Say Hello to the Bay Area's Most Smackable Bars That, Also, Slap

Eater

21-05-2025

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A few years ago, a wave of bars inspired by the famed Japanese hi-fi style listening lounges started hitting the Bay Area. And while there are still some spots in the region that operate closely to the Japanese model of hi-fi audio in a relaxed social environment that breeds conversation, it's the evolution of this concept that makes for some of the most intriguing and exciting destinations.
Unsurprisingly, the Bay Area has taken the original idea of a listening bar and redefined it. Now, we have a vibrant set of establishments that are dedicated to pristine audio environments and cocktails, but have also found alluring ways to weave in food, diverse layouts, and in some cases, the personalities of owners and vinyl selectors. These are the go-to listening bars and restaurants in the Bay. Read More Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.
The first listening bar in the Bay is the truest to the Tokyo 'jazz kissa' lounge experience, where service to the music comes first, and it brings out the best conversations. Since 2019, Bar Shiru has been both a great jumping off point for a night in the heart of Uptown Oakland's entertainment district, and a singular destination for refined, precise, and comfortable vibes (yet unpretentious enough to order at the bar on weekdays). From Madlib's essential beat conductions to Freddie Hubbard's distinct trumpet tonalities, full albums play over the immaculate analog system (headlined by two LM-812 loudspeakers) that's nothing short of a work of art. Meanwhile, the house's signature Moonglow cocktail — an herbaceous and complex martini riff — nods to owners Daniel Garr and Shirin Raza's new speakeasy down the street at Gold Palm, another portal dedicated to sound.
Next door to three-Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn, you'll find chef Dominique Crenn's more accessible Bar Crenn. A massive wall of Crenn's records looms over the intimate hi-fi lounge, where seasonal cocktails brush up next to seafood-oriented bites like scallop crudo and oysters in an umami-focused drinks and bites experience. You can flip through the records and add some to the evening's queue, and don't be surprised if you end up talking vinyl with Chef Crenn herself, who's often hanging out and chatting with guests. For the ultimate visit, reserve one of ten spots for the Le Comptoir interactive tasting menu, a Michelin-starred offering served at the bartop. Make a reservation via Tock.
The hallmark of a great listening bar is one that's so marvelously conducive to conversation that time just disappears. Moongate Lounge (above Chinatown scion Mister Jiu's) is one of those places. Sitting in red velvet booths, or underneath the glorious color-changing moongate skylight, tunes from Slum Village to Hiatus Kaiyote come thru cleanly, complementing a jujubee infused negroni or the 'Clear and Bright' cocktail with duck fat-washed rye and lapsang tea. Bar honcho Garrett Marks scours Chinatown markets and tea shops for ingredients that he and the excellent staff of mostly female bartenders mix up. Don't sleep on memorable snacks like a crab rangoon dip, Sichuan smoked olives, and one of the best prawn cocktails in town. Reservations are available via Tock.
Co-owner Will Herrera used to run the Barbary Coast trail institution Old Ship Saloon, so he knows a thing or two about honoring downtown San Francisco's bar culture. 'We're here for an intentionally social environment, not a nightclub vibe,' he says of the nearly three-year-old Harlan Records, tucked down a cheeky alley. Open most days at 2 p.m. and closing late every day, it's hard to leave Harlan once you're sitting in a leather-bound chair, booth, or bar stool. A classic McIntosh receiver powers part of the system that Herrera says is still evolving. The striking cocktail list and loaded 'Duets' (shot and beer combo) offering are fun to explore in the afternoon, or while hearing curated records from prime local selectors at night.
A custom record coffin greets you at Yokai's host station, playing records over a digital and analog system. Chef Marc Zimmerman's listening bar incorporates his signature live fire cooking with top-notch raw seafood, all sourced from NorCal and Japan. Jazz reigns supreme in a hip room very well-designed for masterful sound that fosters conversation (note the Godzilla painting on the far wall). The series of Roku gin and Haku vodka martinis is fantastic, and Yokai just might have the most comprehensive selection of Japanese whiskeys in the city.
