3.7 stars overall - stellar acoustics, passable drinks, logistics could be better. Echo Yen D. that the best time to come for deep listening is 6PM, as the main lounge is quieter (with no prior sessions). My husband and I enjoyed a lovely listening session of John Coltrane A Love Supreme. Acoustics are outstanding, which is the main reason to check out Shibuya HiFi. Drinks: Having been warned by both a colleague as well as all Shibuya reviews (Google and Yelp) on mid-cocktails, we enjoyed our favorite spirit on rocks and averted disaster. Cocktails are $18+ and there is a single bartender. As several reviewers note, drinks are not permitted in the listening room, so make sure to enjoy your drink prior to your scheduled session. Seating: We arrived around 5PM for our 6PM session to grab a quick drink and lined up ~5:20PM to be first in line (seating is first-come, first-serve). Shoes off in the listening room. Best seats are front and center of the listening room, with uncomfortable stools towards the back. Music: The storytelling of the album was simple (might have expected more knowledge of the album), with the host spending majority of time introducing us to the acoustic sound equipment of the room. read more

Shibuya HiFi - View from main couch in the listening room - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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A good friend put me onto Shibuya HiFi, and I'm glad he did because this spot did not disappoint. The vibe in here is crazy (in a good way) !! Super chill and just a dope atmosphere overall. It's the kind of place where you feel like you're in the right spot for the night. Service was solid, everybody was cool and actually knew what they were talking about. Drinks were on point too....not the basic stuff you get everywhere else. What I really liked is the whole vinyl/listening-room experience. You come here to actually enjoy the music, not just talk over it. The sound system is amazing, the playlists are well put together and the whole place just gives you that "I'm somewhere unique" feeling. I get why people love this place, it's perfect for a date, catching up with friends, or just relaxint with good music and good energy. Definitely worth it!! read more

I really wanted to like the place. It's an intriguing concept in my opinion. I enjoyed the place aesthetically but wish I could say that for overall experience. Okk.. so the story telling of the vinyl they were playing was really interesting. It was records by Solange. The person curating our experience had preamble on her personal life and history with records. Overall staff were really nice and sweet. Decor of the hifi room is very Japanese inspired. It has a speakeasy vibes. For the bar, I found odd that they didn't have menu and had in about 7 signature drinks in total. My friend and I got Negroni and gin & tonic which was decent. Chill music, chill vibes and plenty of room. But you can't wear shoes and you can't drink or eat in the HiFi room which I found to be odd. I'd have enjoyed a lot better with my drink In my opinion they have so much potential with the whole concept but it was a bit let down.. also they pride themselves on being Japanese so they can be so creative with incorporating some Japanese inspired cocktails. read more

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A gem that is slept on in Ballard. I f you know, then you know. A Japanese bar/speakeasy that stays true to the speakeasies tradition in Japan. Hidden in Ballard, this bar is unique to Seattle's bar scene. The owner/founder Jeff was serving at the bar. They have the main room and the listening room with a record player and speakers that are designed to play records the way the artist themselves intended. I had the Long Play and it was strong yet delicious! The spicy ginger candy is house made and elevated the drink. I will definitely be coming back and try going to the listening room also! read more

Shibuya HiFi - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Made a reservation for 630 Friday, upon arrival there was no music in the lounge and a long line to get drinks from the solitary bartender. Couldn't figure out what good a lounge reservation did given there was nowhere to check in. Waited 15 minutes and the line barely moved, most ppl were trying to get in to the Hi Fi experience (which was advertised as starting at 6). By 645 we figured the line was another 30 minutes so we bailed. Wish it were different, we've been wanting to check this place out since it opened but it just didn't align in any way with their website description. Super awkward experience. read more

I've never been convinced of the superiority of vinyl over CDs, but If some folks want to fetishize vinyl, that's not going to bother me. I grew up with vinyl and still have a lot I bought in the 80s and 90s. But I moved on to CDs a long time ago and have a pretty decent component system at home, and some pretty large speakers, so it's not like I'm having to listen to compressed audio on a little Bluetooth speaker (what are people thinking accepting that as their only source of music?). So, I went to Shibuya once, to check it out for novelty sake, had a nice experience in their listening room with an album I had never heard before. The fact that I was in for more than $40 with admission and a cocktail wasn't a deal-breaker, though the whole "ritual' they have set up in their listening room (no shoes, no drinks, etc.) seems kind of precious and overbearing. Not being able to sip your drink while listening? Really? But, I watched for some interesting music to appear on their schedule, and I found most of what they were offering to be not very adventurous. And of course, that's very subjective. I'm sure they want to make sure they fill their seats, but I wonder if choosing more off-the-beaten-path material would be a better incentive for some customers, especially given that their listening room really only holds a small group anyway? I might be back, but I have an exhaustive collection of music at home, so it would have to be something pretty unique, especially for the investment involved. read more

