The neighborhood has its first listening club, All Blues — it opened in February and I went by last March and alas, here we are — and if you are into music at all in any way, it is completely worth a visit. It is a unique spot. (B. gets credit for spotting it first.) They have converted the former 87 Walker into a lush and moody space, with something I have never seen in a bar or restaurant: a listening room, where the only activity allowed is listening (well, and drinking).

“Our condition is ‘let the music do the talking,'” owner Yuji Fukushima explained in an email.

Fukushima is also the co-owner of Blue in Green, the Japanese and American selvedge denim store opened in 2006 at 8 Greene Street in Soho, as well as the Japanese/Mexican fusion restaurant LighHouse Rooftop in Long Island City.

The music collection is largely his — massive, but think Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Earth, Wind & Fire — and they are playing vinyl most of the time. There is no live music and when we were there, there was very little chatter either. It’s not easy to chat even if you want to!

As with 87 Walker, the bar is closest to the door, then the space opens up about halfway back. That’s where the lounge chairs are, all facing one direction. The DJ is at the back.

There is food — Japanese snacks and appetizers, udon, dumplings, edamame — but the focus is the cocktails. There is an extensive Japanese whiskey and shochu section of the menu, along with tequilas, rums, and specialty cocktails. NB: Reservations are suggested for the listening lounge.

All Blues
info@allbluesnyc.com
87 Walker |
Tuesday to Thursday 6p to 12a
Friday and Saturday, 6p to 2a