Momo’s Listening Bar; Kyoto’s Best Hidden Secret

Arguably one of my favorite moments from my eleven days in Japan was my hour and a half spent at a small, cozy record bar hidden on the second floor of a winding street in Kyoto is one of the most unique nightlife experiences in the city.

A Hidden Record Bar in Kyoto You’ll Never Forget

Momo has had this bar for well over a decade now and the desire for guests to get in is only growing. Right now it is Momo’s goal to open a branch in New York City by 2028, a goal I hope to see achieved as I often go back to New York to visit family and friends, and I would love nothing more than to share this special experience with them.

How to Book Momo’s Record Bar in Kyoto (And Why You Should)

Reservations are not required, but strongly recommended to ensure your space at Momo’s. We booked our spot at the bar about 3 months prior to our visit through Instagram DM, Momo’s account is @beatlemomo_kyoto if you are looking to book your own table. I did overhear that they occasionally take walk-ins, but they recommend coming in at 7:00 PM to receive a time to come back if that is the route you’d like to take. 

Inside Momo’s: Kyoto’s Most Intimate Vinyl Listening Bar

When walking into Momo’s you are immediately greeted and asked for your booking name. Looking around it is dark and cozy, but not in a way that feels cluttered. Everything is intentional to curate an intimate atmosphere with an upscale cocktail bar feel. As you look around you’ll notice a huge wall of vinyl records along the wall behind the bar accompanied by the smooth sounds of classic rock and other hits that only vinyl can provide. If you are early it is likely you will need to either stand and wait for your seat at the bar, or there may be a space at a table you can wait at for a moment or two. 

Cocktails, Vinyl, and Song Requests: What to Expect at Momo’s

We were lucky and got a table to wait at so we could take some time to look over the drinks menu. The tables and bar seats also all have blank pieces of paper and pens to write down your song requests for Momo to play on vinyl. Many of the drinks are named for famous songs that I’m sure are on a regular rotation at the bar. I started with an iced matcha latte with almond liquor which is one of the tastiest cocktails I think I’ve ever enjoyed. As we waited for our drinks I also wrote down my first song request, Led Zeppelin’s The Rain Song. When you write down your song requests you can put it in one of the bowls located on each table and bar space that the staff regularly collect and deliver to Momo. My song ended up being perfectly timed to play as we were finally moved to our bar seats right in front of Momo himself.

Getting to sit in front of Momo elevated the experience even more as you could watch his thought process sorting all of the song requests as they came in. His knowledge of each record he had, where they were, what tracks were on each album, was wildly impressive to watch throughout the night. Looking to the left you also had a regular view of three first rate mixologists making the delicious and intentional drinks from the extensive cocktail list. It was a mesmerizing experience to say the least.

As the night went on we had two more rounds of drinks, requested many more songs, and enjoyed the atmosphere so perfectly preserved by Momo all night long. There is a special validation in your music taste when your record comes on as a sea of track requests comes in throughout the night. That feeling somehow is magnified, when you see Momo smiling and dancing as he plays the song right in front of you after arguably playing the same select song requests throughout his daily rotations. I was lucky enough to get to have this feeling more than once during our time at the bar.

Final Thoughts: Is Momo’s Record Bar Worth It?

My time at Momo’s is an hour and a half I will cherish for a long time and a moment in time I will dream of getting the chance to relieve again one day. If not in Tokyo, perhaps in New York once Momo achieves his dream of opening a branch of his bar there. It is truly one of the most unique nightlife experiences I've experienced that I will continue to look back on with a great fondness.