Wow! What an experience. This was my first time here, let alone a music listening lounge and it was so nice and intimate. Probably one of my top suggestions for something new and different read more

Shibuya HiFi - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Arrived with a reservation for the hifi lounge about 30 minutes before start, which gave just enough time to order two drinks at the bar and sit down but not much time to enjoy before going into the listening room (no drinks or shoes allowed inside). The room itself was quite cozy and vibey as others say and our hostess was friendly and familiar with the history of the building and sound system, which provided a great listening experience. If I could change anything with the listening experience I'd prefer more introduction about the featured album and its recording over the building/room history. read more

Shibuya HiFi - Bar seating - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Overall this spot was super fun. The drinks and audio were really good, I would come back just for the drink I got. The service is a bit slow though as when we went there was only one bartender and the line must've been 10 people trying to get drinks right before their room call. Everyone was very nice though, would go back! Probs would go a little earlier than 20 minutes before the show if I wanted a drink bc most of the time was waiting in line for the drink. read more

Shibuya HiFi - cocktail lounge - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Contrary to other reviews, they did a stellar job on the night we went describing in great detail everything about the music, the history of the artists and the specific records, the sound systems, the space's design, and how they approach the music they showcase. We had a great time and learned a ton - about 15 minutes of the night was spent on introductions and descriptions. For the 6pm hifi room reservation, we were brought in around 6 25pm, the music started spinning at 6 45pm, and the listening sessions ended promptly at 8pm. You were encouraged to stay afterwards and ask questions, and walk around and enjoy the space, read the books on display, etc. No, you are not allowed to wear shoes in the space, and yes, it does smell faintly sour and could use some scent remediation, but it's not overly distracting. You're not allowed to bring drinks in the hifi room, but they offer to chill any unfinished ones for you to resume later. The attention to design curation of the hifi room was very interesting. The art piece is by local artist Christy Hopkins - and it's inset framed into the wall finish. The 2 aluminum and parchment pendant lights once filled at 25ft tall space in Beniroya Hall, and they own all 10 originals. Much of the furniture was custom made for the space locally in SoDo, and the large rug is an authentic Afghan rug. Love the variety of listening sessions this space offers, and looking forward to coming back and for more listening experiences! Thank you for a thoughtful and informative evening. read more

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I really wanted to like this place better. The good: this is an audiophile's dream. Their listening room is a beautiful setup with wonderful acoustics. We had reservations to listen to John Coltrane's 1960 Giant Steps album, sides A & B. It was beautiful. When I closed my eyes I could almost imagine the musicians were in the room with me, spread out around the room. Shibuya HiFi is modeled after listening bars that are well known in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. I have been to a couple of these bars, and I would consider Shibuya HiFi, in fact, at the upper end of what you might experience there. If only we had decent seats... The bad: we had reservations for the 3 of us at 6:00. Our assumption was that we needed to be prompt, lest we miss out. Given its Japanese theme, we expected that things would happen promptly (as they do in Japan). My girlfriend got off work early in order to make it. Her son came with her (it was our treat to him, in particular, given his love of music). I rushed over from an appointment. Then we sat. And we sat some more. In fact, we didn't go into the listening room until nearly 6:50. In other words, we didn't need to rush. It really set the tone for the night (despite the good tunes). Maybe the point was to ensure that we bought some of their very expensive cocktails? The ugly: even though we arrived at 6:00 and had reservations, there really were no comfy seats to sit in. The comfy seats were all taken or "reserved." We sat at a bar that had beautiful high seats that were terribly uncomfortable to sit in. We saw some people in the bar area get up and head towards the listening room around 6:40. We thought maybe they were going to the restroom (it was in the same general direction). But as it turns out they were heading to get in line in order to enter the listening room. Clearly they knew something that we didn't. About 6:45 we were told to queue up for the listening room. Fortunately, we were fast, so we were pretty close to the front of the line. Then a small group of other individuals--maybe they had some sort of VIP pass?--was escorted past the line and into the room. They were able to secure the most comfortable, and best seats for listening, in the room. Then the doors open and the rush was on. We really didn't know what was going on, and ended up not able to sit together. A couple of us were able to get seats in the center that were reasonably comfortable, facing forward. One of us got seats at a table facing away from the speakers. We noticed some other unlucky folks that got bar seats (yes, those insanely uncomfortable ones) at the back of the room. Those folks ended up leaving early. The music was great, but how the evening unfolded was not the experience we had hoped for. It should have been a wonderful experience with all of us together. Despite our having reservations, we were left listening to the music apart, with one of us in particular having a much less than optimal listening experience. Our evening should have been a lot better than it was. read more

