Ace Hotel Kyoto

The place

A 1920s warehouse-style brick building on Karasuma Street, in the center of Kyoto. Kengo Kuma and LA studio Commune reworked it together, and the result reads as a conversation between East and West.

The 213 rooms and suites carry that mix: Japanese furniture, custom Pendleton blankets, a Gibson guitar waiting in the corner, artwork by local hands. Some rooms have a deep Japanese soaking tub.

Five places to eat and drink, spread through the building. Kōsa cooks seasonal, farm to table; Piopiko turns out contemporary tacos and vibrant cocktails. A gym stays open around the clock.