Song bar in tokyo how to#

Then there’s room for something more playful. “We keep the accessories minimal to maximize the audio.” “We were looking for a clean aesthetic and things that felt light in your hand,” he says. For cocktail gear, Gahr outfits the bar with Japanese-inspired diamond-cut mixing glasses, dasher bottles and slender swiveled bar spoons from Umami Mart.Īt In Sheep’s Clothing, says general manager David Heath, “Our intention has been to not take away from the sound, so we keep most of our servingware on the muted side, with minimal decorative fuss and lots of soft neutral colors.” Much of their glassware is vintage, but Duralex and Riedel round the collection out. “They’re sturdy, American-made, and classic, but also have some modernity in style,” he says, adding that they can stand up to the rigors of bar service. That can include simple, modern styles, like the Libbey glassware Gahr is loyal to. Orren Ellis Hartung Adjustable Height Swivel Bar Stool, $69īörge Johansson Classic Bar Stool, $2,301 Joybird Soto Apartment Chair, $629 Buy: Leather bar stools Herman Miller Orange Padded Vinyl Side Chair, $375 West Coast Modern LA Custom Walnut Milo Case Sofa, $1,850 Buy: Vintage(ish) chairs Langley Street Matthew Mid-Century Sofa, $750

Kale recommends those along with Wertz Brothers, Craigslist, and Industry West (for reproductions). Most of the finds, including a dark green leather sofa and orange Herman Miller chairs, are vintage, from West Coast Modern LA, Charish, and 1st Dibs. There’s a mixture of black leather barstools, floral upholstered chairs, and plush leather banquettes lining the room. “All along, the vision was to create an environment that would allow the music to be the main attraction,” says Studio Collective creative director Leslie Kale. Their goal was to source mismatched groupings of midcentury vintage pieces that would make the room feel like a home without over-designing it. The team at In Sheep’s Clothing enlisted Venice-based Studio Collective for help designing their space.

Song bar in tokyo how to#

(One exception is Tokyo Record Bar, which opts for a decidedly busier approach that Arce describes as “a ryokan that’s been exploded on with color.”) One thing they all share is a commitment to the audio experience, which is as much a part of the decor as chairs or light fixtures.īelow is a guide, both in photos and words from the design minds themselves, on how to make a transportive-looking (and -sounding!) space. Natural elements such as wood and leather are common, and the whole space conveys a sense of stepping back in time.

“I call it a little jewel box for music,” she says of the 300-square foot space.ĭesign-wise, many listening bars lean toward a cozy, midcentury modern vibe, with comfortable seating (since you’ll likely be camped out for a while) and vintage-leaning accessories (these are, after all, bars dedicated to record players). Gold Line Bar, also in LA, is aiming to do the same, “like a Japanese hifi bar but given a California lens.” Others, like Ariel Arce, owner of Tokyo Record Bar in New York, actively encourage a communal atmosphere diners there choose songs off a list of vinyl records that are played in real time over the course of a 7-course omakase meal. “This is a social space.” David Heath, general manager of In Sheep’s Clothing, acknowledges the often-noisy realities of running a bar in a major American city: “We’re doing our best to create a listening space within a bar in downtown LA,” he says. “We don’t shush,” says Daniel Gahr of the recently-opened Bar Shiru in Oakland. The listening bar concept has crept into the US in recent years, albeit with some tweaks. And when it comes to design, they’re usually intimate spaces with a retro feel, kitted out with pristine audio equipment and, of course, a meticulous record collection. These are known generally as listening bars, designed for just that: listening, as opposed to socializing. Audiophile visitors to Japan often return breathless from nights spent in Tokyo’s famed jazz cafes and their sonic cousins, record bars, renowned for delivering top-notch listening experiences for vinyl geeks and turntable nerds.