Shibuya HiFi - The bar. Beautiful chairs that are terribly uncomfortable to sit in. - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This was a really unique experience! Great for music lovers if you want to nerd out about an album, artist, or sound equipment. The space is absolutely gorgeous and you can tell that a lot of thought went into designing it. The whole place feels like it was someone's passion project and they're really into music, vinyl, and creating an elevated experience. I said that the listening room felt like being in a really cool wealthy person's living room. I would definitely recommend dressing up a little bit for the occasion. It has speakeasy vibes. This would be a great place for a date night! We went to for a listening party and it was really cool to have someone be kind of a music spirit guide for us and adjust the volume and settings for optimal sound quality. There was a little bit of sound interference from the lounge during quiet parts of the album. A few things that are helpful to know: no drinks allowed in the listening room. I wish they had told us that when we bought the drink. We were sipping slowly with the intention of bringing it with us and then had to chug it when it was time to go into the listening room. You also have to take off your shoes when you get in, which makes sense and was a nice touch, but I wasn't expecting that, so wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off and nice socks. Sure, I probably could have found all of this info on the website but for first timers it's always good to have someone tell them the house rules. They asked us at the door if we'd been here before so that would be a good time to let us know about these things. I wasn't a fan of having bar stools in the back. All the seats should be comfortable and the bar stools are beautiful but are just not comfy enough for the listening experience. It sucks when it's your first time and you don't know that you're supposed to rush in to get a good seat, otherwise you're just stuck with an uncomfortable one for the length of an entire album while others get to sit on nice couches and chairs. I think seating should be assigned to avoid this and bar stool seats should be cheaper than comfortable seats. It also would have been nice to have more opportunities for conversation before and after the album. My partner and I wanted to hear more about what other people in the room were thinking and how the album connected with them. Maybe an optional Q&A or ice breaker at the beginning or end of the session would be nice. We did meet one person in the lounge before the listening party but it's not exactly an inviting experience for making friends and meeting new people. Everyone was kind of on their own but in the same room if that makes sense. I think a facilitated conversation would help this. read more

Shibuya HiFi - Listening room - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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i love this spot! music, good vibes, and drinks, all in one place! we didn't do the hifi listening experience, just spent time in the lounge/bar area, and it was a wonderful time! it is really spacious, lots of comfy couches/bar seats to sit in, so it never felt stuffy or crowded. it's great for a gno or date night. it was really fun to watch the dj spin vinyls live and the quality of the music/speakers was fantastic. it was loud enough to sing along but not too loud that you couldn't converse among each other. i could spend hours here really! i am curious about the hifi listening experiences though, and i know they have some great selections! will be back to see what that's like! read more

Shibuya HiFi - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

There for Wish You Were Here, unfortunately the sound experience was not exceptional.

Best time to come for the deep listening is the 6 pm one since there's barely anyone in the main lounge area. They're still working on sound proofing the deep listening area. Event didn't fully start until 630...and then it was a dash to the comfy seats, otherwise you will be on a bar stool. No drinks or food is allowed inside the deep listening area as well as you have to take off your shoes. There's barely any food on the menu anyways. Came for Sade and there was some dust on the vinyl record so the owner played an extra song after listening to Lovers Rock. My advice...make sure to line up for the deep listening room and make sure your shoes are easy slip on and off shoes. I had zip up boots and ended up in a booth... Also...their bass isn't the best so choose a deep listening session that's more vocal focused. read more

