Japanese listening-bar culture. No phones. No photos. Designed for serious listening.

Space Talk is a Clerkenwell hi-fi bar inspired by Japan’s ongaku kissa – music cafés built around the idea that listening should be the main event. Its owner brought together an architect, designer and sound engineer to create the room and bespoke sound system, with carefully selected records played as something to properly listen to rather than background noise. Space Talk loosens the traditionally reverential Japanese format with cocktails and conversation, but keeps the obsession with sound – and a no phones policy.