4 listening bars in London our editors have drunk at, sorted by score. All London nightlife.

Brilliant Corners ★ 4.8

££Dalston

The 2013 Kingsland Road room founded by Amit and Aneesh Patel is the original London listening bar, built around a horn-loaded vinyl-only sound system and a Japanese-influenced izakaya menu.

TipBookings open six weeks ahead, the bar stools take walk-ins. Sundays are the quietest, the playing is at its most adventurous.

Spiritland ★ 4.7

££King's Cross

The 2016 King's Cross flagship with a custom Living Voice sound system and a programme of guest selectors built the audiophile-bar template that is now copied across the country.

TipThe Friday all-night selector sessions are bookable, the standard evening is walk-in. Sit on the velvet bench, the speakers are aimed at it.

mu ★ 4.6

£££Dalston

The Kingsland Road sister room to Brilliant Corners from the Patel brothers and Giant Steps adds live performance to the listening-bar formula, with a Japanese-leaning food menu and a tight gig calendar.

TipThe Wednesday and Sunday live sets are the most adventurous, weekends lean to DJs. Bookings open three weeks out.

Nine Lives ★ 4.7

££Bermondsey

The Holyrood Street basement just off Bermondsey Street pairs a custom-built sound system with a Mexican taco kitchen and a cocktail programme that has won regular World's 50 Best Bars recognition.

TipThe mezcal flight at the bar is the way in, the booth at the back of the room is the listening spot. No bookings, walk in early.

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