The Valhalla is battling the Ferrari F80 and forthcoming McLaren W1 – how does it fare?
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How Japan’s Listening Bar Culture Conquered the World
From London to New York, listening bars became a global blueprint for immersive sound.
“Listening bars are a reaction to people wanting to really re-engage with music,” Paul Noble, founder of Spiritland (one of the first venues in the UK to adopt the Japanese concept) tells me.
The idea dates back to the 1920s, when ongaku kissa, or ‘music cafes,’ began playing classical and jazz music, both as an escape from urban life and as part of a wider fascination with Western culture. By the 1950s, post-war Japan faced a scarcity of records and high-quality audio equipment, which gave rise to the pop-up of more dedicated listening bars, particularly concentrated in Tokyo’s Shibuya. Typically intimate – often with just six to eight seats – these venues were shaped by owners who were regarded as tastemakers in their own right; they curated the records (often focused on a single genre) and meticulously controlled the atmosphere.
By the 1980s, the rise of home stereos and CDs had reduced the demand for communal listening. Some venues consequently closed; others adapted and continue to operate today – a notable example being jazz kissa lion (or Lion Café as it’s now called), which launched in 1926 and is exclusively known for playing classical music.
See also: The Japanese Island You’re Not Visiting (But Should Be)
It wasn’t until the 2010s that the concept began to attract global attention, spreading to major cities like London and New York. Their Western boom was fueled by the decline of late-night club venues, a renewed interest in vinyl (and of collecting it), and a desire to recapture the “mystique, magic, and depth of engagement” that only a record can provide.
For Spiritland, Noble drew directly from the Japanese venues he had visited. “I completely fell in love with the bar culture there. It’s unlike anything in the world. I thought there must be room for this in the UK”.
Indeed, there was – although the Japanese blueprint had to be adapted for a different audience. “In Japan, it’s a very civilized environment where you sit in total silence and order [drinks] very quietly,” explains Paul. “Lots of them are open until very late – four or five in the morning – and you can smoke in them. It’s an intense listening experience [that] doesn’t translate culturally to a city like London.”
To thrive in bustling, screen-obsessed cities with shorter attention spans, the listening bar concept required a rethink. Noble notes that the essentials – vinyl-led programming, high-end speaker systems, and above all a “deep respect for music” – remain sacred, but are now often paired with design-led interiors and curated drinks menus. And crucially, unlike the original Japanese bars where even the slightest whisper could earn you a scolding glance, you can talk, laugh, even gossip freely.
See also: Sakura Season Is Brief – These Are the Drinks to Try While It Lasts
“When we opened a listening bar in London, it took some explaining – people would come in and ask, ‘Why are there tables and chairs in the middle of the dance floor?’” he recalls. “But the reaction has since been incredible.” The types of guests who visit, he says, are “egalitarian,” drawn primarily from creative industries – music, film, fashion, and tech. “These are all sectors with a musical thread running through,” he notes.
In the same way Japan’s original listening bars had carefully curated atmospheres, Noble, who worked in radio for 20 years, brought the same approach to Spiritland, which opened its first permanent venue in King’s Cross in 2016. “We have a record book where two days per week, guests can select any album from our collection for us to play,” he says. “Other than that, we don’t take music requests.”
©Eavesdrop Drinks, too, have become a defining feature in the evolution of listening bars, compared to the original venues where beverages were minimal and purely functional. At Spiritland, the drinks list is “straightforward, removing any novelty factors,” allowing the focus to remain on the experience. As Noble explains, the aim isn’t to “jazz anything up” artificially, but to let the drinks, like the music, speak for themselves.
Listening bars worth visiting
Public Records, New York
Public Records offers a distinctly New York–style experience, modern, immersive, and designed to cater to every kind of music fan. There’s multiple rooms, each with its own vibe, and the venue has carefully-curated program that brings together DJs, producers, and live acts,
Brillant Corners, London
Dalston’s Brilliant Corners, founded in 2013 by brothers Amit and Aneesh Patel, has earned a cult following for its impeccable audiophile setup, vinyl DJ sets, and a menu of izakaya-inspired dishes paired with natural wines. The venue features iconic 1970s Klipschorn speakers and plays a roster of music genres: jazz, house, experimental, and more.
