Best listening bars in London

Looking for the best hifi bars in London? If you're partial to a carefully curated cocktail or two, you may have noticed the term 'listening bar' appearing on the London cocktail bar scene in the last couple of years. Think: intimate, low lighting, stylish, mid-century décor and most importantly, high-fidelity sound systems. Inspired by Japanese "kissaten" culture, which emerged in the post-war era, the experience of sound is placed firmly centre stage. Although while the music may be a key focus, food and drinks menus are by no means an afterthought, with high-quality, seasonal ingredients, global-inspired flavours and rotating chef takeovers.

As an east London resident myself, you might call me biased but my favourite spots also happen to inhabit this side of the capital. For a cute and cosy date night destination, Chiave is a no-brainer, where you can continue the night and throw shapes on the luxe downstairs dance floor complete with bespoke sound system (trust me, it's nothing like the sweaty basements you may have frequented in the past). If you're looking for a more substantial meal, I would never fail to recommend Mad Cats's east Asian-inspired menu packed with punchy, umami-rich flavour. And that pandan crème brûlée, wow. Of course, the whole of London is blessed with a wealth of stellar options, so whatever your taste, peruse my list below and find something to suit you.

Next, discover the best cocktail bars in London, London hotel bars to visit and the best rooftop bars in London. For an off-the-beaten track new spot to visit, read about these neighbourhood gems according to London locals and find out where our drinks writer goes for summer drinking in London.

Best London listening bars

Chiave, Shoreditch

Meaning ‘key’ in Italian, Chiave cuts a subtle exterior on Shoreditch’s Redchurch Street bar the large, polished brass-effect key on the door. Naturally lit during the day from the sash windows, stay until sundown for the bar to transform into a cosy drinking den with dark mahogany tables and palo santo incense swirling up towards the alluring red ceiling.

Chiave’s nine signature cocktails are the crowning glory, each of which is named after a song. Street Spirit (named after Radiohead’s 1995 track) is a vibrant twist on a Moscow mule with aniseed notes from raki – Turkey’s national spirit – effortlessly blended with a subtle salted caramel vodka. Margarita fans will not be disappointed with a Tommy margarita mixing equal quantities of Ojo de Dios mezcal and Don Julio tequila, with chilli liqueur and a spicy sumac rim. For crisp and aromatic herbal refreshment don’t miss Sunbeams with Tanqueray No Ten gin, chinotto nero and a blend of clarified sea buckthorn and basil.

The team’s Turkish heritage is carried into the small but thoughtful snack selection. Nibble on dainty, rice-stuffed vine leaves with pomegranate molasses for dipping, or hummus-filled cucumber bites. If you want to carry on the night, pop downstairs to the small but compact dance floor with custom-made speakers and a stylish HiFi mixer.

Mad Cats, Shoreditch

Another listening bar has landed in Shoreditch – and this one is more than worth a visit. With a compact cocktail selection that chooses quality over quantity, Asian-inspired flavours sing with Muyu Jasmine Verte Liqueur, junmai sake and lemongrass, while there’s a dash of Lebanese inspiration with the Zaza cocktail: a spin on a classic tequila martini with infused za’atar oil. Red, white, rosé, orange and sparkling wines are available from traditional and new world regions, as well as five varieties of sake.

East Asian flavours are carried across to the menu. The yellowtail carpaccio with jalapeño sauce and ponzu dressing is beautifully presented, and citrusy without being too sharp. Towering brioche toast with crab and gochujang aïoli was a highlight, although there truly were no misses: charred hispi cabbage is accompanied by an umami-rich wafu sauce, and the miso hake with chilli oil and samphire is buttery and delicate. Finally, the Greek cantaloupe sorbet makes the perfect palate cleanser ahead of the silky pandan crème brûlée.

Attention to detail goes beyond the menu, with chopsticks resting on hand-painted model cats, DJs spinning vinyl only and an abundance of high-fidelity speakers to keep audiophiles content. Don’t miss a trip to the bathroom through the blue velvet curtain where The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is played on a speaker directly into your cubicle.

The Listening Room, Soho

Soho’s Wardour Street contains a secret. Downstairs from Japanese-inspired grill and omakase restaurant MOI – and via an impressive retro-futuristic spiral staircase – resides The Listening Room, a spacious underground listening bar. Serious about audio, bespoke speakers are from London-based sound system maker Friendly Pressure, and the walls are covered in soundwave-like textured curves for great acoustics.

