6 audiophile bars guaranteed to hit all the right notes

They’ve been popping up across Japan, London and New York for the past few years. A new obsession for music lovers and partygoers craving refined decibels, the audiophile bar trend – listening bars in the original version – has now taken over Paris and is already delighting millennials. We tracked down and tested the best spots with the same dedication as vinyl addicts digging through crates to find that hidden gem. Ready? Grab a drink and turn up the sound.

The place. In the heart of the 10th arrondissement, just across from the Saint-Vincent de Paul church, sits a bar devoted to one thing: great sound. At WAX, the raw, industrial décor gives the space a mini-club vibe. Facing the room stands an impressive Palladium Audio sound system: two colossal speakers flanking a central mixing desk. Below it, vinyl records wait impatiently for their turn on the decks.

The sound. Expect minimal house and dub house, frequencies soft enough not to overwhelm, perfect for sipping a drink while enjoying the music. Night owls should come around 10 p.m. for sharper, more powerful DJ sets.

Food & drinks. Signature cocktails (€15) inspired by electronic culture. We love the 909 (rum, bourbon, amaro, pineapple and spices), a nod to the former Detroit mixologist and the iconic drum machine that shaped electronic music. Another crush : The Bounce (lychee, cherry, umeshu, vodka, lemon juice), a bright, refreshing potion, unless you’d rather go for a classic pint (€10).

WAX, 96–98 rue d’Hauteville, Paris 10. Open Tuesday 6:30 p.m.–12 a.m. and Wednesday to Saturday 6:30 p.m.–1:30 a.m.

©Wax ©Sincasa

The place. Steps from the National Library of France, Listeners is a café/wine bar built by music lovers Thomas de Coninck and Jérôme Thomas. Its standout feature ? Beyond the dining room where curated playlists play through a luxury sound system, the venue hides a spacious listening room and individual listening booths with top-tier equipment. Paid listening sessions are available for individuals and professionals. Labels flock to the private auditorium : a design-forward space crafted solely for sound, with black-and-white panels, carpeted floors, high-end wooden amplifiers and a device that converts digital audio into analogue. Ultra-premium and absolutely worth the trip.

The sound. A bit of everything ! There’s no preferred genre, quality of listening is the top priority. In the private boxes, you can sink into jazz sessions with therapeutic effects, like a “brain massage.” A vast vinyl collection sits atop a mezzanine, and the founders handpick a record at the end of your session to play on their high-end turntable.

Food & drinks. Simple coffee options, plus daily apéritifs, cold dishes and hot dishes. Evenings bring tomato caviar (€8), white bean hummus with cumin (€9), and smoked ham with crushed tomatoes (€12), paired with a glass of white or red wine (€7). For a sweet break : chocolate fondant or a Breton millionaire (€5) with coffee or kombucha.

Listeners - 10 rue Vivienne, Paris 2. Open Wed–Fri 1 p.m.–10 p.m., Sat 1 p.m.–10 p.m., Sun 1 p.m.–8 p.m. Private room for up to 10 people (€50–€100 depending on day/time).

 © Kate Shanasy

The place. Trendsetters and stylish newcomers gather at Bambino, a vinyl bar that has become a true fashion HQ in the Haut Marais. In a dim, chilled-out atmosphere, the team led by Fabien Lombardi embraces London, New York, Tokyo and Tel Aviv inspired listening bar aesthetics. Not ideal for a first date, this buzzing spot only works with shouted-in-your-ear conversations.

The sound. Among hundreds of vinyls, you’ll hear everything from jazz classics like Miles Davis to 60s/70s funk and soul, and 90s rap and neo-soul : Erykah Badu, MF DOOM, Donald Byrd… all playing on ultra-premium Palladium Audio speakers.

Food & drinks. Cool kids gather around spaghetti squash tempura with aioli and bottarga, seared scallops or mussels (3 plates for €50). But the highlight is the wine list (glasses €10–€12) and draft cocktails (€14), especially the Dumile bourbon pêche, our personal favorite.

