0 It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a nice place to have a cup of coffee.\u00c2\u00a0 Lunch averages \u00c2\u00a51000, dinner \u00c2\u00a53000. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.<\/p>\n

\n

Garden Caf\u00c3\u00a9 Astarte<\/p>\n

www.astarte-kobe.jp<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/r.gnavi.co.jp\/c905102\/lang\/e<\/a>n<\/p>\n

On Nakayamate-dori behind Ikuta Shrine, this caf\u00c3\u00a9 offers reasonable Italian fare for lunch and dinner from \u00c2\u00a51000.\u00c2\u00a0 Closed Wednesdays.\u00c2\u00a0 English spoken here, but not very well.<\/p>\n

Bistro Caf\u00c3\u00a9 de Paris<\/p>\n

www.cafe-de-paris.jp<\/a><\/p>\n

Diagonally opposite the Starbucks up Kitanozaka, open for lunch and dinner.\u00c2\u00a0 Lunch sets from \u00c2\u00a51575; dinner menu includes grilled bass with herb sauce, roast red snapper in a red wine sauce, duck a l\u00e2\u20ac\u2122orange, roasted lamb in grilled mustard and steamed pork with white beans.\u00c2\u00a0 Closes early – 10pm weekdays, 9pm on weekends.<\/p>\n

Grande Maison Graciani Kobe Kitano<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.graciani-kobe.jp\/espace\/terrasse.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Situated in an old foreign home up the top of the Kitano area, this French restaurant is for special occasions.\u00c2\u00a0 Offers lunch and dinner courses, from \u00c2\u00a53900 at lunch and \u00c2\u00a510,000 at dinner. Seats 40 on the balcony.\u00c2\u00a0 About 15 minutes walk from Sannomiya Station (up Higashimon-suji and keep going then turn left onto on Ijinkan-dori\/ Yamamoto-dori), only five mins by taxi.<\/p>\n

Plaisir Restaurant at Hotel Kitano Rokkoso<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.rokkoso.com\/restaurant\/r_plaisir.html<\/a><\/p>\n

On the eastern end of Ijinkan-dori, this stylish hotel is a popular wedding venue. Lunch sets are priced at \u00c2\u00a51000, \u00c2\u00a51500, \u00c2\u00a52500 and \u00c2\u00a53500; dinner courses are \u00c2\u00a51800, \u00c2\u00a52500, \u00c2\u00a53800 and \u00c2\u00a55000.\u00c2\u00a0 Menu changes weekly.<\/p>\n

Caf\u00c3\u00a9 Terasse de Paris<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.terrasse-de-paris.jp\/<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/r.gnavi.co.jp\/k422902\/lang\/en<\/a><\/p>\n

Also on Ijinkan-dori, this is a branch of Caf\u00c3\u00a9 de Paris run by the same French owner.\u00c2\u00a0 Lunch sets start from \u00c2\u00a51500 and an a la carte menu is available for dinner.\u00c2\u00a0 Open for lunch and dinner Wednesday to Sunday; Tuesdays dinner only.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Beer gardens<\/strong><\/p>\n

OK, so beer gardens are<\/em> actually a great thing if you want to a few hours of drinks on a nice breezy evening. Kobe has lots of options:<\/p>\n