Pepin

Pepin shifts culinary gears with the hours, opening at midday as an Italian lunch spot grounded in local produce before transforming into an authentic Mexican kitchen by evening. Midday sets arrive accompanied by colourful salads and soup, letting diners settle in with choices such as seasonal pastas or a classic Margherita pizza. The kitchen also looks closely to the surrounding terrain: risotto brings together burdock cooked into the rice and the aromatic crunch of fried burdock with wild boar sourced from the mountains of Kameoka, while a fully plant-based Buddha bowl caters thoughtfully to meat-free dining preferences.

Evenings of Build-Your-Own Tacos and Traditional Stews

Come dinner, the focus turns to customizable taco sets served with warm tortillas, fresh local vegetables, and a variety of fillings. The popular Set B invites guests to pick 2 toppings spanning meat and seafood, complemented by tortilla chips and rich house-made guacamole—an easy, communal spread designed for mixing and matching. For a deeper look into regional Mexican cooking, another course highlights mole, the traditional stew of chicken simmered slowly in an intricate blend of spices and cacao, pairing naturally with beer or cocktails.

Up the stairs on the 3nd floor, the dining room is dotted with greenery and arranged with deep sofas alongside counter seating. Unhurried and calm, it provides a comfortable backdrop whether dropping by for an Italian lunch plate or sharing a generous spread of tacos well into the night.