Bambino, 25 rue Saint-Sébastien, Paris 11. Open daily 6:30 p.m.–1:45 a.m.

The place. All the cool folks of north Paris gather at  Doublevie, which in just a few months has become the HQ for tables of friends looking to feast, toast and dance. Upstairs, Mediterranean dishes and bottles of wine set the tone in this stunning 1940s glass-fronted building refreshed by creative director Laurent Laporte, founder of Whereisthecool.

The sound. Downstairs, vinyls keep the crowd swaying with lively tracks. Expert DJ lineups play once or twice a month.

Food & drinks. A sunny selection of natural, organic and biodynamic wines, 50 references from southern France, Italy and Greece. Expect €7 a glass (Vinoceros, La Grange Saint-André, pét-nat Amos Baneres…) and from €29 a bottle. A standout : the Tetramythos, a mineral, saline Greek white (€38). Plates are ultra-thoughtful: eggplant–spinach–pecorino arancini (€13), melt-in-your-mouth pumpkin gnocchi (€29), tuna tataki with pomegranate and basil for two (€36) and, for dessert, an addictive chocolate mousse with fleur de sel and olive oil (€11).

Doublevie, 2 rue Poulet, Paris 18. Open daily. Dinner service 7 p.m.–12:30 a.m. Weekend lunch 12 p.m.–4 p.m.

 © Géraldine Martens

The place. Delicious plates, a cool party feel and DJ sets in a retro-inspired space ? That’s Superflu, the creation of Jean-Baptiste Andrau (ex-Stéréo), offering a full audiophile dining concept in Lamarck. On rue Marcadet, the 70s white façade and retro-futuristic interior stand out. Everything is homemade, even the plates (designed by the owner’s mother). Expect a snow-white dining room, multicolored neon lights and a courtyard made for long apéros. Vinyls and turntables greet you at the entrance : perfect for dancing after dinner.

The sound. Concrete-reflection design provides pristine acoustics, making this a musician favorite. Music nights run Thursday to Saturday. After 11 p.m., the terrace closes, tables are folded into the wall and the restaurant transforms into a neon-lit micro-club for up to 60 guests. DJs spin vinyl or use the in-house decks.

Food & drinks. Comforting, shareable dishes like flame-grilled leeks with shiitake cream (€12), broccoletti with wild za’atar, parmesan and toasted hazelnuts (€12). Only two desserts, but both incredible : pecan pie with ice cream, orange blossom and miso caramel (€12), or strawberry tartare with coco siphon and tonka crumble (€10). Wash it down with a Spritz al Melone or a glass of pet-nat.

Superflu, 227 bis rue Marcadet, Paris 18. Open Tue–Sat for lunch, evenings until 1 a.m. (2 a.m. weekends). Weekend brunch until 3 p.m.

The place. Mesures is a hidden Marais gem created by Guillaume Castagnet (Castor Club, Très Particulier) and musician Benoît de Bonnefamille. In this intimate space, raw materials, a few tables and counter seats set the mood, strongly inspired by Japanese jazz kissa bars.

The sound. A playlist blending jazz, soul, funk, pop and disco. Records spin in the background, with occasional old-school DJ sets.

Food & drinks. Cocktails are refined : signature, seasonal or classic (€14). Our favorite : Le Singe en Hiver (Calvados, apple, raspberry, cumin infusion). Another gem : the Coconut Woman (bitter, rum, lime, nigori-popcorn sake syrup, coconut sorbet, nutmeg). The food – Japanese-inspired dishes by Cyril Pham (Ogata) – is just as impressive. Highlights include shiitake mushrooms (€9), salade Caesar (€9) and a comforting hot dog (€8).

Mesures, 58 rue de Saintonge, Paris 3. Open Tue–Sun 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m., Tue–Wed 6 p.m.–1 a.m., Thu–Sat 6 p.m.–2 a.m.

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