DAY OFF in KYOTO with RENÉ REDZEPI
René Redzepi is among the world’s foremost culinary talents owed to his transformative take on Nordic cuisine at Copenhagen’s noma. He is also walking the Philosopher’s Path.
Take that in the literal sense — the stone walkway tracing Kyoto’s Lake Biwa Canal, famously paced by Nishida Kitaro, René deems “a must” during sakura season — and the figurative one. For the fourth time, René and the noma team are moving their Copenhagen culinary mecca around the globe, settling in for 10 weeks at our Kyoto home.
What does it mean to be noma in another city? Another country, at that. Is it a methodology? A mindset? A knife? At Noma Kyoto, it’s all the above and more. The famed translators of Nordic terroir have long held Japan in their hearts and its outsize influence in their kitchen. Over the past two years, the team has prepared: traveling, aforementioned philosophizing, R&Ding and working alongside local foragers, farmers, ceramicists, hunters and fishmongers to create seasonal culinary poetry. Which they served for the first time this week.
In advance of the residency’s inaugural day on March 15, we caught up with René to chat 5 points of inspiration in Kyoto — which, if you’ve been you’ll know, the city’s awash with.
Read on for where you’ll find René in Kyoto when he’s not in the kitchen.
Photo credit: noma
MOUNTAINS
Kyoto is an incredible city, in a valley surrounded by mountains. As a Copenhagener, we’re surrounded by water and have no mountains, so to me that was the first thing I noticed when arriving here. I thought to myself, “I’m going to conquer every single one of them,” and that has been my number one pastime while we have been here. Whenever I have a moment off, I’m somewhere hiking in the mountains, and it is incredible. So, hiking in Kyoto is a special thing!
Photo credit: Cory Smith
FOOD
Kyoto is literally dripping with incredible restaurants – it is mind-blowing! And of course, if I would pinpoint a style of restaurant that is unique to Kyoto and has a quality unlike anywhere else, it would be the kaiseki style of restaurants, and I love to explore them.
There are all varieties ranging from very classic three Michelin stars like Kikunoi, to Japanese modern like Ogawa, or farm-to-table, the fantastic restaurant Monk! Everything in between exists as well; it is something quite unique to this city.
Photo credit: Ditte Isager
WALKING
Another thing I also love about Kyoto is that it is a walkable city. You can spend a day here walking east to west, north to south, visiting temples in between, going into small artisanal wood makers, tatami makers, tofu makers — you can find it all here in Kyoto and I love the fact that you can walk or bike to any place. Spending a couple of days and having this whole array of craftspeople you want to visit, from yuba tofu makers to woodshops and galleries, is just an incredible thing to do.
FLEA MARKETS
Kyoto flea markets – they are so good! Come early, otherwise you will be shocked by the amount of people, but the flea markets are special, and they are in abundance all year long, almost every weekend. They are typically around a temple location, which make them even more special, surrounded by street food. You can easily spend most of your day here.
Photo credit: noma
LOCALS + SEASONS
The people – they are just so friendly here! Kyoto locals are quite outgoing, and they are used to tourism. And lastly the wonderful seasons! Of course, if you are coming in the peak season, the Sakura blossoming, a walk down the Philosopher’s Path is a must. If you come in the fall season, when the leaves are changing colors, hiking in the hills and temple hopping is also a must!
*Lead image of René Redzepi photo credit Amy Tang
Related Articles
Ace Hotel Toronto | December 13, 2023
Fran Miller's Toronto Guide
Founder of the eponymous, pared-back line of natural skincare staples F. Miller, Fran Miller is a person we trust. We trust her to make our hair soft and our skin strong. We also trust her taste in Toronto, the city she’s based, where F. Miller’s products are designed, formulated and bottled by hand. Here, we share all-inclusive list of her local haunts, from fresh flowers to designer vintage to advice on accessing the Cheese Boutique’s cheese vault.
Ace Hotel | January 30, 2026
Packing List: Madison Cunningham
Joan Didion authored many American classics — her shortest: a packing list published in 1979. The list, from her collection The White Album, was kept taped to the door of her Hollywood apartment closet for utilization at a moment’s notice, and strikes us as one of those rare pearls so pragmatic it backflips to become borderline mythic. A tidy catalog of things that includes both stockings and bourbon, we often turn to Joan when staring down an empty suitcase.
Ace Hotel Sydney | December 22, 2025
Flo Dill’s Guide to Sydney
It was Londoner Flo Dill’s first time in Sydney, and she came with notes. “Like everyone, I ask friends who’ve been there before — but I try to get just two or three top things,” the NTS Breakfast Show host says. She’d come to romance Ace Sydney’s Lobby with her signature blend of leftfield pop and feather-light rock, and to try out a new way to travel. “I’m trying to free myself from the tyranny of Google Maps and just go where it feels good.” Her hot take: “Not every meal needs to be life changing.” Alongside friends, Flo also polled her devoted NTS listeners for their can’t-miss spots, which is how she discovered the gem that is Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden — right at home on her outdoorsy-leaning list.