Our Guide to Vinyl-Powered Restaurants, Cafés & Bars Around KL/PJ to Visit For Your Fix of Beats and Brews
Hitting all the right notes
Our picks of the vinyl-powered listening restaurants, bars & cafés in KL and PJ, where music is also on the menu.
Everyone talks about the art of slowing down. The value in taking a few moments for yourself, the importance of making sure you fill your cup in between the madness, and the power of stopping to smell the roses once in a while. Some may choose to immerse themselves in their favourite album, while others find joy in a freshly brewed coffee or a refreshing glass of wine at the end of a day. But what if you wanted to do both? What if you wanted to kick back with a professionally brewed or shaken beverage and drown your thoughts out with an album or two? Well, let us introduce you to these restaurants, cafés, and bars around KL & PJ, where listening to vinyl records is part of the agenda. In this guide, you’ll find the nine musically-inclined spots that are worth stopping by.
1. ETERNYL VINYL CAFÉ
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Making waves with their opening in Sea Park, Eternal Vinyl Café is the place to be for easy listening, served with a side of pastries and coffee. After finding great success at its first branch, the café has since expanded to SS18, opening another location for Subang dwellers. Each location has its own vinyl collection, totalling over 900 albums! All that’s left for you to do visit its reservation website, show up for your session, and pick your tunes to go with your bites!
Pricing: RM20 per 90-minute session (with purchase of a drink and pastry) | RM10 per 60-minute session add-on
Addresses:
- Sea Park: 7-1, Jalan 21/11b, Sea Park, 46300 Petaling Jaya
- SS18: 11A, Jalan SS 18/1b, Ss 18, 47500 Subang Jaya
Opening hours:
- Sea Park: Tuesday to Sunday – 1pm to 10pm
- SS18: Tuesday to Sunday – 1pm to 10pm
Contact:
- Sea Park: +603 2694 1968
- SS18: +603 5611 8640
Sea Park – Website | SS18 – Website | Instagram
2. MONK
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With the amount of thought put into its decor and setup, Monk proves that the art of analog listening is indeed not dead. In its cosy 10-seater space inspired by the iconic jazz kissas of Japan, Monk wants to bring the beauty and depth of vinyls to everyone. Of the over 200 records in its collection, most lean towards the jazz side of things but it also includes some funky pop and rock. The playlist here is decided by the team, who are well-versed in the tunes and the people behind them too—that means you shouldn’t be too shy to ask questions about what you’re listening to. Its founding and operations team also includes members of the local coffee community, so you’re promised a drinks and desserts menu that will live up to the standard of the tunes.
Address: 41C, Jalan SS 15/4, SS15, 47500 Subang Jaya
Opening hours: Thursday – 6pm to 10pm | Friday to Sunday – 1pm to 10pm
Contact: +6017 718 3828
3. LISTEN HIFI CAFÉ
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Over in Chow Kit, Listen Hifi Café serves as the go-to vinyl-focused hangout for city centre dwellers. Its bright and minimalist space is home to a huge collection of vinyls spanning genres and artists. As you drown yourself in the tunes of your favourite artist, you can sip on some housemade hojicha, a freshly brewed cup of coffee made to your liking, and snack on a sweet treat or two.
Address: Level 3, 2, Jalan Kamunting, Chow Kit, 50300 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 12pm to 8pm
Contact: +6012 644 2264
4. KIKU
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This listening bar brings cocktails into the equation, so you can melt away into the smooth melodies of its jazz records with some booze and Japanese-inspired bites in hand. Located on the third floor of the storied Yap Ah Shak House, this laidback bar is just one of a few dining destinations within the building. It stands out within its own little space, designed to let you get lost in the music without going hungry or succumbing to thirst.
Address: Level 3, Yap Ah Shak House, 17, Jalan Yap Ah Shak, Chow Kit, 50300 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday – 12pm to 10pm | Friday to Saturday – 12pm to 11pm | closed on Monday
Contact: +6018 268 0656
5. V88
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While it is more of a hub for those who appreciate music rather than a “listening café” with individual record players, V88 at The Starhill is still worth any audiophile’s time. During the day, its space basks in the sunlight, making it a bright and energising spot to use as a respite from the city centre crowds. Plus, its substantial food menu will make sure your appetite isn’t left hanging just because your ears are also eating up the tunes. Those stopping by on Saturday nights will be treated to their special vinyl sessions from 6.30pm onwards.
Address: L112-1, Level 1, The Starhill, 181, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Daily – 10am to 10pm
Contact: +603 2144 9888
6. BELUM FRIDAY
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Overlooking Jalan Raja Chulan in the heart of the city, Belum Friday is an easygoing hangout, where kopitiam-café fare meets Art Deco style. Your visit here will consist of heartwarming bites that highlight Malaysian flavours, served with your drink of choice and some vinyl tunes. The mood here is warm and undoubtedly homey, as its space was designed to welcome you after your stroll through its artsy neighbour, Ur-Mu @ Raja Chulan.
Address: 2, Jalan Raja Chulan, City Centre, 50100 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday – 10.30am to 2am
Contact: +603 2022 1066
7. OTOBA
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Although it is mostly known for its top notch izakaya plates and bowls, Otoba also brings the beats with its music programme. Those who linger for long after dinner will be treated to DJ sets and dance parties, powered by vinyls. Even before the DJs take to the decks, the record players will have been playing tunes to accompany the meals flying out of its kitchen.
Address: E-2-03, Block E, The Five KPD, Jalan Dungun, Bukit Damansara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 5.30pm to 11pm
Contact: WhatsApp +6012 388 6031
8. VINTAGE KISSA
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Equipped with a high-fidelity sound system and a collection of vinyls that go back decades, Vintage Kissa is one of the most technically sound spaces that was built for listening. This low-key spot encourages you to slow down and appreciate music in all its complex, layered glory, brought to life by its record players. Those visiting after 6pm can even bring in their own vinyls to share their tastes in music.
Address: 18-2, Jalan PJU 5/9, Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday – 12pm to 9pm | Friday to Saturday – 12pm to 10pm | closed on Monday
Contact: +6016 239 3194
9. LATIBULE
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Latibule is Ara Damansara’s resident modern-retro kissaten, where the coffee is as smooth as the jazz playing from its speakers. Proudly serving fresh cuppas and Japanese desserts, the café is filled not only with the aroma of coffee beans wafting through the air but also the melodies of the record chosen for the hour. Visitors are encouraged to sit back and immerse themselves in whatever they’re doing, be it reading a book or simply soaking up the sounds of the space.
Address: 21-1, Jalan PJU 1a/20a, Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya
Opening hours: Monday to Friday – 12pm to 7pm | Saturday to Sunday – 11am to 7pm
Contact: +603 7494 0969
Find more food and drink recommendations from team BURO here.
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