The drinks menu is led by ex-Langham Dino Koletsas and infused with Asian flavours. The shiro negroni, a refreshing white spin on a negroni with yuzu sake, potato shochu and chrysanthemum bitters has a pleasantly floral nose. Them Apples cleverly recreates the flavour of fresh green apple without using the ingredient itself: instead sparkling green tea, whisky, tomato liqueur and marigold combine for an ultra-refreshing sip. The extensive sake and natural wine list is accessible to both the more experienced and more nascent sipper.

Order sushi, small plates and skewers hot off the grill from the upstairs kitchen by executive chef Andy Cook who worked with Gordon Ramsay to open his outpost in Tokyo. The crisp, warm and slightly sweet steamed buns served with smoked cod’s roe was a strong start. Sushi is not one to miss either – we chose Icelandic sea urchin and chutoro tuna temaki delicately wrapped in nori, whose rich flavour was perfectly complemented by dots of wasabi and slices of pickled ginger.

Nipperkin, Mayfair

Situated inside NIJŪ Japanese grill and sushi bar, Nipperkin is heavily inspired by 1950s Japanese listening bars. Step through ornate curtains into an intimate, mid-century space with plush seating, and marvel as expert mixologists fan perfectly cuboid ice, with an impressive record collection and vinyl set-up behind them.

Centred around micro-seasonality, the drinks menu from award-winning mixologist Angelos Bafas is split into four harvest seasons. Hyper-seasonal British ingredients such as wild garlic, spring flowers and blackberries expertly coalesce with the classic Japanese ingredients, such as yuzu, shiso and matcha. The highball pickled cucumber was seriously refreshing, as was the Granny Smith and yuzu with Exmoor raw wildflower honey. Macerated blackberries and sloes make a pleasantly herbaceous and bitter sip with Axia Extra Dry Mastiha and Cambridge red bitters, while there’s umami savouriness on offer from the likes of Nipperkin’s aged mushroom spirit, Cambridge truffle gin and tomato liqueur. Don’t overlook the ‘dry’ season – the sour green gooseberries with a non-alcoholic citrus spirit and English wasabi tastes like a lemon meringue pie with a whisper of warmth.

Dunk crunchy bar snacks from NIJŪ of seasonal vegetables and lotus chips into creamy tofu with shiso oil and buttery grilled aubergine – and you can even peep into NIJŪ’s kitchen when paying a visit to the adorned bathrooms.

Encore, Mayfair

Downstairs from Lebanese rotisserie joint Toum, Encore successfully ticks off two cocktail bar buzzwords in one fell swoop: listening bar and speakeasy. Just steps away from Regent Street, this stylish subterranean bar unites a heady mix of Lebanese and French influences across the polished cocktail and snack menus.

Twelve signature cocktails showcase inventive twists on classics – a sumac-spiced negroni with tequila is balanced by pomegranate, while the refined mezcal spritz brings in zingy and refreshing yuzu, lime and coconut water. Those sweet-inclined will enjoy the unique yet familiar taste of the tarte tatin: oak aged brandy, vanilla liqueur, coconut water and honey give a balanced sweetness that is never saccharine. The Encore batanga is a stand-out with added depth from sherry and spidery strands of red chilli scattered on top. Unctuous and warm comté madeleines were particularly irresistible from the elevated bar snack menu.

Habibi funk and Arabic disco deep cuts can be heard spinning on vinyl, thanks to the sound-diffusing ceiling and speakers dotted around the intimate space. Rich red carpets, mid-century wood panelling and stylish contemporary artwork make the bar the perfect spot for a date night or cosy catch-up with a friend.

Stereo, Covent Garden

Beneath the depths of Covent Garden’s cobblestones sits Stereo, a cocktail bar that harks back to the analogue era with its 70s-esque brown wood panelled décor, vintage cocktails, vinyl-only DJ sets and live bands.

From the focal point bar surrounded by orb-shaped lamps, disco punch bowls are mixed with STEREO house vodka and Thames Distillers gin, as well as 70s- and 80s-inspired cocktails using vintage vermouth and other aged spirits. Negroni and espresso martini are on draft, or choose from the likes of Flying Paper’s black sesame seed-encrusted tumbler with Buffalo Trace bourbon hibiscus, amaro Montenegro and lemon, or Sunset in Oaxaca’s evening pick-me-up with Tapatio tequila blanco, mezcal, rhubarb cordial, Aperol, lemon and orange blossom.