Shibuya HiFi - Anita Baker - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We wanted to check it out to see what a hi-fi room looks like! We walked in on a Friday night around 11pm, the area outside the hi fi room has a cool looking bar and open seating. The bartender was nice. However ,the cocktails are extremely basic for the price (starts from $19)!! I couldn't believe they charged $21 for a basic vodka+liqueur on ice. It did have a lychee garnish wow ! We didn't get to the hi fi room since you need to reserve by paying a ticket ahead of time. I might go there again by buying a ticket for a good night but won't buy cocktails there I guess! read more

Shibuya HiFi - Pink rabbits cocktail with vodka and lychee - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I've been here on two occasions--once for the main lounge, and once for the hifi room--and the only one that was worth it was the hifi room experience. The hifi room experience is fantastic, especially if they're playing an album you like. You have to reserve online in advance, which includes a $20 deposit that you can use to cover a drink. The hifi listening experience actually starts 30 mins after the listed time, which gives you the opportunity to grab a drink and enjoy the main lounge before heading to the separate listening room. The room is beautifully decorated and has comfy seating, and has a couple different types of speakers for deep listening. The room isn't sound-proof though, so you can definitely hear noise from the main lounge during song transitions. The main lounge looks like a regular bar, with some cool vinyl-inspired finishing touches. Although you don't need a reservation, it's probably best to get one because they fill up pretty fast. The acoustics aren't great in the lounge area, so you don't actually get to hear the records that well. And for a $20 deposit and very average drinks, it's just not worth it. Since the hifi experience is the same price and you get to have both experiences, that's the only one that I would come back for. read more

Shibuya HiFi - Drinks - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A really beautiful, unique, and creative venue, a high concept, excellently executed. Feels more LA than Seattle, but maybe that means we are getting more sophisticated. Definitely worth a visit, for locals and visitors alike. A new Seattle landmark. read more

Oh what a VIBE this place has. Mid century everywhere, gorgeous bar and plenty of staff. Just dark enough and excellent beats. But the reason you've heard of this place is the Hifi room in the back. No drinks, shoes off, it suddenly becomes a sonic retreat in your night, only to come back out, soul refreshed from the beats and care to surround you with a hifi record experience. Definitely worth checking out and if it's your thing, support this biz. What a cool add to Ballard where you already have a million choices but this one is unlike any others. read more

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What an incredible experience! There's nothing like it in Seattle, and you absolutely have to go. The listening room is the main event, but don't overlook the lounge. It's a stunning place to hang out with friends, sipping artfully made cocktails. No TVs, dim lighting, perfect analog music, bespoke furniture, and incredibly friendly staff with no cover? Yes, please! The listening room itself is mind-blowing, and not just because of the music. The art and furniture complement the incredible sound system wonderfully, enhancing the entire experience. If you're looking for something new to do, love music, and appreciate great ambiance, you have to check out Shibuya HiFi. read more

Shibuya HiFi - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I'm begging other cities to bring over hi fi listening bars from Japan. The idea of collectively listening to music with strangers is really cool. I loved this place. That being said, like others have mentioned, they do need to step up their drink game. I don't drink alcohol, my wife does. Personally I get pretty bored of places just having athletic. Especially when so many breweries (craft too) has n/a brews. For this place in particular, N/A Sapporo would be choice. Cocktails are limited, but my wife also just wanted a martini and the bartender was happy to oblige even though it wasn't on the menu. I still give them 5 stars because the experience incredible. I also understand and appreciate the goal isn't to get wasted. It's just to vibe and listen to good music on good systems that I know I can't afford. read more

Really cute place that has a great vibe. It's good for talking since the music isn't too loud, and I like how they have different listening events which you can find online. It's a bit difficult to find since there is no sign by the front door and is quiet outside. it's just a large green door exactly where Google maps says the place is located. The drinks were pretty expensive (around $20) and not anything particularly mind blowing. But the service was wonderful. I made a reservation online, which I would recommend if you want to have a nicer table. read more

