Brooklyn has become the undisputed center of the listening bar movement in the United States. What started as a niche concept borrowed from Japan’s jazz kissas has grown into a genuine scene — a handful of spaces where the music is the main event, the sound systems are taken seriously, and the bartenders know that a great cocktail tastes better when the right record is playing.
We opened Kissa Kissa at the beginning of 2024 as the borough’s first traditional jazz kissa, and two years in, we’re proud to be part of a growing community of bars that put listening first. Here are the Brooklyn spots we admire most — starting with our own.
Kissa Kissa
Modeled after the traditional jazz kissas of Tokyo and Osaka, Kissa Kissa is built around one idea: sit down, order a drink, and listen to a full album on vinyl, front to back. Our Harbeth and ModWright sound system was engineered specifically for this room — warm, detailed, and designed for easy conversation at the same time. The collection is 5,000+ jazz LPs spanning the 1950s through the ’70s, sourced from around the world.
Every cocktail is named after a jazz album or song — Giant Steps, ’Round Midnight, Smoke Stack. The walls are lined with original oil paintings of jazz legends by co-founder Nina Barry. No cover, no minimum, no rush. Just good music and good company.
667 Franklin Ave, Crown Heights · kissakissa.us · Open seven nights a week
Eavesdrop
Eavesdrop takes the listening bar concept as seriously as anyone in the city. The space was designed from the ground up with acoustic engineering in mind — including a wall of mirrors at variable depths opposite the DJ station to optimize sound clarity, and custom Tom Danley SH60 speakers. The room caps at 36 guests, which keeps the atmosphere intimate and the volume honest.
The drink program leans toward craft cocktails and natural wines, with a small plates menu that holds its own. If you’re the kind of person who notices the difference between a good sound system and a great one, Eavesdrop is worth the trip to Greenpoint.
674 Manhattan Ave, Greenpoint · eavesdrop.nyc
Mr. Melo
Mr. Melo opened in late 2023 in Williamsburg with a mission to make vinyl culture approachable. Dead-stock vintage Klipsch speakers from 1979 fill the room while resident DJs spin everything from jazz and soul to funk and world music. No cover charge, and they greet every guest with a complimentary welcome shot — a nice touch that sets the tone immediately.
The cocktail program is inventive — their Compost Cocktail series repurposes kitchen waste into drinks like a feta brine martini. Greek-inspired small plates round out the menu. It’s the kind of place where you walk in a curious newcomer and leave a regular.
61 Withers St, Williamsburg · mrmelobar.com
Bierwax
Bierwax has been holding it down on Vanderbilt Avenue since 2017 — before most people in Brooklyn had heard the term “listening bar.” Owner Chris Maestro built the concept around two passions: vinyl and craft beer. The collection runs nearly 5,000 records deep, and Chris brings Level 1 Cicerone expertise to a draft list that’s as thoughtfully curated as the music selection.
Widely considered one of the first vinyl record bars in the country, Bierwax has the easy, lived-in feel of a spot that was ahead of the curve and never felt the need to announce it. A rotating roster of DJs keeps the programming fresh. It’s also solar-powered — which, for a bar, is pretty cool.
556 Vanderbilt Ave, Prospect Heights · bierwaxnyc.com
Doris
Doris is a Bed-Stuy staple that blends Tex-Mex cocktails with a vinyl-forward atmosphere. It’s not a traditional listening bar in the strict sense — it’s more of a neighborhood spot where great records happen to be playing, the drinks are solid, and the vibe is exactly right. High ceilings, warm lighting, and a big backyard make it easy to settle in for a long evening.
They run themed vinyl nights including Texas Tuesday on the third Tuesday of each month, spinning country records on wax. It’s the kind of place where you go for one drink and stay for three — which, honestly, is the highest compliment a bar can get.
1088 Fulton St, Bed-Stuy · doris.foodjoyy.com
Start Your Listening Tour at Kissa Kissa
667 Franklin Avenue · Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Open seven nights a week
