Dhawa Yura Kyoto, a Banyan Group hotel in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, is serving "BERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS 'CHOCOLATE AFTERNOON TEA'" at Lounge & Bar 1867 on the first floor. It is available from December 4 (Friday) to December 25 (Friday), 2026, on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays only.
Cacao Black and Berry Red
The deep black of cacao meets the vivid red of berries in a lineup of sweets built on this contrast. Starring a black swan choux cream that looks as if it has flown out of a Christmas story, the menu offers a range of flavors woven from rich chocolate and sweet-tart fruit.
It also includes a chocolate take on stollen, the traditional Christmas confection, and a cacao scone served with a spiced confiture. On the savory side, beets and cassis add color, and charcoal grilling brings out a toasty aroma. From sweets to savories, the tea time has a festive Christmas feel.
Note: All photos are for illustrative purposes.
Chocolate Sweets with a Black Swan and Red Fruits
The eye-catching "Black Swan Choux Cream with Griotte Cherry Compote" uses a choux dough made with black cacao to shape the swan. Two creams with different textures, a rich chocolate cream and a light chocolate chantilly, are layered with a sweet-tart compote of griotte cherries. The balance with the toasty choux brings out the full flavor of the cacao.
The "Blackberry and Chocolate Mousse" has two layers: a blackberry mousse with a gentle tartness and a smooth chocolate mousse. A glossy glaze and delicate, shimmering silver-leaf powder add a Christmas sparkle.
The "Red Fruit and Chocolate Tart" combines rich chocolate ganache with a sweet-tart pepin that keeps the texture of raspberry seeds, and is topped with fresh strawberries and raspberries in vivid red. The deep sweetness of the chocolate and the acidity of the fruit go well together.
The set also includes "Cassis Rouge," a bonbon chocolate infused with the flavor of cassis, showing the appeal of red fruits and chocolate in a variety of forms.
Classic Christmas Stollen and Cacao Scones with Two Toppings
The "Stollen with Chocolate and Cranberry" is an arrangement of the traditional Christmas confection, made with a cacao-kneaded dough combined with chocolate chips, plenty of cranberries, and nuts. It is hearty, with the sweet tartness of the fruit and the rich flavor of the nuts spreading in each bite.
The "Cacao Scone" comes with a Christmas confiture made by simmering dried fruits in red wine and seasoning them with spices such as cinnamon and cloves. The confiture offers the texture of generous chunks of dried fruit and a rich spice aroma. A moderately salty truffle butter is also served, so the scone can be enjoyed with two different flavors.
Savories Featuring Charcoal-Grilled Flavors
The savories also bring in red tones inspired by Christmas and a variety of flavors that make the most of each ingredient.
The "Borscht Croquette with Tzatziki" pairs a croquette that seals in the savory taste of beef with "tzatziki," a refreshing dip made with strained yogurt. The "Kataifi-Wrapped Shrimp Fritter" has a crisp, light texture, accented with basil mayonnaise and lime.
The "Charcoal-Grilled Chicken Tortilla" matches toasty grilled chicken with a sauce made with white miso and basil. The tortilla, lightly seared on the bottom, adds a crisp bite.
The lineup also includes the "Charcoal-Grilled Sardine Smørrebrød with Cassis," an open sandwich with charcoal-grilled sardines brushed with cassis purée, layered with potato purée containing cream cheese and carrot rapée. Another is the "Beet Tabbouleh with Cottage Cheese," which offers the taste of beans and the bouncy texture of couscous.
Event Details
Event: BERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS 'CHOCOLATE AFTERNOON TEA'
Period: December 4 (Friday) to December 25 (Friday), 2026 (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays only)
Venue: Lounge & Bar 1867, 1st floor, Dhawa Yura Kyoto
Hours: 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM (last entry 3:00 PM)
Seating times: 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, or 3:00 PM (2-hour limit)
Price: Afternoon tea ¥6,500 per person (includes tax and service charge)
Reservations: Accepted until 5:00 PM the day before your visit
Phone: 075-366-5800 (Dhawa Yura Kyoto)
Online reservations: https://www.dhawa.com/ja/japan/dhawa-yura-kyoto/dining/lounge-bar-1867
Menu contents and ingredients may change depending on purchasing conditions.
Menu Examples
Sweets
- Black Swan Choux Cream with Griotte Cherry Compote
- Stollen with Chocolate and Cranberry
- Blackberry and Chocolate Mousse
- Red Fruit and Chocolate Tart
- Cassis Rouge
- Cacao Scone (Christmas Confiture / Truffle Butter)
Savories
- Borscht Croquette with Tzatziki
- Kataifi-Wrapped Shrimp Fritter with Basil Mayonnaise
- Charcoal-Grilled Chicken Tortilla
- Charcoal-Grilled Sardine Smørrebrød with Cassis
- Beet Tabbouleh with Cottage Cheese
About Lounge & Bar 1867
Named after 1867, the year of the Taisei Hokan (the return of governing power to the emperor), Lounge & Bar 1867 is a lounge and bar that feels like a grown-ups' hideaway. In the afternoon, guests can enjoy afternoon tea while looking out at the bamboo grove at the center of the lobby. At night, creative bartenders serve a wide selection of original cocktails.
Hours: 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM (last order 10:30 PM). Hours may change.
Seats: 42
About Dhawa Yura Kyoto
Standing near the Kamo River, Dhawa Yura Kyoto is a hotel that beautifully blends contemporary design with Japanese tradition, a hideaway in the old capital of Kyoto.
Address: 84 Ohashicho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
Access: 3-minute walk from Sanjo Station on the Keihan Main Line; 2-minute walk from Sanjo-Keihan Station on the Tozai Subway Line
Rooms: 138
Facilities: GRILL 54TH (restaurant), Lounge & Bar 1867 (bar), fitness, 8LEMENTS SPA