Shibuya HiFi - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Don't get me wrong, three stars is still pretty good. However, I see so much potential with Shibuya HiFi. I reserved tickets on Valentine's Day for a deep listening to Sade's Lovers Rock, which is an album my husband and I enjoy. Keep in mind the reservation cost only covers the reservation and is not applicable to cover your drinks. We got there at 6 pm to enjoy a cocktail in the corner before doors opened for the HiFi Room. I appreciate the spaciousness of the lounge area. Since it is a Wednesday night, we were able to have a nice conversation without yelling at each other. My husband was nerding out on the sound. When I replayed my mini snippet of our drinks in the lounge later in the evening, I was blown away how clear it is. When the room finally opened, I did not realize no drinks are allowed so I ended up chugging the rest of my Bronx. Also, no shoes allowed so make sure you are wearing nice clean socks. The set up is cozy, I think there were 30 people in the room. Our host of the night is Brian and I appreciate him taking the time to share tidbits about the album, speakers and even making adjustments when needed. After listening to the album, I appreciate the space Shibuya creates for listeners to just be present with the music. I have read other reviews mentioning that you can hear the sound from the lounge creep into the HiFi Room. Since it was a chill Wednesday night, we didn't hear anything from the lounge. Brian did mention they are in the works for getting a theatre screen to help with blocking out the sound from the lounge. For the cocktails, my husband got the Fadeout and I the Bronx. I thought both cocktails were fine. I do think they have room to come up with a couple more house special cocktails as the menu is limited. When I do come back, I'll probably ask the bartender to make something for me. There's no food on the menu but I think it would be nice if they offered some snacks like a cheese plate or charcuterie. While I thought the bartender did a decent job making drinks and managing the line, I think there could be a second bartender that night to help with the line. We didn't feel motivated to wait in line after our listening session ended so we just ended up lounging around until it was time to walk over to our next stop. Overall, I think Shibuya is a great place to relax and enjoy music. I can only see them improving more and I can't wait to come back for another HiFi experience. read more

Ambiance is incredible. This is the most ideal lounge for both introverts and music connoisseurs. The knowledge of the hosts, welcoming energy, and the aesthetic of this space make this experience incredibly unique. Most importantly, the sound systems are of authentic and excellent quality. Can't wait to come back!! read more

Shibuya HiFi - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is the second time I've been here. The first was part of a Yelp Elite event so I understand the experience was planned differently for that event. After listening to a couple songs in the HiFi room, I was interested in listening to an album that I knew and as soon as I saw the schedule I immediately booked to listen to Channel Orange. The reservations are $20 per person and pretty straight forward. Not sure why they call it a deposit? We got there a little after our "5pm" reservation. I liked that they allot time to check in and mingle before starting the listening session. The check in process was easy and we were greeted and informed on the process of the reservation. I loved the Fade-out drink when I first tried it and got it again. The drinks are super strong here! I would like to see a mix of interesting drinks here and play with non-traditional flavors given the name of the establishment. The HiFi room is amazing! I won't spoil too much because the hosts are the subject experts on the speakers, the room, the art in the room, etc. All I can say it's very carefully curated and thought out. You can tell a lot of passion came into this space. This type of experience is also what you are paying for as well as listening to your favorite music in a way you never have before. I've told all my friends about it and we're all excited to come back :) read more

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I've been here twice so far -- once for a Yelp Elite event and then a 2nd time for a regular paid experience (reservation for Portishead in the HiFi room). It can be a bit confusing for a newcomer so here are some basics. - There is the lounge (main area) and then the Hi-Fi room. The HiFi room is reservation only - and you can check the schedule online. It's typically released for about 1 month prior. Sometimes if a particular listening session sells out, they will add another one that same night (e.g. 6:30 and then 8:00). - You have to take your shoes off in the HiFi room and there are no drinks or food allowed, so keep in mind the timing if you are enjoying drinks in the lounge. I'm a big music fan (although not knowledgeable at all about sound systems, etc.) so really appreciate this place! Shibuya HiFi is great but I feel has room for some improvements as well. Pros: - Such a unique experience. There isn't anywhere else like this in Seattle (that I'm aware of) for this type of listening experience. Audio is top notch and as of the last time I visited (mid-Feb) they were working on a few updates too. It also makes for a fun activity besides just getting a drink at a bar. I enjoyed myself a lot both times I went. - Brian (co-owner) is great! Fun to chat with and has some fun stories. You can tell he's very passionate about what he does. - I enjoyed the Fadeout cocktail Things that could be improved: - The email confirmation said the listening session was 6;30. However, when we arrived at 6:05 or so (for a quick drink at the bar), we were told the session is actually at 7:00! Ugh. I understand they may want everyone there before 7:00 so that it's smooth getting everyone into the Hi-Fi room, but we were rushing to get there and didn't really need to. Maybe putting the actual time and making it clear that if you're not there 10 min before that time, you risk losing your spot or something... - I wish the drink list had a bit more variety and some food items as well! Maybe in due time... - There are some comfy chairs and couches in the HiFi room but then the rest is a booth (kind of upright) and then backless stools. If you don't rush into the room, you may get a backless stool (depending on how full the room is) so not the most relaxing to be sitting in for 45 min or so. All in all, I really like this place and want them to succeed! Hopefully some of the items mentioned above will improve over time :) read more