Kick off the night with à la carte American-inspired dishes of dredged fried chicken sandos and macaroni cheese with a brioche crumb – chef-restaurateur Andrew Clarke of Acme Fire Cult consulted on the menu – accompanied by the smooth house band. You can dance until the early hours with their rotating line-up of DJs. If you get peckish, late-night bar snacks and nibbles will keep you going, with the likes of warm popcorn with espelette salt and STEREO hot wings.

Viajante87, Notting Hill Gate

Don’t be deceived by the Barbie pink door with neon graffiti on the street outside – descend the staircase into Viajante87 to find yourself in an underground bar with moody lighting and flickering candles. Sit up at the long bar, a beacon of light in the otherwise dark space, and chat to the friendly staff or get cosy at one of the more intimate tables.

The substantial cocktail menu is inspired by Latin America and celebrates a diversity of agave as well as more unusual ingredients. Creations include the likes of Blood Moon with Patrón reposado tequila, Aperol, pomegranate and hibiscus, with plenty of lemon and smoked Oaxacan Pasilla chilli to offset the sweetness. Alcohol-free 0087 has a very pleasant savouriness from pico de gallo with Seedlip Grove, oolong cordial and sancho pepper.

On Thursdays from 7-11pm Latin-inspired jazz, funk and disco vinyl spins on the decks, accompanied by a pared back cocktail menu (in addition to the regular one) with classic cocktails such as spicy margaritas and palomas served with a choice of two tequilas and one mezcal. Nibble on fresh guacamole with crunchy, seasoned tortilla chips or three well-considered tacos to accompany your liquid refreshment. Sunken ceiling panels ensure impeccable acoustics.

Equal Parts, Hackney

Michael Sager has partnered with Matteo Vaccargiu to open an Italian aperitivo bar in a green tiled-fronted corner spot, a few doors down from the original Sager + Wilde wine bar. It’s an elegant, unfussy space, with plenty of wood panelling, flickering candles and vinyl twirling on the decks. Perch at the window ledge to watch trendy passers-by or bag a spot at the bar to see the team shake and stir signature cocktails in front of an impressive line-up of amaros, aperitivo and bitters.

The Flor cocktail combines fino sherry and olive oil vodka with Matteo’s elevated clarification of fresh tomato, basil, chilli and a tiny touch of garlic for a bright, fresh finish, alla liquid bruschetta to evoke the Sardinian coast. The Orange is a concoction of orange wine, Meletti amaro and pear and elderflower syrup, while the ACE makes a refreshing twist on the garibaldi (combining carrot cordial, fresh orange juice, Campari and soda). A seasonal infusion makes its way into a trio of classics; on our visit a strawberry and fig leaf martini combo that brightened the negroni, sbagliato and americano.

Nine Lives, London Bridge

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of London Bridge is a cosy oasis of a bar, serving up some of London's best cocktails. Nine Lives has a buzzy atmosphere, balancing the vibe of a live DJ with the volume at just the right level so you can still chat comfortably. Their new cocktail menu is headed up by William Campbell-Rowntree. The Mello cocktail, a mixture of vodka, Cocchi Americano and honeydew was beautifully refreshing. Equally good was the Godfather sour made with bourbon, which had a pleasantly balanced taste. To eat, there's a small but enticing menu from head chef Ramon Ramos, consisting of tacos – from baja to barbacoa – and small plates. We liked the ceviche sampler, which was citrusy and refreshing. This cosy, romantic spot also has a bottleshop, offering takeaway cocktails, and outdoor seating to soak up the sun.

Seed Library, Shoreditch

Ryan Chetiyawardana’s latest venture is a slinky drinking den in the basement of the One Hundred Shoreditch hotel. Whereas his flagship bar – Lyaness at Sea Containers in Southbank – showcases a high-concept approach to mixology, Seed Library is deliberately more casual and low key. Walk-ins are encouraged and the space, with its sultry lighting, wood-panelled walls, red velvet chairs and warm palette, feels retro and slightly louche, yet very welcoming.

Expect elevated riffs on cocktail classics with a touch of whimsy. The vibrant Breakfast Bellini with Patrón tequila, century beans, breakfast fruit and champagne is served with a fried egg sweet balanced on top of the glass. Asteriod Garden is a celestial spin on the English Garden, lifted with shochu and pink meteor wine, while apple blossom and tundra tea bring refreshment. A Coriander Seed Gimlet is gorgeously executed – clean and citrusy with a backbone of gentle, warming spice.

Bar snacks include the likes of nocerella olives, spiced nuts and chilli rice crackers - everything you want from a nibble: savoury, salty and crunchy. Analogue lovers can find East London's Diggers Dozen spinning vinyl at the weekend.