©Eavesdrop Bar Neiro, Berlin
At Bar Neiro, music is played exclusively on vinyl, blasted out of a custom-built sound system made of vintage hi-fi components. The cocktails have been developed in-house, inspired by Japanese bar culture.
Eavesdrop, New York
Eavesdrop’s ethos is rooted in its community of listeners, artists, and curators, fostering an environment where listening takes precedence over dancing. Warm wood paneling and a thoughtfully arranged collection of bar stools complete the space.
Her, Melbourne
Taking walk-ins only, the Music Room at Her is Australia’s answer to the modern listening bar. The intimate, soundproof space hidden attracts a young, trendy crowd – it’s not hard to see why.
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The New York Facialists You Need on Speed Dial
Your guide to the city’s most sought-after experts.
You have a hair stylist for bad hair days, and a stylist for wardrobe dilemmas, but who is entrusted with the care of your skin? A facial can appear indulgent, akin to a massage: a fleeting, restorative hour that soothes rather than transforms. Yet, in the hands of a truly exceptional facialist, it can have a lasting impact.
Pollution and erratic weather changes compromise the skin barrier and the consequences are cumulative: dehydration, heightened sensitivity, and premature aging, among others. In reality, that one hour appointment is doing a lot more than just reducing cortisol levels.
But where, in a city filled with buzzing skin saviors, should you turn? Below, a curated selection of New York’s most sought-after facialists – and the treatments for which they have earned their reputations.
Best Facialist in New York
Elizabeth Grace Hand at Ställe Studios
For an environment that’s as dreamy as the facial itself, book in with Elizabeth Grace Hand at Ställe Studios. The licensed esthetician built the studio from her SoHo apartment, and has evolved it into a minimalist, sought-after space.
The personal touches don’t stop at interiors. Hand tailors facials to each client, blending medical-grade techniques – growth-factor infusions, CO2 masks, LED – with a personable approach that makes you feel like you’re chatting with a beauty-obsessed friend. She became renowned for giving her clients the ‘It girl glow’; the type of dewy finish that has people marvelling when you say you’re make-up free.
Crystal Greene
If you need proof of Crystal Greene’s capabilities, look at Jenna Ortega’s, Christy Turlington’s, and Laura Harrier’s skin. These women are regular clients of the Upper East Side-based esthetician, who is also an ambassador for Estēe Lauder.
While her signature La Sculpture facial includes oxygen infusion and LED light therapy, the real magic comes from her hands. Her rhythmic massage technique stimulates circulation, relieves tension and (as the treatment’s name suggests) leaves skin looking sculpted. Along with the calm ambience of her studio, her technique will relax even the most uptight of clients. Your skin may look all the more energized, but your slower pulse and relaxed temperament may suggest otherwise.
See also: Who to Call When Your New York Home Needs A Declutter
Raquel Medina-Cleghorn
It’s only been three years since Raquel Medina-Cleghorn opened her skincare studio, and yet, she’s quickly built a name for herself. After training and working as a lead esthetician for renowned skin guru Joanna Czech, Medina-Cleghorn went solo in 2023 and counts the likes of Emily Ratajkowski and Paloma Elsessor as clients.
The Facial is her signature treatment and includes a sculpting massage, exfoliation, extractions (if necessary), and at least one of the following modalities; Ultrasound, Iontophoresis, Microcurrent, LED, Pressurized Oxygen, and Negative Ions. The result? A sculpted, lifted visage with noticeably healthier skin.
Georgia Louise
On the ground floor of an Upper East Side brownstone, Georgia Louise has created a sanctuary devoted to elevated skincare. Her treatments blend hands-on massage with cutting-edge devices, and she’s best known for her lifting and sculpting massage method that deeply cleanses, gently exfoliates, and includes lymphatic drainage. With Ciré Trudon candles lit around you, expect to melt into the bed as she works her magic.
For that reason, it’s hardly surprising that she has a roster of A-listers as regulars, including Anne Hathaway, Amy Schumer, and Cate Blanchett. And if your skin is in need of sprucing in between appointments, find her skincare tips and massage techniques on her Instagram for a DIY session at home.
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