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I like it. But... they trick you by advertising a time (like 7 pm), but when you arrive, they say "that's your RESERVATION time, not the time of the event." What? Meanwhile, their website simply indicates a time without any clarification on each showing. Stop manipulating me to come early to buy drinks. I would have arrived early regardless. Now, I'm super annoyingly early. read more

This was SO COOL! I've been 4 times this month. The drinks are a little pricey (Seattle prices) but you have got to experience this! Go soon and go often! read more

This place is dope - they're just figuring it out and I think it will only get better. I liked my drink, but I do think the menu could be spiced up a little, as it's pretty limited and nothing stands out. The discreet entrance door really does it for me. I also love the interior of the whole place. The listening experience was a 10/10. It was a more lively album, but we weren't able to hear anyone in the main room as another review mentioned. I think it's so rad to have the ability to experience music like that on 1970s equipment with incredible sound, surrounded by people enjoying together. Can't wait to bring music-loving friends here. read more

Such a cool listening bar! The staff was friendly and the listening room was so memorable. Next time we are in Seattle, we will definitely be returning read more

This place is extremely pretentious. I came to hear and celebrate Daft Punk's Discovery album and ended up paying TWENTY-TWO DOLLARS to take my shoes off and sit in a room in silence. No dancing and no drinks. I can appreciate a good record and stereo system but this place is extremely pretentious. I will not be returning. read more

The negative reviews are really weird. This was one of the best experiences I've had in a while. The drinks were great, service at the bar was fast and convenient. The style of the HiFi room was set up to comfortably listen to the album from any seat. The deep appreciation for music and culture is evident throughout. I feel like a lot of confusion I've read on this results from a lack of reading. The FAQ on the website outlines everything you need to know. If you don't read things like that, you won't know what to expect. I enjoyed the ambience of this place and loved the atmosphere. It is one of the few places in Seattle where you can expect to feel classy and present in the moment. It is still Seattle though, so you will be amongst those who think it's okay to wear sweats and hoodies to a place that very clearly has a dress code. If that was strongly enforced, this place would be perfect. I look forward to coming back :) read more

Shibuya HiFi - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

First time visiting Shibuya last night, and our party of 3 all enjoyed the experience very much. The setting and aesthetic were designed with care and attention to detail, with local custom-made furniture, light fixtures which were originally from Benaroya, lots of beautiful wood and texture throughout. You can grab a drink before going into the listening room at the bar. The staff were very friendly, but the cocktails could have been better, honestly. The listening room was such a fun experience. Before playing the album, they give a little back-story on the establishment as well as the album and why they chose it. I had a greater appreciation for Radiohead after listening to one of their albums on Shibuya's wonderful sound system. We look forward to going back again and checking out the upcoming music selection. read more

We went early for drinks and the drinks were delicious! It wasn't crowded at all (probably because it was 5:00 on a Saturday), but the ambiance was fantastic and we would definitely go again! read more

We went to the playing of Radiohead's OK Computer. We thought it was a lot of fun to hear one of our favorite albums on such incredible equipment. Great ambiance in the main room as well. Only complaint is that the cocktails seem to need work. Neither my husband nor I liked ours. Minor issue, as we had a wonderful time otherwise. We will be back! read more

During my visit back home in Seattle, one of the first things I looked into booking was a night at Shibuya HiFi with my friends. We love to have drinks at a local Japanese record bar in Honolulu and was excited there was a similar experience in the PNW! Due to the good music theme selections, some of the really good nights were sold out but I managed to find a booking to listen to Kraftwerk. Kraftwerk is very influential in areas of the music industry and history of the last few decades... yet I had no clue who they were before this. Although their music is interesting, I most enjoyed hearing the co-owner of Shibuya HiFi talk about his childhood growing up listening to Kraftwerk and poignant moments in his life that tie to their music. We also got to hear about how he bought the vintage speakers in the room and hear from the speakers previous owner's grandson talk about memories with his grandfather and his speakers. Really it was those moments that made the evening! While you can grab a cocktail and listen to music out front and chat with friends, the listening room is very strict about shoes, drinks, food, and talking. I do wish they could offer maybe water without ice, or maybe cold cocktails in yeti tumblers without ice? But I do understand the reasonings for each of these choices overall. Every time I plan a trip back home, I will check their listening schedule for a great listening session! read more