Like many places south of Gough Street, Phonobar is hard to find if you're not looking for it. There's a diverse range of seating in the low-slung ceiling front room highlighted by a greenhouse windowed alcove. Sipping cocktails and eating vegan bites from Om Sabor, you might not feel like you're in a listening bar until you settle into the cavernous, leather banquette-lined back room, where seating faces a raised DJ booth in the crown jewel atmosphere of the entire space. Here, vinyl selectors (like Rebirth Jazz every third Wednesday) dig into their crates for tunes 'til midnight over premium audio.
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SF's newest addition to the listening bar circuit takes the concept to new heights, fully incorporating the element of food. Chef Parker Brown's Midwest-comfort menu includes a decadent burger with bone marrow and Tomales Farmstead Creamery goat cheese that nods to a pro move order at Chicago's storied Au Cheval, as well as a perfectly fried chicken cutlet with chickories, hazelnut, and zesty honey mustard that's delightfully bitter and sweet; both have many dashing pairings on La Ciccia's Paul Chung-curated wine list. Meanwhile, Brown's partner and co-owner, Caroline, helms the music component led by the first-ever Tub's Audio speakers installed in a U.S. restaurant. Suffice it to say, Side A sounds impeccable, both in the evening when Caroline (DJ Music Please) and illustrious selectors (King Most! Mophono!) are on the decks, as well as in late Mission mornings where house-made donuts and the Coffee Movement's drinks paint a convivial portrait of this spectacular space. Reservations are available on Resy.
This San Jose lounge checks in with multiple McIntosh amps powering a sound system led by a sleek hi-fi wall of sound behind the DJ booth. A lively small space that's an oasis amidst clubbier First Street bars, Still O.G. has all of its cocktails on draft — at a reasonable $14 a pop at that! — that's so the noise from shakers doesn't disrupt the function. There's also Asian-leaning bites like chicken tsukune and king trumpet mushroom skewers, crab noodles, and even a smash burger. Peep behind the soundproof velvet curtain in the back to uncover the Alter Ego cocktail and bites speakeasy, a choice destination that recently hosted a bar pop-up night with SF's True Laurel. Reservations for Alter Ego can be found at OpenTable.
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The first listening bar in the Bay is the truest to the Tokyo 'jazz kissa' lounge experience, where service to the music comes first, and it brings out the best conversations. Since 2019, Bar Shiru has been both a great jumping off point for a night in the heart of Uptown Oakland's entertainment district, and a singular destination for refined, precise, and comfortable vibes (yet unpretentious enough to order at the bar on weekdays). From Madlib's essential beat conductions to Freddie Hubbard's distinct trumpet tonalities, full albums play over the immaculate analog system (headlined by two LM-812 loudspeakers) that's nothing short of a work of art. Meanwhile, the house's signature Moonglow cocktail — an herbaceous and complex martini riff — nods to owners Daniel Garr and Shirin Raza's new speakeasy down the street at Gold Palm, another portal dedicated to sound. Open in Google Maps
Foursquare
Next door to three-Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn, you'll find chef Dominique Crenn's more accessible Bar Crenn. A massive wall of Crenn's records looms over the intimate hi-fi lounge, where seasonal cocktails brush up next to seafood-oriented bites like scallop crudo and oysters in an umami-focused drinks and bites experience. You can flip through the records and add some to the evening's queue, and don't be surprised if you end up talking vinyl with Chef Crenn herself, who's often hanging out and chatting with guests. For the ultimate visit, reserve one of ten spots for the Le Comptoir interactive tasting menu, a Michelin-starred offering served at the bartop. Make a reservation via Tock. Open in Google Maps
Foursquare
