Analogue Cool
India’s new vinyl bars are swapping bass-heavy beats for retro and nostalgic soundtracks.
By Deepali Nandwani
Did you know that 45 percent of India’s vinyl buyers are under 30?
This love for vintage and retro has spurred a new nightlife trend, with India’s urban elite drawn to the tactile allure of vinyl records at the country's growing vinyl bars and cafes.
For the older generation, these venues evoke fond memories and nostalgia, returning them to the music of their youth. In contrast, younger patrons are opting to swap blaring contemporary music for more curated sounds of jazz, classic rock, blues, and even Bollywood classics played on turntables, discovering the analogue experience for the first time.
As the night progresses and the lights get dimmer, the needle drops and a soft crackle fills the plush interiors of clubs that look right out of Europe of the late 19th and early 20th century. Some of India’s vinyl bars are also inspired by Japan’s retro Ongaku Kissa (jazz cafés) and Hong Kong’s tea houses—intimate bars and tea houses where music commands silence and reverence. In India, the music, however, is not restricted to jazz. From Goa’s For The Record to Mumbai’s Baroke, India’s vinyl bars are turning up the volume on analogue cool.
The perfect listening room when it comes to vinyl needs to be moulded by both architecture and acoustic science. Venues like For The Record and Analogue in Goa use bespoke, hand-built systems optimised for vinyl’s warmth. The design goes beyond the gear used to play the vinyls: it spans the lighting, the acoustics, and the way the space slows you down to listen.
A curated list of the best vinyl bars across the nation.
For the Record | Panjim, Goa
India’s first vinyl bar takes its cues from Tokyo’s Ongaku Kissa havens, where aficionados gather to listen to American jazz records. At For the Record, owner and jazz musician Buland Shukla channels the vibe, but serves up more than just jazz. Opened in 2020, it’s India’s first vinyl-only bar, boasting a handcrafted vacuum-tube Hi-Fi system and cocktails spotlighting local feni. The Portuguese-era bungalow, with its vintage colonial charm, is the perfect ambience in which you can leave the 21st century behind and slip into analogue nostalgia. Unlike traditional Ongaku Kissa bars or coffee shops in Japan, though, there is no rigid rule of maintaining silence here. The bar is abuzz with conversation and people singing to the music.
India’s first vinyl-only bar, boasting a vacuum-tube Hi-Fi system and cocktails spotlighting local feni.
Middle Room | Shanti Nagar, Bengaluru
At the heart of Bengaluru’s cultural scene stands Middle Room, which has emerged as a soulful listening bar nestled within The Courtyard in Shanti Nagar—an enclave celebrated for its curated blend of restaurants, bars, and cultural centres. Drawing inspiration from the intimate Japanese Ongaku Kissa (jazz cafés) and the world’s finest audiophile lounges, Middle Room is a nod to Bengaluru’s storied pub culture and its rich, music-infused legacy. Far from being just another pub or eatery, it’s a sanctuary crafted for the purists—a space where analog sound reigns supreme, inviting you to lose yourself in the warmth of music’s timeless embrace.
Middle Room is a nod to Bengaluru’s storied pub culture and its rich, music-infused legacy.
The Dimsum Room | Kala Ghoda, Mumbai
Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda is home to The Dimsum Room, which hides a rare treasure within its warm embrace—The Listening Room, a sonic sanctuary inspired by Hong Kong’s lively tea houses and the golden age of vinyl lounges. Outfitted with a state-of-the-art Munro Acoustics sound system, The Listening Room fuses jazz with modern electronic beats, creating an eclectic soundtrack that mirrors the restaurant’s inventive table. More than just a corner for vinyl, it’s an immersive space where genres, moods, and flavours harmonise in unexpected ways.
This is an immersive space where genres, moods, and flavours harmonise in unexpected ways.
Baroke | Grant Road, Mumbai
Mumbai’s first vinyl-only listening bar, this acoustic sanctuary is a posh bar in Grant Road and houses 250 handpicked records—from Jimi Hendrix to Dave Brubeck—played on a high-fidelity setup that delivers every chord and riff with crystalline clarity. The acoustically treated interiors ensure nothing distracts from the experience. The warm, cocoon-like space and plush seating make it a haven for analogue purists.
Baroke's warm, cocoon-like space and plush seating make it a haven for analogue purists.