The Bay Area’s First Japanese-Inspired Listening Bar Is Now Open

Vinyl records — played from start to finish — are the focus of Bar Shiru, the newest bar to hit Uptown, Oakland. Inspired by the bustling jazz cafes and hi-fi bars of Tokyo, Daniel Gahr and Shirin Raza have opened their own version with a fully analog sound system as well as cocktails, beer, sake, and highballs.

The 1,500-square-foot bar sits inside the historic Latham Square building at 1611 Telegraph Avenue. Berkeley architecture firm Studio KDA, which also designed Comal, played up the high ceilings, concrete, and original industrial details with warm lighting, wood, and some fun color.

Cocktails come from Adam Stemmler and Joel DiGiorgio of Farm League Restaurant Group (East Bay Spice Company, Shinmai, Arthur Mac’s Tap and Snack), while the music reflects Gahr and Raza’s own record collection. They’ll play jazz — including genres that relate to jazz, like hip-hop, soul, funk, and some electronic music — and hope to facilitate equal parts listening to music and conversation.

“I think one of the things we love about jazz is it’s such a common thread through so many genres and so much of the music we appreciate,” Raza told Eater SF. “We definitely see music as a really connective force in our community.”

While Bar Shiru’s doors are open, there is still some more work to be done — “drapes to hang, holes to paint, lights to dial in and cocktails to memorize,” as described in an Instagram post. Hours are tentatively 4 p.m. to midnight daily through February 17, after which the bar will be “officially” open.

• Japanese-Inspired Hi-Fi Vinyl Bar Coming to Oakland [ESF]
• Bar Shiru [Official]