It’s 1960s Japan, and the bustling, narrow yokochos of the capital, Tokyo, are lined with underground music venues where city-dwellers flee after work. Inside, floor-to-ceiling shelves of international records and “modern” music line the walls.
Japanese jazz kissas- meaning jazz cafes – boomed after the Second World War, as international jazz grew increasingly popular, but records remained too expensive to purchase individually. Quickly, these listening bars garnered a reputation for their high-quality sound systems, extensive record collections, and intimate listening rooms. New and old records could be enjoyed alone, with close friends, or strangers, in “meditative” settings, away from the noise of nightclubs.
The concept of “meditative listening” perhaps isn’t something that first springs to mind when asked to picture Tokyo, London, or New York City’s music scene, each famed for their “never-sleeps” nightlife. So why are they suddenly everywhere again?
Image credit to The Kissaten, Lisbon
Modern takes on listening bars are booming – perhaps great conversations and the sound of shaken cocktails overtakes the music slightly – but these are the bars where the music is as curated as the cocktail list, or bar snacks menu. Travel to a city across the world, and you’ll undoubtedly find an excellent spot, from Gold Line Bar in Los Angeles, Matiz in São Paulo, Roca HiFi Mexico City, Fiasco in Porto, The Kissaten and Boa Vista Social Club in Lisbon, and more.
In London, Alex Harris of Hackney’s popular neighbourhood bar, Behind This Wall, explains that “There’s a DIY spirit that goes against the grain of a digital mono-culture and being dictated to by corporate algorithms; listening bars feel quite hand-spun and curated which is a spirit that London has always embraced.” Music is carefully selected by resident DJs, local producers and audiophiles, championing tunes outside of the pop charts or club classics. Each listening bar feels different, offering a vibe that can’t be replicated anywhere else. “We’re great archivists, Londoners are renowned for collecting trinkets and displaying them in interesting ways”, Alex adds.
Eavesdrop, New York City
Across the pond in New York, founders of the trendy Brooklyn-based Eavesdrop admitted “We love New York’s nightlife, but none of the places we knew replicated that living room experience.” Designer of the sleek space, Danny Taylor, adds “We wanted the concept to extend beyond just ‘expensive speakers in a bar.’ Listening to an album is a journey and we wanted guests to enjoy a space that encouraged exploration, mystery and surprise.”
Bars that make you feel like you’re sitting in a living room – fashioned by world-renowned design studios and architects, we might add – sounds like a trend we can get behind. So, here are a few of the world’s best (modern takes on) listening bars, or hi-fi bars, to know and enjoy in Tokyo, London, New York, and Paris.
TOKYO
Studio Mule, Shibuya
DJ Toshiya Kawasaki, founder of Tokyo-based record label Mule Musiq opened Studio Mule in Shibuya in 2020 as a place to both sell and perform his music, as well as great international tunes. With only 11 seats around the long, marble bar, the record selection vastly outnumbers customers, with records ranging from Brazilian Funk to nu-jazz. Pair this record selection with a bottle of one of the 1,000 varieties of natural wine on offer (a menu that is ten years in the making) to see you through the music-filled evening.
Ginza Music Bar, Ginza
Ginza Music Bar blends the the retro with the new, with traditional wood-lined walls packed with records and rock posters (like a Japanese jazz kissa) alongside electric blue lighting and finishings. Run by music producer Shinichi Osawa, find over 3,000 records to browse as DJs take both new and old music for a spin while the bartenders mix up global favourites from Moscow Mules to craft beers.
The Music Bar Cave, Shibuya
Musician Takeshi Kobayashi is the name behind this analogue music venue, a place for “encountering music” rather than just listening to a playlist play in the background. Lounge in a leather sofa, or enjoy one of the 16 house cocktail at the bar, as DJs switch between over 3,000 records.
LONDON
Space Talk, Clerkenwell
This Hi-Fi bar opened quietly – without a flashy launch party or big announcement – in May last year. Why? Because it didn’t need to do either to firmly establish itself as one of London’s trendiest spots to meet for a fig sake and gin cocktail. We’ll start with the interiors, which retro and futuristic all at once, are the intelligent love-child of talented Charlotte Taylor of Maison de Sable and EBBA’s co-founder Benni Allan. Sleek wood finishings merge with stainless steel bar tops and cabinetry for this past-meets-present overall vibe: the room is decorated with vintage design pieces sourced by Spazio Leone and are lit with carefully-spaced luminescent oval lighting. It all makes the excellent sound system and curtain of records just that little bit more enjoyable.
Brilliant Corners
This lowlit bar has many facets: a Japanese small plate restaurant, a cocktail bar, and a space where an excellent sonic system hosts regular DJ sessions. Founded in 2013 by brothers Amit and Aneesh Patel, it’s no stranger to the East London crowds. A modern take on the classic listening bar, this is still a space where music leads the evening into night, accompanied fresh sashimi and plum sake highballs.
Behind This Wall
While now known for their excellent selection of vintage records, Behind The Wall’s founder Alex Harris acknowledges that “we never thought of ourselves as a ‘listening bar’ when we opened ten years ago – just a neighbourhood spot where you could choose your own drinks and the music / hi-fi was key to the overall experience!” It seems that this is a common thread with modern listening bars, who place atmosphere over any kind of pretence or formalities – and it definitely shows at this Hackney hotspot. It’s an informal spot for hanging out with friends, yet still takes a good cocktail or craft brew seriously – as any bar should.
NEW YORK CITY
Eavesdrop
Craft cocktails, natural wines, small plates, and great music: I think you get the modern listening bar vibe by now. And Eavesdrop in Brooklyn does it all very well. Like hanging out in your living room with close friends – as Eavesdrop’s founder and designer describe it – the atmosphere is creative and cosy, where “deeper cuts” of music can be enjoyed. The HiFi bar offers an exciting music programme too, where weekend nights will see jazz, soul, rare groove, hip hop, deep house, and electronic, while weekdays host local labels, artists, and record stores. Sounds pretty good.
Public Records
This modern listening bar slash trendy music venue, Public Records, reels in the Manhattan crowds with their extensive music menu and acoustic prowess, showcasing incredible DJs as well as local artists. The bar boasts three rooms: a small performance space; an all-day cafe and records shop; and finally a hi-fi record bar with a stash of rare vinyls. There’s no chance of any audiophile ever getting bored here.
PARIS
Bambino
The thump of spinning jazz, funk, soul and R&B records can be heard from the street outside Bambino: enticing before you even step through the red velvet curtains. In the heart of Paris’ 11th arrondissement, known for its hip nightlife and trendy restaurants, find Bambino, one of Paris’ favourite spots. Founded by Fabien Lombardi, this bar is inspired by his travels to Japan and Tel Aviv, with the record collection and laid-back vibe to show for it. Centred around a marble bar top where DJs spin records from independent producers and artists as well as jazz and funk classics that even the most discerning audiophiles will enjoy, it’s hard to not to feel part of the communal, music atmosphere here. Find a spot on one of the high-stool tables and order a few of the bar’s popular highball cocktails, with a few small plates to share.
Lead image: Bambino Paris
We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
Any Questions or Tips to add?