The best vinyl bars in Delhi NCR

What is it: A hidden bar serving cocktails and vinyl in the lane parallel to the OG PCO in Vasant Vihar

Why we love it: Together plays a huge range of music, but ironically, that soft crackle of vinyl in between is the sound I look forward to most in this understated space. The acoustics are impeccable and the programming is, well, lawless, with Elvis Presley rubbing shoulders with Rihanna and Taylor Swift getting jiggy with Boney M. Drinks here are also insanely good. Together’s got a bunch of interesting umami cocktails, named Track 1, Track 2, Track 3… you get the drift. They also do a number of small plates that complement the drinks and satiate small hunger pangs – the dimsum is especially good. Curved, cave-like walls, small tables so you don’t have to shout across to be heard, and dim lights make this a pretty cool, intimate experience. 

Time Out tip: Friday and Saturday nights are when the energy shifts from slightly muted to a more pulsating rhythm.

Price: ₹3,500 for two

Timings: Wed-Mon. 5pm-1am. Tues closed.

Address: Third floor, D12, off Street D7, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi

What is it: A vinyl coffee house caffeinated by Subko that transforms into a deep-cut bar by night.

Why we love it: SH/FT lives a double life (shift?). The glow-up happens once the sun goes down. From a brightly-lit tranquil café, SH/FT transforms into a vinyl bar, with weekends belonging to vinyl-only listening sessions with DJs. The café’s not just a great spot to catch up with friends, but is also work-friendly with plenty of charging points (looking at you, freelancers and WFHers). The coffee programme by Subko features options such as Vietnamese Iced Coffee, Cranberry Espresso Fizz, and Orange Cinnamon Cold Brew. Once the night shift begins, bold, shareable plates with wine or beer shape the mood. Staff have scribbled on wall murals to show off their love for music, right beside the wall that holds the vinyl collection, making this the place to shoot your vague cool-looking Instagram story pic.

Time Out tip: If you are here before sunset, get yourself to the corner table next to the glass wall from where you get the best views of the setting sun. The vinyl sessions begin playing at 7 pm, so it aligns.

Price: ₹1,000 for two

Timings: Mon-Sun. 10 am-12 am.

Address: The Boulevard, Magnum Global Park, Gurgaon 

What is it: A Japanese style café meant for craft coffee and moody music 

Why we love it: The vinyl shelf here has no interest in staying in one lane. The Beatles, Anarkali, Ray Charles and Zorba the Greek all coexist, and the turntable jumps from disco to folk in the same hour with the same shrug. The coffee menu matches the ambition, split into three sections: Rituals for everyday comfort, Curious for those who like to experiment, and Archive for the limited releases you'll brag about later. Pair whatever you land on with a refined bake, step onto the balcony for a gulp of fresh air, then wander back in to browse the curated retail corner. Try out the orange-foamed mont blanc cold brew if it’s hot outside, or the mocha if it’s cold.

Time Out tip: Grab a seat at the counter overlooking the balcony area for green views, without leaving the comfort of the cool interiors.

Price: ₹1,200 for two

Timings: Mon-Sun. 8 am-10 pm.

Address: Second floor, 34, above Pure Home Living, Khan Market, Rabindra Nagar, New Delhi

What is it: Delhi’s first vinyl bar – someone had to go rogue, after all.

Why we love it: Genre’s extensive vinyl collection is what brings all the boys – and the audiophiles, and the ‘I-only-listen-to-analog’ hipsters – to the yard. It’s the kind of collection that makes you stay for ‘just one more track’ until you’ve accidentally become part of the furniture. And because one is bound to feel hungry during these sessions, Genre does a variety of big and small plates, as well as some smashing cocktails, such as their well-loved picante. Warm, dim lights and wooden accents lend the bar a cozy feel, making it an ideal brunch spot or even for a date night.  Their coffees, by the way, are criminally underrated, and this might just be the least crowded spot in Defence Colony for breakfast – do this at your risk, though, since there’s typically no vinyl spinning then.

Time Out tip: Have a favourite vinyl at home you want to share? Bring it with you on a Thursday and they just might spin it.

Price: ₹2,000 for two

Timings: Mon-Sun. 9 am-12am. Closes 1am on Friday and Saturday.

Address: Shop No 7, Ground Floor, Defence Colony Market, Block A, New Delhi 110024

What is it: An easy cocktail bar sans lengthy lectures on F&B offerings.

Why we love it: If I’m being honest, for the word play – be it Debate Over Debauchery, a delectable strawberry-infused whiskey drink, or the murals that state ‘Too many tabs, too little time’. The slow warmth of the retro and blues makes you lean in. By the time the ice in your glass has surrendered, the mood has likely pivoted from soulful blues to the steady hum of Leftfield and Detroit Techno, and Chicago House. Since it’s a neighbourhood bar, the food plays on nostalgia and modernity. Try the Fritto Misto chips and Silverfish Crunch, grab the tequila-based Fat Chance from the bar and you’ll be ready to get on the dance floor.

Time Out tip: Stop by the rooftop terrace which doubles up as a selfie point. You’ll know it when you see it.

Price: ₹2,000 for two, excluding drinks

Timings: Tues-Sun. 6 pm-1 am. Mondays closed.

Address: Third floor, M-5 Greater Kailash 2, New Delhi

What is it: A college-nostalgia listening room hidden inside GK 1, dreamt up by three friends who did their undergrad years in Agra.

Why we love it: Step out of the lift and you'll find five identical doors, all marked 304, no signage to save you. Once you've picked correctly (there's no shame in guessing), the room seats barely 30 and runs on the energy of a house party rather than a bar. Resident DJs work retro vinyl through the week – rock on Thursdays, disco on Tuesdays, retro on Sundays – and the menu is just as personal: cocktails and dishes named after meaningful people in their lives and 2am hostel experiments. The Sadar Bazaar (tequila, tamarind, gol gappa water) and the nifty nihari on toast are the ones to order first.

Time Out tip: Ask for a seat at the bar or near the DJ console.

Price: ₹5,000 for two

Timings: Tues-Sun, 7pm-9.30pm & 9.30pm-12am. Closed Mondays.

Address: Hidden inside Greater Kailash I market. Contact them directly for the exact location.