Tanzen

Tanzen is an izakaya on the second floor of a building in Kyoto's Pontocho, about five minutes up from Shijo-dori. It serves gibier dishes such as deer, wild boar, and bear, with options including charcoal-grilled venison loin, octopus carpaccio, and wild boar bolognese, along with several wines by the glass. The owner speaks English and explains the wines, and window seats let in the sound of the busy street at a low level. The interior is small and the counter seats are not spacious.