Jaç HiFi Café proves why listening bars are still hot topic

Having written quite recently about listening bars in the region, my path led me straight to Belgrade, where KISSA10 convincingly leads this story in our part of the world. Opened in Dorćol, in a two-story villa from the early 20th century, KISSA10 offers signature cocktails and small plates of Japanese cuisine, as well as a warm minimalist interior inspired by Japan. In addition, once a week (“and sometimes even three times”) a guest DJ spins records, while vinyl selections are also played daily from 6 pm to midnight, the bar’s opening hours. As you might guess, it did not take long for this place to become a hot spot among a generation that values good music and a dynamic atmosphere. In Croatia, the Split bistro Parasol shares this vibe and currently stands as the only venue with the listening bar label.

Listening bars outside our region, however, are thriving. At the beginning of July, in Verdaguer, a central neighborhood near the Sagrada Família, Jaç HiFi Café opened its doors. “The idea was born a year and a half ago, after a trip to Japan and Korea that my wife Lígia and I took. We fell in love with jazz kissa, intimate cafés dedicated to listening to music, and wanted to create that concept in Barcelona, adapting it to our own style and rhythm. The journey was not easy. While we were creating this space, we became parents, which was as challenging as it was beautiful. We opened the doors on July 10, and just twenty days later our daughter was born. Two births in one month,” Arnau Planes, the owner of this new cool spot, tells me with a smile (you know where to go if you are planning a trip to Barcelona).

Arnau tells me that Barcelona has always been influenced by the East, and that listening bars are slowly finding their place here as a niche trend. “For me this is deeply personal. High-quality vinyl has always been my passion. There are only a few similar places in the city, and most of them come alive only at night. We wanted something different: a café where mornings begin with thoughtful breakfasts and coffee, accompanied by the sounds of J Dilla, Robert Glasper, Charlie Parker, or Stevie Wonder. Our playlist is eclectic, shaped by the artists I love most, and designed to delight true music lovers.”

The inspiration for the interior naturally comes from distant Japan and the philosophy of jazz kissa, a vision shaped with the help of interior designer Isern Serra, whom I asked what inspired him most in creating this minimalist, inviting space. “Traditional jazz kissa were not bars in the Western sense nor cafés in the European style. They were temples of sound, where conversation was minimal, the turntable was sacred, and music was played on high-fidelity systems at a volume that demanded full attention. Emerging after the Second World War, kissa offered refuge to serious listeners who could not afford their own records or audio systems. Over the decades, their interiors developed a recognizable aesthetic: wooden panels, warm lighting, and seating oriented toward the speakers rather than toward one another, creating a sense of intimacy and deep concentration. Jaç HiFi Café reinterprets this philosophy for a contemporary Mediterranean city. The design is warm yet refined, with an emphasis on tactile materials and an atmosphere that feels as familiar as one’s own living room. The space, covering 95 square meters, unfolds into a series of different zones, each offering a distinct relationship with music, people, and the city outside.”

Arnau builds on this idea: “Even the name carries meaning. Jaç is a Catalan word that plays with the concept of ‘jazz’ while also evoking a place of rest, a perfect reflection of what we wanted to create.”

Upon entering, visitors are welcomed by a lounge area with a concrete sofa and beige cushions, accompanied by a sculptural Akari E lamp by Isamu Noguchi. Walnut tables and chairs from Noo.ma, along with an artwork by Chidy Wayne, add visual contrast and warmth to the space.

The walnut bar also serves as a speaker cabinet, with vinyl shelves and custom Bloom Island speakers seamlessly integrated into the furniture. At the center of the café stands a stainless steel table illuminated by the diffused light of a Lámina chandelier, while the rear area offers a semi-enclosed listening nook with integrated seating, vinyl shelves, and speakers, creating an immersive atmosphere of warm wood and sound.

Intimate corners include a window alcove for four people, discreetly integrated restrooms, and a wood-clad façade with symbolic recesses, while passersby can glimpse a walnut sculpture and a Disco lamp through the window. Beige microcement floors, walls, and ceilings emphasize the contrast with wood, while stainless steel elements and custom cushions blend Japanese precision with Mediterranean ease. Lighting shapes the atmosphere and frames moments within the café.

As for the menu, it is based on “memory and local connection,” Arnau explains. “We work exclusively with local producers and neighborhood shops, celebrating the value of traditional family-run stores. The idea is simple: we want every guest to feel as though they are having breakfast at home, whether it is bread with tomato and Iberian cured meats or homemade pastries inspired by family recipes.”

When it comes to drinks, coffee leads the story here. They roast it themselves, choosing farms whose character and origin they know well. Tea receives the same level of care. “After months of searching, we found two growers in Japan who now supply us directly with matcha.” It is a gesture that sustains the venue’s commitment to authenticity, “to something made with care and love, and that keeps us connected to the Japanese philosophy that paved the way for Jaç.”

Although we have not yet visited, the design and philosophy behind this new Barcelona spot reminded us how much we love stories like this, and how listening bars remain a hot topic on the global social scene. A flight to Barcelona will be booked soon, if you ask us.

Photo: Salva Lopez