Seeing your favorite DJs spin the hits on vinyl became something of a lost pastime with the advent of digital music and streaming. But as vinyl’s popularity has surged in recent years, more establishments around the D.C. area are making it a central part of the experience.
The beauty of a vinyl bar is that you’re unshackled from the whims of an AI-powered algorithm. It’s a chance to discover deep cuts that otherwise might never have graced your Spotify playlist. And each of the area’s vinyl bars has its own distinct vibe and record selection, with something to satisfy almost any musical — and drinking — palate.
These are six spots where the music is the main event:
Grazie Mille
Part of the charm of visiting Grazie Mille is figuring out exactly where to find it. The bar is tucked behind its sister restaurant, Grazie Nonna, and on the Thursday night I went, DJ Fleg was spinning hip-hop and house cuts from the 2000s for a packed room.
If you’re looking for a laid-back listening experience, you may be better served by another spot. Grazie Mille was filled with an energized young crowd gearing up for a big night out, and the music is central to getting the party started. Its weekend DJ lineup features local acts spinning dance music, hip-hop, house and soul, making this an ideal place to bring friends for a pregame and a drink from the signature cocktail menu.
One highlight is the Nonna Ciao, the bar’s riff on an espresso martini, made with tequila, vanilla and espresso. It provides exactly the kind of jolt you might want before a long night out.
Sundays and Mondays from 4 to 11 p.m.; Tuesdays through Saturdays from 4 p.m. to late. 1100 15th St. NW. graziemillexoxo.com.
La Betty
La Betty has transformed over the years from a sit-down restaurant serving American comfort food into its current iteration: a cafe by day and a cozy, dynamic listening room by night.
You’ll want to get there early. What I thought would be a sluggish Saturday night, with much of the city gone for Labor Day weekend, was anything but. The place filled up shortly after reopening at 5 p.m. for the evening crowd, so those without reservations should arrive early. La Betty has an eclectic roster of DJs spinning gems from their own crates Friday and Saturday nights from 8 to 11 p.m. On the night I went, veteran DJ “Soul Call” Paul was behind the decks playing ’60s soul, mixing familiar favorites with under-the-radar cuts.
It’s also worth ordering something from La Betty’s expansive natural-wine list. I skipped the traditional reds and whites, and opted for a glass of Cirelli Orange, a light, citrusy delight with a touch of herbs and salinity.
Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 11 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to midnight. 420 K St. NW. la-betty.com.
B Side
B Side’s inviting neighborhood-bar atmosphere is a welcome reprieve from the bustle of Fairfax’s Mosaic shopping district. Tucked away from the main strip on Glass Alley, the bar is about as unpretentious as they come. It’s also one of the most versatile spots on this list. You can spend a Saturday afternoon watching football over brunch and cocktails, or stop by after dark for a laid-back night with friends. Either way, the music remains front and center.
As soon as I walked in on a crisp Saturday afternoon and was greeted by the Paramore hit “Misery Business,” I knew I was in the right place. The record selection is essentially dealer’s choice: Staff pull from B Side’s extensive collection stacked beside the bar, with albums including the Cure’s “The Head on the Door,” Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” and Lauryn Hill’s landmark debut, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”
The food is also a step above typical bar fare. Chef Nathan Anda, also behind Red Apron and Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ, helped develop B Side’s menu of hearty American favorites with a twist.
Mondays through Thursdays from 4 to 11 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to midnight; Sundays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. 8298 Glass Alley, Fairfax. bsidecuts.com.
Kuro Listening Bar
The intersection of New Hampshire and Georgia avenues NW in Petworth has lost a number of bars in recent years, making Kuro a welcome addition to the neighborhood when it opened in May. Inspired by owner Loyd Griggs’s love of Japanese listening bars, Kuro has a warm, earthy interior where guests can settle into plush booths and listen to a wide range of vinyl over Japanese-inspired cocktails.
The bar’s impressive sound setup sits prominently behind the counter and includes a pair of vintage JBL 4435 studio monitors, giving patrons a listening experience markedly different from hearing a playlist piped through a typical restaurant sound system. Kuro takes that experience seriously. You won’t find TVs here, and the bar encourages guests to stay off their phones, and take in the music and conversation.
Kuro’s record collection is a range of jazz, soul, blues, alt-rock, pop and old-school R&B and hip-hop. There aren’t any dedicated DJ nights; rather, guests can bring a record of their own any day and have it worked into Kuro’s listening rotation.
Your best bet is to arrive right when Kuro opens — the bar doesn’t take reservations, and its intimate space fills quickly.
Thursdays through Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Sundays from 4 p.m. to midnight. 3632 Georgia Ave. NW. kurolisteningbar.com.
Oasis: The Listening Bar
About a 20-minute drive from B Side is Oasis: The Listening Bar. It may be in Arlington’s Clarendon neighborhood, but stepping inside feels like being transported to a coastal Japanese bar. On aesthetics alone, Oasis is a standout. The place is decorated from top to bottom with records and Japanese-inspired touches, including cherry blossoms, action figures and Japanese magazines. It’s also the most spacious of all the places I’ve visited, with a large bar up front, an adjacent dining room with a massive sound system and DJ decks, and a sprawling patio out back.
The afternoon I visited, Japanese city-pop throwbacks provided the soundtrack, while patrons worked their way through an extensive selection of Japanese whisky and sake. The menu also includes a sizable selection of sushi rolls. For the full vinyl experience, Tuesday is dedicated to records spanning a variety of genres, while a rotating cast of local DJs takes over Fridays and Saturdays.
2940 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington. oasisthelisteningbar.com.
Press Club
Looking for a relaxed night of cocktails? Head to Press Club, a ’70s-inspired subterranean bar from Will Patton and Ryan Ratino, established names in the D.C. and New York hospitality scenes.
Press Club plays its records from beginning to end, and its collection stretches across seemingly every genre: ’70s soul, 2000s hip-hop, new wave and plenty more. Walking in on a Thursday night from the bustling streets of Dupont Circle, the bar’s warm lighting and cozy seating made it feel like stepping into the basement of your most cosmopolitan friend — you know, the one with impeccable taste in music and cocktails.
Even the drink menu riffs on records. The “Track List” offers 10 to 12 a la carte cocktails built around the bar’s favorite spirits and techniques, while the more experimental “Play List” is a four-drink, seasonally driven tasting menu paired with select bites.
A high-end sound system rounds out the experience, giving the records enough presence to make the music integral to the room without overwhelming everything else.
Mondays through Fridays from 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturdays from 2 p.m. to midnight. 1506 19th St. NW. pressclubdc.com.
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