On my way to Waguri Senmon Saori (和栗専門 紗織) — our go-to spot in Kyoto for impossibly delicate Japanese chestnut desserts, I happened to stroll past BABBI Gelateria, a sleek little dessert spot that immediately caught my eye. We were already running a bit behind for our reservation, so I made a mental note to circle back later.
And to my credit, I actually kept my promise.
BABBI is, of course, the famed Italian confectioner best known for its luxuriously crisp wafers and artisanal chocolates. What I didn’t know — until that day — was that they were in the gelato business as well. Naturally, curiosity got the better of me.
Inside, a vibrant display of 18 different gelato flavors awaited. I was still full from my chestnut-heavy dessert next door, so I played it safe and just went for a single scoop of black sesame gelato.
This was when the whole experience started to go sideways.
Since there were terrace seats overlooking Kamo River (鴨川), I politely asked the staff if I could take a few minutes to enjoy my cone there. The answer was a flat no — the terrace was for guests ordering from a more “sophisticated” (read: expensive) menu. OK, fair enough.
Then, just as I was about to step outside, the skies opened up and it started pouring. With no umbrella in sight, I turned back and asked if I could take a seat on one of the empty benches inside — just until the rain let up.
Again, a hard no.
Apparently, those benches were “reserved” for guests waiting for terrace seating. Except... there was literally no one else there (see left side of the picture). Not a single soul waiting. But the staff — several of them — were collectively unmoved.
I ended up sitting just outside the gelateria, where one lonely bench saved me from a completely soggy fate. The irony? As I quietly enjoyed my gelato under the drizzle, I couldn’t help but feel that the staff’s coldness left a much stronger aftertaste than the gelato itself.
Well, the gelato itself was fine. Silky, creamy, and intensely nutty, with the kind of deep-roasted black sesame flavor.
In all my years visiting Japan and they’re too many to count, this was one of the very few times I felt genuinely unwelcome at a café or restaurant. And it wasn’t just one staff member having a bad day. It was a shared attitude, from the servers to what looked like senior staff.
Honestly, I expect treatment like this in Hong Kong, maybe even in parts of Europe. But in Japan? This was a rare and disappointing exception.
Food Rating: 6/10
Price: ￥￥￥
Address: 134 Saitocho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, 600-8012, Japan
Closest Metro Station: Gion-Shijo / Kyoto-Kawaramachi
Tel: +81 (0)75 585-5200
Website: http://www.babbi.co.jp/
Opening Hours: 1:00pm - 9:30pm daily
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