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I think this concept is super cool, I was looking forward to this place and imagined that I would frequent this place regularly. However, I'm disappointed by the experience and by the lack of change irregardless of the critiques received. Many of these reviews say the same thing over and over but irregardless the experience remains unchanged. 1) there is no intro to the album being played. I have gone to a listening party of historic albums who have gotten no intro but the name of the artist and the title of the album. If we are paying $20+ per person than at the bare minimum the intro should explore what makes this album worth listening to start to finish and for many of them the themes they explore and the major impact they may have had. 2) no where in the reservation is there any information on the fact that no drinks are allowed inside the listening area. If this is being sold as a vinyl bar but no drinks are allowed? That seems a bit silly. I'm made to pound down my $20 drink moments before sitting for an hour with strangers. There is no real reason why silicone or some kind of equivalent drink can't be allowed. If Seattle symphony can figure out a way for people to drink and enjoy the music I'm sure you can as well. 3). No warning regarding no shoes. Truly no reason and no warning. Nothing about this place is Japanese so truly this is a bit ridiculous. 4) uneven sound system. Isn't that why we are there staring at random people? 5) no lyrics to the album or any other immersive experience. Nothing about this experience is unique or leaves you wanting to return which is concerning. 6) uncomfortable chairs, my husband was left to sit on a stool for the one hour paid vinyl experience. Overall, the concept is great but the fact that reviews are being ignored by management is concerning. Very few people will find a reason to return as this experience is bland, pretentious and leaves you wishing for more. read more

Great Idea, Poorly Presented! Went here last night. Group of 4 celebrating our friends. Our experience was very disappointing. Wanted to love it - but it was a huge miss for us. Went to the bar first and ordered 4 drinks. 3 of one kind and one other. The bar tender made the 3 drinks and there was only enough to fill the classes all 2/3 full. She was aware of this and hesitated, turned to fix it but then another party came up behind so she did not remake/fill them. This was very obvious to everyone there. $80. Drinks were fine. Not cool nor professional The Hifi room is gorgeous. Comfortable and well designed. Could be amazing. Yet our host just 'called it in'. She gave almost no history of the artist, of the space or the beautiful equipment. There was the opportunity to really explain how music listening has evolved, the amazing features of analog recording. The beauty of listening to music as it was intended. She looked at the floor as she spoke to us. The album played. Volume so low that it did not fill the room as it was designed. Really - I am old and the volume sucked. The LED lights were on bright above - ugh - you get it. This was a place that could really shine but either the training is poor, it was just an off night or they think that a C is still passing. I would not recommend this place and that is too bad because it really could be so much better. Dave - Seattle read more

What a fantastic experience we went to see or rather listen to the white stripes album and the owner was there. He told us all about the speakers and special rugs, and the whole idea behind the listening room and it really added a lot. I'd love to just taking a moment to listen to an entire album. Highly recommend. read more

Went there with a date this past weekend. Made a reservation for 8pm. Showed up on time but there was no one to check us in, so we wondered to the back area (more on this area later). Suddenly an employee scurried up to us to ask if we had a reservation. Once he established we did, he seated us. The seating was mildly comfortable. Our waiter was great, tho. Our first round of drinks was good. The second round, my date wasn't sure what to order, so she told the waiter she wanted something sweet with Gin. He said he would have the bartender make her something. What he came back with was delicious! The sound in the main front bar area was fine. The place was crowded with lots of folks talking, so we couldn't really hear much. The waiter spoke with us a bit about the back room, with the special hi-fi sound system. He mentioned that it should be clearing out in 10 minutes, so we could go back then and check it out. A while later as we were getting ready to leave, we gathered our things and went to the back area to check it out. We wandered down the hall to that area, but the doors were closed, so we turned around and started walking back when the DJ, Jerry, came hurrying up to us to ask us what we were doing. We told him, and then he proceeded to lecture us. "You should always talk to your parents first before opening a closed door" he said to us in a snotty way. I don't remember paying for attitude. So despite the yummy drinks, we left with a bad taste in our mouths. read more