Exploring cafes is probably one of Singaporeans’ favourite pastimes, whether it’s for the vibes, the food or the drinks. Matcha or coffee, anyone?
But once in a while, you discover a new kind of cafe that stands out from the rest. And for some, that’s what vinyl cafes are — beyond the aesthetics and taste, it’s also about the music in your ears. Scroll down to read about some vinyl cafes, bars and listening spots we found.
1. Slow Boat
When it comes to vinyl cafes, you have to mention the OG — Slow Boat. It was the first vinyl record listening cafe to ever open in Singapore and is open daily from 11am to 9pm. ‘Slow rhythms, warm coffee’ is the vibe that Slow Boat wants to give off when you step in.
And honestly, it looks really cosy, especially with the vintage wooden furnishing. If you want to listen to vinyls, it’ll be S$30 an hour, with a drink included. There are hundreds of vinyl records to choose from, including a Taylor Swift collection and a Studio Ghibli collection. There’s also a cassette listening library, if you’d like to check it out.
If you have your own turntable at home, you can also purchase and bring home any of the vinyl records that you really like. Both new and used vinyl records are available for browsing.
Reserve a table if you’d like, here.
45A Craig Road, 2F, Singapore 089683
Daily: 11am – 9pm
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2. MyX
We’ve talked about the first vinyl cafe in Singapore, but what about its newest? MyX at Holland Village is probably the latest spot with a vinyl listening experience. However, instead of a cafe, this is a restaurant that serves soulful food accompanied by soulful music. They also have a pet-friendly patio, if you’re bringing your furry friends along.
Here, diners can enjoy delicious food from a menu inspired by Latin America and the USA’s southern coast, with a playful twist. At a cosy corner, you can find vinyl records to listen to, as well as books to read.
To make reservations, visit MyX’s website.
44 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-46, Singapore 278116
+65 9487 1552
Tue to Thu: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Fri: 11.30am – 11.30pm
Sat: 11am – 11.30pm
Sun: 11am – 10pm
Closed on Mon
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3. Choice Cuts Pizza & Records
Here’s another unique one. I’ve never thought that pizza and vinyls could go well together, but Choice Cuts Pizza & Records is proving me wrong. If you want to feel like you’re stepping into a New York pizzeria, drop by this spot at Joo Chiat.
They not only serve up delicious slices of New York thin-crust style pizzas, but also good beats and vibes. Once in a while, the pizzeria hosts music parties, but on usual days, you can drop by their dedicated vinyl record space to browse and listen to some on your own. Definitely check out this place if you’re in the area — but don’t place the wrong circular object on the record player!
446 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427659
+65 8112 9004
Tue to Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Closed on Mon
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4. Appetite
Food, music and art. That’s what Appetite aims to blend together into an experience at their establishment on Amoy Street. Within their Living Room, you can find a bar reimagined as an art gallery and listening lounge.
The music collection here is massive, featuring more than 3,000 records spanning different genres and decades. You’ll probably spend your entire evening and night here. For food, you can choose to order snacks or mains, or opt for the Chef’s Choice Menu, which includes both. There are also plenty of beverages you can purchase by the glass or bottle.
To ensure that you get a spot, especially if you’re visiting with friends, be sure to make reservations.
72A Amoy Street, Singapore 069891
+65 9751 5300
Mon to Sat: 6pm till late
Closed on Sun
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5. Offtrack
I’ve lost track of the number of vinyl cafes that have smart names, and Offtrack is one of them. Rather than a cafe, it is a music-centric cocktail bar that also serves hearty Pan-Asian food. The warmly lit interior is welcoming and adds to the bar’s purpose as a social space.
Offtrack is unique because instead of having your own listening sessions, records are played for all to hear. But rest assured, music programming here is not an afterthought, but is specially curated for diners and record collectors.
If you’re looking to visit with your homies, you can reserve a table here.
34 North Canal Road, Singapore 059290
+65 8748 0408
Mon to Thu: 6pm – 12am
Fri & Sat: 5pm – 1am
Closed on Sun
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6. RPM by D.Bespoke
Another music-and-cocktail bar that curates vinyls and plays music for its patrons is RPM by D.Bespoke. Though the focus here is on serving Japanese shochu, vinyl records feature music from artistes all over the world. This includes musical legends like Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson.
Different vinyl records are played each day, so depending on your time of visit, you might be greeted with Soul, Funk, Jazz, Rock, Pop or Japanese City Pop music. If this sounds like a place you’d be interested in checking out, you can make your reservation through WhatsApp at +65 8359 1334.
16 Duxton Road, Singapore 089784
+65 8359 1334
Tue to Fri: 6pm – 12am
Sat & Sun: 4pm – 12am
Closed on Mon
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7. Muro Coffee Chinatown
Back to cafes — Muro Coffee at Chinatown is a cool coffee shop with an elegant black-and-white interior. It is known mostly for its freshly brewed specialty coffee and matcha lattes, as well as its focaccia menu.
But also, tucked away at a side of the cafe is a nice little Record Player Corner. This is a corner made for audiophiles and houses a collection of vinyl records, a turntable and headphones. Being a cosy spot that seems to fit 2 people nicely, it is perfect for listening to some music with a partner or a buddy. Visit this vinyl cafe hidden in a shophouse for a short but relaxing getaway.
214A South Bridge Road, Singapore 058763
Mon to Fri: 8am – 6pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 6pm
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8. Swee Lee Clarke Quay
For many musicians and music enthusiasts in Singapore, Swee Lee is a household name, especially as a retailer of musical instruments like guitars. But what makes their Clarke Quay store extra special is that it also has an in-house cafe & bar and vinyl listening stations.
If you’re a Swee Lee member, you can enjoy 1 hour of complimentary vinyl listening per day, simply by purchasing anything from the retail store or cafe. Non-members are also welcome, but will need to pay a fee of S$10 per hour with any purchase. Either way, you can access a curated collection of over 500 vinyl records.
Enjoying your favourite tracks in such an aesthetic-looking store while having a fresh cup of coffee would be absolutely therapeutic.
Blk 3B River Valley Rd, CQ @ Clarke Quay, #01-06, Singapore 179021
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 9pm
Sat & Sun: 10.30am – 10pm
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