Slow down and vibe out at one of London's many listening bars.

Scattered across London, listening bars – inspired by Japanese kissa culture – are offering vinyl enthusiasts and music lovers a new way to experience sound. Prioritising high-fidelity systems, thoughtful music curation, and intentional listening, these venues treat music with reverence, countering the always-on streaming culture with spaces to slow down and discover new sounds through human connection rather than algorithms.

With listening bars popping up all over the city, it can be hard to know where to start. To help you cut through the noise, we’ve put together a list of London’s best – from the raucous parties at Peckham’s Jumbi to the delicate intimacy of Hackney’s Space Talk.

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Bambi 

Netil House, 1 Westgate St LDN E8 3RL

Housed in Hackney’s Netil House, Bambi, founded by James Dye (of Frank’s Café & Camberwell Arms) merges vinyl culture, casual dining, and drinks. Powered by a high‑fidelity vintage sound system from Friendly Pressure, Bambi has a massive record collection spanning disco, house, techno and more._‍

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Behind This Wall

411 Mare St, London E8 1HY

Self-described as a “lo-fi bar with hi-fi intentions”, Hackney Central’s basement listening bar Behind This Wall combines cocktails and Yard Sale Pizza with a vintage sound system and frequent vinyl sets. 

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Brilliant Corners

470 Kingsland Rd, London E8 4AE, United Kingdom

Dalston’s Brilliant Corners, founded in 2013 by brothers Amit and Aneesh Patel, is known for its audiophile sound system, vinyl DJ sets, and a distinctive offering of izakaya-style dishes and natural wines. Inspired by the low-lit intimacy of Tokyo’s listening bars, Brilliant Corners yields 1970s Klipschorn speakers and offers a full schedule of jazz, experimental, house and much more. Don’t forget to check out Brilliant Corners’ sister venue mu, just up the street. 

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Hausu

11a Station Wy, London SE15 4RX

Peckham-based restaurant-bar Hausu hosts a high-fidelity vintage soundsystem alongside a vast small plate menu and cocktail offering.  

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Jazu 

2 Deptford High Street, London, SE8 4AF 

Soon approaching its first birthday, Deptford’s Jazu has hosted sets from Listening Room selectors including Donna Leake, Tash LC, Poly-Ritmo alongside the likes of Talib Kweli, Miche and many more.

Boasting a custom sound system, an expansive vinyl library and casual dining and cocktail options, Jazu offers a stripped back space for South East Londoners to catch jazz, funk, disco and more from London’s best selectors.

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Jumbi

Unit 4.1, Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Rd, London SE15 3SN

One of the more raucous entries on this list, Bradley Zero and Nathanael Williams’ Jumbi has become a mainstay of Peckham’s nightlife. “Celebrating the sounds & flavours of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora,” Jumbi is a go-to option for those who want to throw it back whilst listening to vinyl on a top-quality sound system. Expect major parties and sets from the UK’s best selectors. 

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Mad Cats

107 Redchurch St, London E2 7DL

One of the newest entries on this list, Shoreditch’s Mad Cats is a low-key combination of vinyl and dinner. Serving customers since October 2024, Mad Cats emphasises sharing plates and sharing music primarily from the world of funk. Boasting a custom sound system,  Mad Cats is an unassuming gem in East London. 

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Space Talk 

18-20 St John St, Barbican, London EC1M 4AY

Clerkenwell’s Space Talk is a carefully designed space (with involvement from Ebba and designer Charlotte Taylor) that boasts a custom sound system by Friendly Pressure and Lewis Kemmenoe. No reservations are available, so keep an eye out on their Instagram for sets and listening sessions from DJs, including Nick Leon, Ehua and Nyksan.

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Spiritland

9 - 10 Stable St, London N1C 4AB

The long-establishedlistening bar in King's Cross is built around a bespoke sound system designed by Living Voice and overseen by Kevin Scott, featuring valve amplification from Italian manufacturer Atelier du Triode and a rotary mixer from Isonoe. Serving as a café by day and a cocktail lounge by night, it hosts a broad scope of events for all vinyl enthusiasts — from album clubs to DJ sets — regardless of your preferred genres.

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Other listening bars

All My Friends - Unit 1, Hamlet Estate, 96 White Post Ln, London E9 5EN

BBE Store - Arch 376, 10 Helmsley Place, London, E8 3SB

Chiave - 36 Redchurch St, London E2 7DP

Equal Parts - 245 Hackney Rd, London E2 8NA

Goodbye Horses - 21 Halliford Street, London, N1 3HB

Nine Lives - 8 Holyrood Street, London, SE1 2EL

No. 26 Curtain Road - 26 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3NY

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Learn more about Devon Turnbull's Listening Room at 180 Studios here.

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