“Music is the true breath of life. We eat so we don't starve. We sing to hear ourselves live.” Yasmina Khadra The Swallows of Kabul
A safe place It's a comforting place, not necessarily silent, but one that provides us with a feeling of fulfillment. Today, the word is gaining popularity because it addresses the chaos and exhaustion we experience. Despite the increasing availability of mental health support and resources, the speed at which the world is changing is wearing us down. In big cities, moments of silence and calm are rare, moments when our notifications, appointments, and obligations don't constantly pop into our heads. It's becoming difficult to recharge our batteries in bars with friends, but we feel anxious as soon as we spend too much time at home because the lack of productivity weighs us down. Audiophile cafés, which combine music workshops with dining areas, are slowly appearing in major cities. Here are a few, distinguished by their interior design reflecting their host city and their musical selections.
MOGO – Milan
Unique in its minimalist style and raw colors, MOGO attracts its clientele with its music. The bar hosts hours of listening sessions with top DJs, before serving dinner prepared by chef Yoji Tokuyoshi's team. His cuisine is highly regarded, showcasing the multifaceted nature of Japanese cooking with authentic flavors and bold presentations, all accompanied by sophisticated cocktails.
HER Music Room – Melbourne
The intimate atmosphere of this audiophile venue is perfect for relaxing, unwinding, or letting yourself be carried away by the music of local and international artists. The venue comprises four spaces: the bar on the ground floor, open from 11:30 am; the music room on the first floor, open from 4 pm; BBK on the third floor, a canteen featuring Thai barbecue; and finally, the rooftop.
HER is an ecosystem that blends culinary and audio pleasures within a single atmosphere. In this enclosed space, vinyl records of all styles are played, ensuring a true musical journey.
Café Shin – Paris
The café, open only during the day, doesn't shy away from playing live music, just like in the evening. The project is led by chef Julien Sebbag and pastry chef Eun Jung. Both draw inspiration from Seoul's cafés and their flavors. In a playful and cheerful metallic and pastel setting, Café Shin separates its café area from its listening space, as the creators suggest these experiences be enjoyed separately. Every day, a music album is played at 17 p.m. in a private listening room equipped with a high-quality sound system. Immersive and inviting, this small room sets a rhythm while allowing everyone the freedom to follow their own curiosity.
TRADER – Hamburg
The TRADER café has been renovated to include a DJ booth in order to recreate the atmosphere of jazz kissaThese are post-war Japanese cafes where customers could listen to jazz records. During the day, the cafe retains its primary function before transforming into a listening room in the evening. A 70-square-meter space optimized for the sole purpose of relaxing to jazz music.
Urusai Sunset Bar – Ibiza
On the island of parties and music, evenings can be exhausting. The crowds and noise levels can lead to a certain degree of fatigue, potentially detracting from the musical experience. Urusai Sunset Bar, a restaurant that blends Japanese and local cuisine, has set up a DJ booth to offer a different, more intimate, and immersive audio experience. The vinyl selection is curated by DJ Jaime Fiorito, who organizes more relaxed live DJ sets during the day and early evening, providing an alternative to the sprawling grounds that host major festivals. By mixing with vinyl, the DJs focus on the rhythms of the music, creating a more authentic listening experience.
Devon Turnbull: HiFi Pursuit Listening Room Dream No. 3 - New York
Devon Turnbull is a designer and sound engineer, founder of OJAS, a company that operates sound systems. He recently launched a project to build an exclusive, experimental, and contemplative listening space. A large sound system It occupies the space of a room devoid of any superficial decoration. Here, music is the focus of discussion; it is shared with the aim of exploring each person's tastes and experiences. Devon Turnbull emphasizes that the listening exercise requires deep engagement and focused attention so that the entire experience is truly impactful. Every musical genre has been considered, from jazz and classical music to experimental electronica.
This listening room is an integral part of the "Art of Noise" exhibition. From Monday to Sunday, playlists are offered in different genres: classical music on Mondays, ambient on Wednesdays, jazz on Fridays, and a mix of genres on the remaining days. The second activity involves sound experiments, which will be presented live on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from 13 p.m. to 16 p.m.
Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum
2 E 91st St, New York (United States)
Until July 19, 2026
cooperhewitt.org/channel/devon-turnbull
Spiritland and Kissaten – Lisbon
These two spaces are part of the Spiritland bar chain. In 2024, a main bar opened, structured around a menu of 12 cocktails, which also features DJ sets and daytime parties, inviting DJs from all genres. In the basement, the Kissaten bar has been transformed into an intimate listening bar. It allows patrons to discover their niche selection of vinyl records, complemented by a list of the finest whiskies from Portugal. Their discography ranges from classical to spiritual jazz, with a wide variety of tracks, from oldies to modern, including mainstream and underground.
Music, the ultimate universal symbol, can be listened to in every genre and under any circumstances. Whether political, a vehicle for values, calm, violent, or energetic, it reflects our moods and thoughts. In a way, it comforts its listener. These new hybrid spaces bring a real intention behind each piece of music played and don't perceive it as mere entertainment. Whether it's to discover new music through conversation, to escape the hustle and bustle in the hope of finding authenticity, or to organize an intimate gathering with niche vinyl, these audiophile bars will be our new sanctuaries.
