Listening Bars in Mexico: A Melomaniac’s Dream

Unlike Tokyo, where listening bars have a long-standing history and culture, Mexico has recently experienced a surge in the acquisition of HiFi sound systems, complemented by a wide array of cocktails and comfortable, designer furnishings.

We spoke with our friend, DJ Pato Mallet, a native of Mexico, about this new wave of bars. Beyond the positive aspect of generating a new circuit and encouraging the public to plan outings to listen to vinyl music—which gives us hope as it combats this era of “Tik-Tok music”—care must be taken not to saturate the market. Pato mentioned, “Over time, those that do not neglect the most important aspects—the musical curation and their relationship with the artists—will endure.”

Enduring over time is a challenge, maintaining quality in the long term, and also guiding attendees to understand that this experience isn’t entirely focused on a party atmosphere where one cannot be shouting.

Pato provided us with a couple of addresses to explore the new listening bars in Mexico, and we’ve added one of our own choosing.

Roca HIFI

Among the latest openings is Roca HiFilocated on the bustling Álvaro Obregón Avenue in Roma Norte. The venue boasts an outdoor terrace for those who wish to enjoy the afternoon. The programming features selectors from Wednesday to Saturday, from 5 pm to 2 am, exclusively by reservation.

In an article by Antonio Vaca, we can delve into the challenges of soundproofing the space: “There were few surfaces on the walls to add absorption; a large percentage was glass separating the terrace, which was necessary to maintain to have a visual connection with the exterior green area. I found the ceiling to be the best possible area to modify and add several square meters of porous absorbent material. One of the largest walls, originally designed to be smooth wood, was changed to wood stripes over PET sheet with special care in installation to obtain maximum absorption.”

Roca is equipped with a Varia Instruments RDM40 mixer, preamplifiers, a McIntosh amplifier, JBL Synthesis speakers, and a pair of Technics turntables.

Órbita

In the mornings, serves as a coffee and breakfast bar, where you can find, for example, avocado toast, eggs with “machaca,” or a sandwich, along with your American coffee and a Bloody Mary. In the evenings Órbita transforms around the turntables, which, in the middle of the bar, are the heart of the place.

The cocktails revisit classics and add a Mexican and even ironic touch to what we already know, such as the Hai-bol, which is like the one your uncles play dominoes with, but with gin, calpis, and hoja santa; the Picafresa, with mezcal, strawberry, and chili; and the Gibson Yuca, made with pox and its pickled onion. This is how it’s presented by the renowned media outlet. Time out Mexico.

This café-bar features a retro-futuristic design and is equipped with an ARS MODEL 9100 mixer, a H.A.N.D HiFi sound system, and a pair of Technics turntables.

Shhh

Vogue Mexico presents it as: a new concept that fuses the love for music and mixology in an environment designed for those who seek quality in every detail. This space is not only a meeting point for music lovers but also a place where everyday entertainment transforms into a sensory experience. Conceived as the perfect complement to Ninety Nine Records, the vinyl store founded in 2022, Shhh expands the original proposal with a more ambitious approach: a listening bar designed for those who value the essence of music.

Designed in collaboration with Estudio H. Fernandez and Vertebral, this place is divided into three areas: The first, the listening room, is a refuge that isolates from external noise to offer an intimate and immersive listening experience. The second is a lounge where attendees can explore a curated selection of over 9,000 records, books on music, audio systems, and exclusive items. Finally, the red bar, a space designed for social connection, invites you to enjoy signature cocktails while sharing your passion for music.

On their website we can delve into the details of their equipment: The space features a Roksan Xerxes 20 plus turntable with Manley preamplifiers and amplifiers, as well as Altec A7 speakers. Simultaneously, it is reinforced with JBL 4333 speakers that include McIntosh preamplification and amplification.