hifimaps

Best listening bars in Paris

Paris was late to the listening bar scene, but the idea fits the city almost too well. Small bars, serious sound systems, shelves of records, good wine and no pressure to leave after one drink. The Paris version feels less like an audiophile club and more like a neighbourhood bar where someone happens to care a lot about what is playing.

We are visiting them one by one. Places we have been to include our own notes and photographs. The rest are based on information published by the venues and are clearly marked.

Of the 24, four have been sat in by somebody from hifimaps, and two have been confirmed by the people who run them. The rest were written from what the venues publish, and say so on the page.

See them on the map

Questions about Paris

How many listening bars are there in Paris?

We have written up 24 in Paris. Of the 24, four have been sat in by somebody from hifimaps, and two have been confirmed by the people who run them. The rest were written from what the venues publish, and say so on the page.

Which listening bars in Paris serve food?

Mesures, Listener, Cadence and Le Discobar. The rest are set up for drinking and listening rather than eating.

Where can you get coffee and good sound in Paris?

Sound and Coffee Panoramas serve coffee as well as playing records.

What is a listening bar?

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.