Public Records
A sprawling Gowanus complex whose Sound Room is tuned around a custom Ojas system.
Not yet verifiedNew York's listening rooms grew out of its record shops and its clubs at the same time, which is why the city has both hushed corner bars and rooms with a proper dancefloor bolted to a hand-built system.
None of these has been checked in person or confirmed by the venue yet. Each was written from what the venue publishes about itself, and every page says so.
A sprawling Gowanus complex whose Sound Room is tuned around a custom Ojas system.
Not yet verifiedOpened in 2022 and quickly established as the neighbourhood's listening bar of record.
Not yet verifiedOne of the newer Brooklyn rooms built around a system rather than a cocktail list.
Not yet verifiedA neighbourhood listening lounge rather than a destination — which is the point.
Not yet verifiedA West Village basement that runs a fixed omakase alongside a records-by-request format.
Not yet verifiedWe have written up 5 in New York. None of these has been checked in person or confirmed by the venue yet. Each was written from what the venue publishes about itself, and every page says so.
Public Records and Tokyo Record Bar. The rest are set up for drinking and listening rather than eating.
Nothing on our New York list is open for coffee. Listening rooms here are evening places.
A bar built around a stereo, where the music is put on from vinyl, tape or a disc rather than played live, and the room is arranged to face the speakers. It is the descendant of the Japanese jazz kissa, with a bar tab and later hours.