4 listening bars in London, editor-picked by TableJourney. All London nightlife.
Brilliant Corners ★ 4.8
Dalston · 470 Kingsland Road, Dalston, London E8 4AE
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.
Tip: Bookings 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 · 9-10 Stable Street, King's Cross, London N1C 4AB
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.
Tip: The 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 · 432-434 Kingsland Road, Dalston, London E8 4AA
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.
Tip: The Wednesday and Sunday live sets are the most adventurous, weekends lean to DJs. Bookings open three weeks out.
Nine Lives ★ 4.7
Bermondsey · 8 Holyrood Street, Bermondsey, London SE1 2EL
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.
Tip: The 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.