A countywide trend is the next logical step in vinyl culture for audiophiles who are looking for a mellow spot to enjoy vintage, new and emerging tunes. Three new spots for sound waves have opened in mid-county, the westside and Downtown Santa Cruz.
The first listening bars, or ongaku kissa, were created 100 years ago in Japan. Customers drank coffee while European classical music played through high-fidelity speakers. Today, Santa Cruz County brings a classic west coast vibe to this historic pastime.
Aptos, located eight miles south of Santa Cruz is home to Fawn Pizza and Vinyl Bar, where guests are surrounded by wallpaper depicting an extraterrestrial and Bigfoot walking hand in hand through a redwood forest while a DJ spins records, filling the room with old school sounds. The aim is to combine the vibrancy of a live-music experience with the comfort and intimacy of listening at home.
In the westside’s Swift Street Courtyard, a spirited corner popular with locals and visitors alike, Private Press pours brews alongside spinning vinyl. Specializing in barrel-aged imperial stouts and barleywines, Private Press is a comfy spot reminiscent of a hipster-style den complete with vintage hi-fi equipment.
In Santa Cruz, Offshore Sounds – a diminutive record shop the size of a collector’s closet – makes browsing for tunes easy and a selector service offers hand-picked records based on clients’ interests and furnished as a subscription.
Redwood Records specializes in albums featuring new artists debuting their music on vinyl and also purchases used records in good condition. Occasional listening parties are hosted in the rustic shop, which also purveys select high-end hi-fi equipment.
In 2025, record sales grew for the 19th consecutive year, and rose above $1 billion for the first time this century.