London’s Best Listening Bars To Add To Your List
London’s listening-bar scene has grown rapidly in recent years, inspired by the vinyl-focused jazz kissaten of Japan. These spaces prioritise high-fidelity sound, relaxed seating, curated vinyl collections and an atmosphere built for listening rather than loud tunes you have to shout over. Whether tucked beneath restaurants or hidden in basements, London’s listening bars offer a more intimate, immersive way to enjoy drinks, food and music.
Hausu
Tucked away near Peckham Rye station, Hausu is a restaurant and bar that balances vintage hi-fi audio with inventive food and drink. The ambience is mellow and intimate with wine and cocktails paired with carefully prepared small plates, all while a curated soundtrack of vinyl runs through the space.
An effortlessly cool South East London spot, it’s perfect for groups or couples who want a more relaxed, sound-centric night out without the club chaos.
Small plates and good cocktails are already a winning formula for me, but paired with the vibe at Hausu, things go up a notch. Be sure to head upstairs too – their new cocktail bar is a must visit.
Elle, Senior Venue Partnerships Manager
where: 11A STATION WAY, PECKHAM RYE STATION, SE15 4RX
website:www.hausulondon.co.uk
Goodbye Horses
This is a wine bar and restaurant in Islington that, while not a traditional “club-style” listening bar, is all about vinyl sound and creating a relaxed, music-forward dining experience. Located in an old pub building that has been restored, the interiors draw inspiration from Japanese folk art and English arts and crafts. The focal point of the space is a ten-metre-long timber bar made from one single oak tree.
On the wine list, you can find over 20 wines by the glass and over 300 by the bottle, thanks to their impressive 1600 sq ft cellar around the corner. Plus, enjoy a backdrop of vinyl albums, handpicked daily from Goodbye Horses’ extensive 4,000-plus library.
where: 21 Halliford St, London N1 3HB
website: www.goodbyehorses.london
Nipperkin
This intimate late-night cocktail bar in Mayfair is inspired by the immersive speakeasy-style vibe of Japanese listening rooms from the 1950s. With cosy booths and vintage records on display, it’s an ideal spot for date night that’s all about music and quality drinks.
The cocktail menu is crafted around four seasons: prep, lean, plethora, and dry, and each season is designed to highlight the finest local, seasonal ingredients, which the mixologists blend with Japanese spirits and sake.
Nipperkin is one of those spots you happen across and you wonder why it isn’t busier. It’s very vibey decor, great music, and has an unconventional cocktail menu.
Natasha, Digital Editor
where: 20 Berkeley Street, London, W1J 8EE
website: www.nijulondon.com
Nine Lives
Nine Lives is a neighbourhood cocktail bar tucked away in a basement just off Bermondsey Street. The vibe is intimate yet playful: expect carefully curated cocktails, tacos that bring a taste of 70s Southern California to London, and above all, a seriously good sound system.
The team takes its music as seriously as the food, and boasts of a sound system custom-built for easy after-dark listening, drinking and dancing.
where: 8 Holyrood Street, London, SE1 2EL
website: www.ninelivesbar.com
Junsei
Bringing together Japanese fire-grilled skewers with cocktails, curated vinyls and plenty of soul music, Junsei is a yakitori restaurant in Marylebone that also turns into a chic listening bar at night.
The space is inspired by Keonji’s listening cafes, and you can enjoy relaxed nights shaped by the crackle of vinyl, a glowing binchotan and incredible Japanese food. The drinks list takes you from seasonal sakes to shochu to traditional Japanese beers and inventive cocktails.
Junsei is the perfect spot to catch up with a friend over great cocktails and unique bites. The yakitori and Beats Vinyl session was such a fun but intimate atmostphere. It’s cozy little restaurant with a DJ that at the time was spinning Japanese disco covers that I couldn’t stop Shazaming.
Caitlin, Senior Campaign Success Manager
where: 132 Seymour Place, London, W1H 1NS
website: www.junsei.co.uk/ldn
Bambi
Bambi is a restaurant in London Fields that has a huge record collection and an incredible hi-fi sound system. You can visit for dinner, while on Fridays and Saturdays, you can expect party vibes till 1am. For anyone who appreciates delicious food and drink accompanied by a carefully curated playlist, this East London spot will not disappoint.
Where: Netil House, 1 Westgate St, London Fields, E8 3RL
Website: www.bambi-bar.com
Spiritland
A pioneer of the listening-bar scene in London, Spiritland is every music lover’s dream: a boutique-style café by day, an elegant cocktail bar by night, all built around a world-class hi-fi sound system.
On any night, you might catch a DJ set, an album-playback session or a laid-back mix of genres, from jazz and soul to electronic and ambient. With its relaxed, seated vibe and focus on sound quality, it’s ideal for those who want to appreciate music without shouting over it.
Where: 9 – 10 Stable St, London N1C 4AB
Website: www.spiritland.com
