Hear & There: Williamsburg’s Audio-Infused Omakase & Cocktail Sanctuary

August 22, 2025

By Rafi Mercer
New Listing

Opening Line:
Hear & There is one of Williamsburg’s most refined listening bars — explore more in our New York Music Venues guide.

Venue Name: Hear & There
Address: 109 South 6th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Website: Hear & There
Instagram: @hearandthereny
Phone: Not publicly listed
Spotify Profile: N/A (audio-focused but not vinyl-only)

Williamsburg—where grit, art, and evolution converge—makes fertile ground for spaces that defy simple categories. Into that layered context enters Hear & There, not just another bar or omakase counter but a hybrid that threads both, all held together by an underlying dedication to sound. Here, Japanese-inspired cocktails, high-end omakase, and custom acoustics meet in a singular, deeply curated experience, forging a narrative that is as immersive as it is delicious.

Cross the flickering glow of the neon sign, step inside, and the duality is alive from the first glance. The front lounge is moody and plush—dark walnut banquettes, antique mirrors, and orb pendants cast warm light across patrons settling in, cocktails in hand. That warmth is intentional, a contrast to the sharp precision of sound treatment concealed in the design: textured ceilings, strategic surfaces, and custom-built speakers that bathe the room in carefully shaped audio.

Music here isn’t optional—it’s architecture. The soundscape isn’t vinyl-centric, but audio-forward: the curator’s goal is less “listen, quietly” than “you can talk, but let the sound envelop you.” It’s a rare permissive intimacy—sound matters, but so does connection. On the 5 Rules of Sonic Excellence, the bar scores high in Acoustic Environment, Sonic Intent, Curation & Vibe, and notable consistency. The custom speakers and calibrated design elevate every note without drowning conversation.

Then comes the culinary layer. In front, the bar serves otsumami—Japanese small plates—and cocktails that wear their craftsmanship lightly. Signature drinks like the Rice & Nori (seaweed-infused whisky with a caviar bump), Sweet Spot, and High Frequency are not showpieces but emotional articulations; clever, layered, and respectful of drink and sound in equal measure. After drinks, a sliding door reveals the omakase counter—a hushed horseshoe of 22 seats fashioned from dark green quartzite, where a 13-course tasting menu plays out like a long musical phrase. Chef Mark Garcia, with a background in Kissaki and Himitsu, weaves seasonal nigiri compositions that match the room’s subtle crescendo.

The two halves—cocktail bar and omakase counter—offer different rhythms but a unified tonal aim. It is as if the cocktails are the overture and the tasting menu the movement. The spatial design supports this: speakers follow you from lounge to counter, ensuring sonic continuity serves emotional through-line.

Crowd energy follows suit: in the front, conversation flows, ideas seek company. In back, diners lean in, eyes closed mid-bite, present. That shared intimacy, built across cocktail bar and sushi bar, is rare—some nights feel streamed, others profoundly analog. Regardless, the standard is quiet excellence.

And with such precision, consistency must be maintained—and so it is. From the moment reservations open to the late-night walk home along those Williamsburg streets, Hear & There delivers on its promise: every sip tastes like a chord, every bite feels like resolution. It’s not a listening bar in the purist sense, but it invites you to listen—with your senses, your mind, your ear.