Listening bars are enjoying a resurgence in popularity these days, but Sydney‘s JAM Record Bar goes meta, evoking the feeling of sitting inside a giant speaker.

Akin Atelier designed the laneway listening bar for Justin Hemmes, CEO of hospitality group Merivale, and his sister Bettina. Hemmes previously ran the music label Jam Recordings—named after their parents, John and Merivale—which also lends its name to the space on the corner of George Street in the city’s central business district.

Though compact at just 18 sq m, the bar can seat 45 people. Drawing on Tokyo’s legendary listening bars of the 1970s and vintage speaker systems, Akin Atelier’s founder Kelvin Ho has installed pink plywood coverings across walls and ceilings, mimicking the box of a large speaker. Cork and ‘pink batt’—a type of thermal insulation commonly used in construction— are used for their acoustic qualities, adding to a surround-sound experience.

Large glass panels are at the front of the bar, remnants of JAM’s previous life as a store, with a ply sidebar and black metal chairs installed for people watching over the street.

Merivale’s styling director, Bettina Hemmes, and design director, Nasim Koerting, styled the venue, adding a mix of vintage lighting and objects. Some 15,000 records are stored in custom shelving alongside the bar’s bespoke vintage JBL sound system. Vinyl is curated by Merivale’s Head of Music and Entertainment Nick van Tiel, running the gamut from funk and soul to ambient soundscapes, with a regular programme of DJs.

On the menu are Japanese-inspired snacks – think sandos, spring rolls and skewers – created by Sushi e’s Head Chef Michael Fox, washed down with yuzu highballs and sake.

JAM Record Bar, 320 George Street, the Ivy Precinct, Sydney

See more listening bars across the globe

Or take a peek inside the world’s first dedicated audio museum