Tokyo Record Bar

What we like about Tokyo Record Bar is the invitation to take part. Downstairs, the Vinyl Jukebox pairs an izakaya-style tasting menu with music chosen by the guests. Picking a track is a small decision, but it gives everyone a little stake in the evening—and a glimpse of the people around them.

That shared soundtrack is the reason we are drawn to it. We like the idea of a meal taking its rhythm from a roomful of different tastes, with a familiar record arriving between something entirely new. The food gives the night its structure; the selections give it personality. In a city with so many places to book a table, an evening that lets its guests help shape the atmosphere feels especially appealing.

127 MacDougal Street, New York, NY 10012. Book the downstairs Vinyl Jukebox for the guest-selected soundtrack.