Lean back and listen in at these vinyl-heavy addresses in the city with slow, intentional, and mature atmospheres inspired by Japanese jazz kissa.
Listening bars, vinyl cafés, and other sonically-inclined spots in Montreal aren’t some flashy, new trend. They’re throwbacks—distilled homages to the bars that first popped up in Tokyo’s backstreets, and have since been exported and reimagined worldwide. The concept has steadily grown in the city, and now make up some of the best bars and best cafés and coffee shops in town.
Some might say the vinyl boom is cooling off, but don’t fool yourself—it’s still a growing niche. It feels like a quiet rebellion against the soulless, algorithm-driven music churned out by platforms like Spotify or TikTok.
These places are sanctuaries, inviting patrons to shut up, put their phones down, and just listen. Step into these listening bars and vinyl cafés in Montreal, and you’ll experience something real, something visceral, as the needle drops on yet another perfect track.
Sans Soleil is a listening bar in Chinatown, located in the basement of the Japanese restaurant Fleurs & Cadeaux. This unique space combines classic bites, cocktails, wines, and sakes with a refined, vinyl-only atmosphere. Kris Guilty, owner of La Rama record shop, and Hideyuki Imaizumi are behind its offer of a Japanese-style kissa-jazz listening room when they opened it in 2020. Evolving into a vibrant spot, Sans Soleil allows diners to start their evenings with sake and sushi before transitioning into a standing-room-only club that goes late into the night. "The sound is the fabric of the room," says Guilty, whose extensive vinyl collection and 600-pound Klipsch speakers ensure an impeccable auditory experience. Co-owners, including Dave Schmidt and Seb Langlois, focus on providing DJ residencies that align with their musical sensibilities.
Sans Soleil offers an immersive, auditory experience where every note (and moment of silence) counts.
Dimly humming below Little Burgundy’s HENI restaurant, Badin is a 24-seat cocktail-forward listening lounge that opened in April 2024. Accessed through HENI's front doors, this intimate space designed by Juliane Camirand combines low lighting, velour banquettes, and a central DJ stage. It creates a cozy, cocooned setting reminiscent of an audiophile’s living room. Led by Soufian Mamlouk and cocktail program director Émile Archambault, Badin offers innovative, seasonally changing cocktails alongside curated multi-genre vinyl music. Emphasizing intimacy and high-quality sound, Badin’s blend of ambiance, artisanal drinks, and meticulous service promises a unique, memorable experience in the city’s nightlife scene.
Osmo x Marusan is the kind of place where creativity meets culture in the most effortless way. This subterranean hub and social club is where vinyl spins, coffee flows, and conversations between students, entrepreneurs, and trendsetters feel effortlessly cool amongst a space of minimalist brutalist design—think steel tables, exposed brick, and greenery—that invites you to stay awhile, maybe over a karaage sando or a steaming bowl of vegan curry.
On weekends, DJs take over the booth, spinning rare grooves, while patrons sip on natural wines or sake, turning this hidden gem into a laid-back social club. Osmo’s vibe is casual but sharp, a place where the Marusan-Japanese inspired menu pairs with a curated vinyl collection.
Vino Disco is where wine meets the dancefloor. Located next to the Le Central food hall, this spot has all the makings of a perfect night out: Think Roman pizzas, organic wines from small-batch producers, and a custom-built sound system pumping retro beats. Owner Francis di Stasio may be part of a new generation of nightlife purveyors, but his passion for vinyl runs deep. The DJs here dig through their crates, spinning everything from ‘70s disco to hidden gems, creating an atmosphere that echoes the heyday of the city’s Red Light District. The vibe here is effortless, the music is always on point, and the wine selections are as lively as the crowd.
There’s something irresistibly gritty and nostalgic about 180g, a low-key vinyl cafe tucked away in a Rosemont industrial bay. It’s a place where coffee culture meets the soulful hum of a record needle, where rows of funk, jazz, and hip-hop vinyl greet you near the counter, setting the tone as the steady pulse of ‘80s and ‘90s beats fills the room.
Regulars know this spot—chatting with the barista, nursing cortados, or just soaking in the vibe over a bite. The espresso menu is tight and classic, just like the record collection, while homemade cookies, affogatos, and hearty sandwiches offer comfort with a groove.
GotSoul is an experience crafted for lovers of music and coffee through and through: This Little Burgundy listening café inspired by the vinyl sanctuaries of Tokyo, London, and New York was founded by Jojo and Toddy Flores, and today pulls together everything they love—records, sneakers, and seriously good coffee—into a space that hums with personality.
Upstairs is a haven for audiophiles, with walls lined with sound panels and a DJ booth featuring rare ‘70s turntables. If you’re in the mood, you can even dig through their 15,000-title vinyl library or kick back to the warm tones of a reel-to-reel audio machine.
But it isn’t just about the music; it’s also a coffee joint equipped with a gleaming La Marzocco for espressos along with Filipino-inspired snacks like calamansi cannoli.
Barcola Bistro on Parc Avenue carries the heartbeat of Trieste to Mile End. Founded by Fabrizio, an Italian chef with roots in a small Trieste osteria, and Danielle, an Acadian with experience as a DJ, this spot has been quietly making waves both sonic and culinary since 2013. The menu is a love letter to the northeast of Italy—always changing, always rooted in tradition—with plates like house-made pasta and market-fresh fish. Fabrizio’s passion for vinyl, and Danielle’s musical curation, fill the space with warmth, offering guests meals with an experience not found often in the city.
Bar Le Record is a love letter to vinyl in Villeray, where music from the ‘50s and ‘60s spins on the turntables curated by owners Stéphane Brunet and François Gadbois. Together, they’ve created a space that feels like stepping into a living room from another era—polished wood, smooth lines, and of course, stacks of records. With more than 2,500 albums from Brunet’s personal collection, this bar is as much about the music as it is about the drinks.
The cocktail list leans into the classics, with a house punch that’s served in vintage bowls and a heavy focus on gin, bourbon, and whisky. And while you sip, snack on retro-inspired bites—think chicken burritos, spinach puffs, and some ‘must-have’ popcorn. DJs take over the weekends, spinning vinyl as guests gather around the half-moon bar.
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