THE JOURNAL
Eavesdrop, New York City
If you’re looking to visit some of the buzziest after-hour spots around, chances are you’ll end up at a listening bar, the vinyl-meets-drinking experience that’s taking the hospitality world by storm. But listening bars aren’t exactly new. The concept first came to prominence in the 1950s in Japan, where intimate crowds of audiophiles would gather to drink and listen to jazz records in sound-centric jazz kissas, where sound systems would be designed and optimised to allow guests to fully appreciate the music, in a much more detailed and complete way than they would anywhere else.
More than 50 years on, Japanese-inspired, music-first bars are on the rise across the world’s capitals. From Ginza’s music hotspot to the latest openings in London and Mexico City, here are the listening bars you should be checking out right now.
01. Eavesdrop, New York City
Just a couple of years old, the Greenpoint hotspot Eavesdrop only has 36 seats to mimic the experience New Yorkers would have while hanging out at a friend’s house. “We love New York’s nightlife, but none of the places we knew replicated that living room,” co-founder Dan Wissinger says. The bar serves up cocktails, natural wine and Japanese-inspired small plates, while DJs spin a selection of records that include hip-hop, jazz, soul and deep house.
02. Ginza Music Bar, Tokyo
Established in 2014 by music producer Shinichi Osawa and coffee producer Nobuhiro Toriba, Ginza Music Bar is a pioneer of the new era of music bars in Tokyo. Royal blue hues, plush seating and shiny wooden surfaces welcome guests in an intimate setting, while the vinyl collection features more than 3,000 records encompassing everything from timeless rock, jazz, soul and disco classics to the latest trends in indie rock, hip-hop and techno, as well as various film scores, all played from high-fidelity Garrard turntables and Tannoy Westminster speakers.
03. Roca HiFi, Mexico City
Mexico City isn’t new to listening bars – already counting venues such as Tokyo Music Bar, Bussifame, Musak and Jacques Vinyl Bar. However, Roca HiFi, a “space to unplug and let the rhythm take over”, is one of the most exciting recent openings. Guests can enjoy a state-of-the-art listening experience with a custom-made sound system and turntables, CDJs and an Allen & Heath mixer, as well as a spacious outdoor terrace, ideal for balmy summer evenings.
04. The Kissaten, Lisbon
Located in a former 17th-century convent that opened to the public in the summer of 2024, Kissaten, part of the Spiritland group, bridges Japanese traditions with Portuguese warmth. The bar has become a go-to for audiophiles and whisky lovers alike – it’s home to Lisbon’s largest whisky selection, with more than 100 bottles from around the world, as well as to cult German turntables EMT 948s, which were originally used at London’s now-defunct Plastic People nightclub.
05. Space Talk, London
Space Talk’s goal is “to create a community through sonic connection, create a safe space for people with a genuine interest in discovering and growing through music”. The Clerkenwell design-led, music-first hi-fi bar is divided into four different areas, each characterised by a different curation of sound and light that encourages guests to experience the various spaces throughout the night. The cocooning, cosy atmosphere comes courtesy of warm woods and soft lighting, all masterfully executed by architecture studio EBBA and designer Charlotte Taylor, while the speakers, dotted around the venue, are custom made by Friendly Pressure.
06. Bambino, Paris
In the 11th arrondissement, Bambino welcomes you with velvet curtains and a pared-back facade with minimal branding that’s quintessentially Parisian. Walk in, and you’ll notice how music takes centre stage – small tables and a counter in front of a varied record collection that spans anything from R&B and blues to jazz, funk and soul. On the side, the kitchen headed up by Kenta Tomoda (and by the occasional guest residency, such as Top Chef finalist Clotaire Poirier) serves up trendy small plates.
07. Mad Cats, London
Mad Cats is the latest addition to London’s listening bar scene. Founded by couple Ed Khoury and Daniella Andriesz – who each look after a side of the business, music and food and drink respectively – it’s nestled between Brick Lane and Redchurch Street. Exposed bricks surround an intimate seating area, while the back is home to the vinyl collection of jazz, soul and funk, which are played via 22 speakers strategically placed around the venue.
08. The Listening Room @ Tokyo Record Bar, New York City
The Listening Room sits above Tokyo Record Bar, an izakaya-style restaurant where guests are presented a seven-course menu and are asked to make a soundtrack for their evening, using records of their choice from the bar’s extensive vinyl collection. Dubbed an “homage to jewel boxes of vinyl in Japan”, the listening space upstairs boasts a champagne menu courtesy of Air’s Champagne Parlor and nightly DJs spinning anything from classic rock to bossa nova spanning from the 1950s to the 2000s and beyond.