The hallmark of a great listening bar is one that's so marvelously conducive to conversation that time just disappears. Moongate Lounge (above Chinatown scion Mister Jiu's) is one of those places. Sitting in red velvet booths, or underneath the glorious color-changing moongate skylight, tunes from Slum Village to Hiatus Kaiyote come thru cleanly, complementing a jujubee infused negroni or the 'Clear and Bright' cocktail with duck fat-washed rye and lapsang tea. Bar honcho Garrett Marks scours Chinatown markets and tea shops for ingredients that he and the excellent staff of mostly female bartenders mix up. Don't sleep on memorable snacks like a crab rangoon dip, Sichuan smoked olives, and one of the best prawn cocktails in town. Reservations are available via Tock. Open in Google Maps
Foursquare
Co-owner Will Herrera used to run the Barbary Coast trail institution Old Ship Saloon, so he knows a thing or two about honoring downtown San Francisco's bar culture. 'We're here for an intentionally social environment, not a nightclub vibe,' he says of the nearly three-year-old Harlan Records, tucked down a cheeky alley. Open most days at 2 p.m. and closing late every day, it's hard to leave Harlan once you're sitting in a leather-bound chair, booth, or bar stool. A classic McIntosh receiver powers part of the system that Herrera says is still evolving. The striking cocktail list and loaded 'Duets' (shot and beer combo) offering are fun to explore in the afternoon, or while hearing curated records from prime local selectors at night. Open in Google Maps
Foursquare
A custom record coffin greets you at Yokai's host station, playing records over a digital and analog system. Chef Marc Zimmerman's listening bar incorporates his signature live fire cooking with top-notch raw seafood, all sourced from NorCal and Japan. Jazz reigns supreme in a hip room very well-designed for masterful sound that fosters conversation (note the Godzilla painting on the far wall). The series of Roku gin and Haku vodka martinis is fantastic, and Yokai just might have the most comprehensive selection of Japanese whiskeys in the city. Book with OpenTable
Book with OpenTable Open in Google Maps
Foursquare
Like many places south of Gough Street, Phonobar is hard to find if you're not looking for it. There's a diverse range of seating in the low-slung ceiling front room highlighted by a greenhouse windowed alcove. Sipping cocktails and eating vegan bites from Om Sabor, you might not feel like you're in a listening bar until you settle into the cavernous, leather banquette-lined back room, where seating faces a raised DJ booth in the crown jewel atmosphere of the entire space. Here, vinyl selectors (like Rebirth Jazz every third Wednesday) dig into their crates for tunes 'til midnight over premium audio. Open in Google Maps
Foursquare
SF's newest addition to the listening bar circuit takes the concept to new heights, fully incorporating the element of food. Chef Parker Brown's Midwest-comfort menu includes a decadent burger with bone marrow and Tomales Farmstead Creamery goat cheese that nods to a pro move order at Chicago's storied Au Cheval, as well as a perfectly fried chicken cutlet with chickories, hazelnut, and zesty honey mustard that's delightfully bitter and sweet; both have many dashing pairings on La Ciccia's Paul Chung-curated wine list. Meanwhile, Brown's partner and co-owner, Caroline, helms the music component led by the first-ever Tub's Audio speakers installed in a U.S. restaurant. Suffice it to say, Side A sounds impeccable, both in the evening when Caroline (DJ Music Please) and illustrious selectors (King Most! Mophono!) are on the decks, as well as in late Mission mornings where house-made donuts and the Coffee Movement's drinks paint a convivial portrait of this spectacular space. Reservations are available on Resy.
This San Jose lounge checks in with multiple McIntosh amps powering a sound system led by a sleek hi-fi wall of sound behind the DJ booth. A lively small space that's an oasis amidst clubbier First Street bars, Still O.G. has all of its cocktails on draft — at a reasonable $14 a pop at that! — that's so the noise from shakers doesn't disrupt the function. There's also Asian-leaning bites like chicken tsukune and king trumpet mushroom skewers, crab noodles, and even a smash burger. Peep behind the soundproof velvet curtain in the back to uncover the Alter Ego cocktail and bites speakeasy, a choice destination that recently hosted a bar pop-up night with SF's True Laurel. Reservations for Alter Ego can be found at OpenTable.