Kissas... Brooklyn Style

For the purposes of this write-up, there's probably little need to go into a long history of the Japanese "Kissa"—you can read any of our articles covering them here. By now, we all know about the cafés and bars across the country dedicated to jazz. The listening bar has made the trip back to the birthplace of jazz, so I paid two a visit while staying in Brooklyn during Winter JazzFest and APAP.

Kissa Kissa

667 Franklin Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11238

OK, confession time. I am a music geek. Well, more of a fanatic, really, I'm just saying that I have always loved music more than what might be considered normal or reasonable.

I am also a huge fan of "cool," and a bit of a Japanophile. What began as a little kid's obsession with Kurosawa double-features at the rerun theatre led to a summer spent in Tokyo and a lifelong appreciation.

This past weekend, while visiting New York (for Winter Jazz Fest) I got a chance to check out a couple of newer Japanese-inspired listening bars and—to be honest—had a great time at both.



When in New York, I usually stay in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. So, I thought, why not check out some of the spots nearest to where I was staying?

A quick look at the Jazz Near You Hi-Fi Bar directory led me first to Kissa Kissa! I invited my hosts and we walked over for a few drinks, a nice listen, and a few laughs.

Kissa Kissa did not disappoint. The place was small. Cozy, not crowded. The back patio was in use by a writers' group so we took a seat just opposite the bar.

The drinks were good, the staff was great, and there's a cool flickerboard above the bar. Imagine a mid-century departures sign at the airport, the analog version that spins the letters into position to let visitors throughout the space know what's "Currently Playing" without having to leave your party or seat to ask.

More of a listening bar than an audiophile lounge, the sound and selection may remind you of some of the older Kissas, in Japan. There is—of course—a great selection of vinyl jazz records, played on a quality turntable and delivered through a set of high-quality vintage speakers.

The selections were cool. We were treated to a side of Lee Morgan, among other tunes, and there was a selection of vinyl for sale at decent prices. The sound none-too-loud and relatively clean, but not the pumping clear aural experience you might expect at some places.

Similar to some of the authentic original spots we've visited either in Japan and/or elsewhere.

If you get a chance, you really should stop by. There was no line, no muss or fuss and Mino (behind the bar) was super warm and accommodating to our party.

There weren't a lot of food options however, the "Spiced Popcorn" was a hit at our table and we had three extra servings.

Recommended Drinks (after a vote)

The "Passion Dance" and "Moody Indigo." Also -though I'm not sure it's sold as a standalone option, we were allowed a test taste shot of their "Saffron Liqueur." Magically delicious.

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Honeycomb Hi-Fi Lounge

74 5th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11217

Night two. We decided to check out Honeycomb. At first glance, we couldn't quite figure out how to get in. The red glass paneled door and front windows almost mask the entrance.

The space was a nice, cozy size for a Brooklyn bar. Long and narrow, with a dark vibe that smelled fantastic. The first person we ran into was the owner, Jon Carlson, who was sitting at the end of the bar, old-school style and immediately offered us his space, as many of the seats were taken.

Jon and the bartender were both warm and cool. Hi-Fi speakers were mounted at the center point of the bar, with the sound directed at the wall across the narrow space.

The sound was nice and at one point, we stepped to the center of the room to get a clean listen and were duly impressed. It was then that the Mr. Carlson shared that he had just recently replaced the cones for high-end.



We learned that he was a (film/television) set designer by trade, and that he had used his own skills and hands to build out the well-appointed little bar that he now loves so much.

My friends ordered a few drinks. I asked the bartender to invent one or share a mocktail recipe with me. The ginger-spiced result was very good. I would share what I had, however-when asked—the bartender simply replied that everything in there was good for me!

Recommended Drinks

Stormbringer and/or the Mezcal Mule!-

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