The listening bars of Tokyo and Seoul are plush, library-like spaces for music lovers and connoisseurs of cutting-edge audio technology. Turntables may have been around for over 100 years, but modern high-end systems can produce impressively accurate sound. Listening bars are a way to experience these technological marvels and, more simply, enjoy good music. The spaces are often designed to evoke the elegant design language of the last century. At the other end of the spectrum, the average Portland bar with a turntable tends to tailor its music selection to the good vibes of the many rather than the concentrated intensity of a few, which can make for a more casual and less intimidating listening experience. Spotify’s algorithm may be king everywhere else, but in these vinyl-friendly places, the soundtrack is whatever the bartender feels like playing at the time.

The bars and cafes on this list cover a wide range of tastes, from neighborhood brewpubs and bottle shops to swanky bastions of midcentury elegance, but all offer the tactile pleasures of record players—and the notion that even casual background music is a communal experience. If you’re looking for a bit of vintage charm and the warm whir of analog sounds, look no further than the record player at the end of the bar.

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