Lala — Vancouver’s Vinyl Hideaway
By Rafi Mercer
New Listing
Lala is one of Vancouver’s most finely tuned listening bars, explore more in our Canada Music Venues guide.
Venue Name: Lala (June’s Vinyl Listening Bar)
Address: 185 Keefer Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada (beneath June on Keefer)
Website: https://juneoncambie.com/
Instagram: @juneoncambie
Phone: Not listed publicly
Spotify Profile: Not available
Vancouver has always had a quiet undercurrent of music culture running beneath its glass towers and mountain horizons. While its nightlife is often defined by breweries and clubs, a new voice has joined the city’s rhythm. Lala, a vinyl listening bar tucked beneath the well-loved restaurant June on Keefer, opened in May 2025 and offers something at once nostalgic and fresh: a subterranean refuge where records, cocktails, and atmosphere come together in intimate harmony.
The first impression is secrecy. A discreet entrance leads you downstairs, away from the street, into a room that feels instantly cocooned. The design draws on mid-century textures: walnut wood, velvet, brass, and dim pools of light that pick out turntables and record shelves. It is both retro and timeless, a basement that feels like it has been waiting decades to be discovered.
The sound system is central, positioned not to overwhelm but to envelop. Turntables sit at the heart of the bar, with vinyl played by selectors who treat each side with patience. The programming stretches across jazz, funk, disco, and soul, with space for Japanese city pop or contemporary electronica depending on the evening. The arc of the night is guided not by volume but by flow — a sense of narrative told through wax and groove.
Cocktails at Lala are crafted with equal care. The bar builds on June’s reputation for inventive drinks, offering a list that combines classic recipes with playful twists. Expect Negronis alongside infused highballs, each balanced to complement rather than overshadow the sound. Natural wines and a short list of spirits add depth to the menu, but everything here feels curated, not cluttered.
The atmosphere is unmistakably intimate. With its low ceilings and close tables, Lala invites conversation as much as listening, creating a collective hush when the music shifts. The crowd is eclectic — young creatives, restaurant regulars, and curious newcomers — all drawn by word of mouth and the allure of discovery. On social media, its glow has already begun to spread, with dimly lit photos and record sleeves hinting at nights that feel more like shared secrets than public events.
For Vancouver, Lala is significant. The city has long lacked a true listening bar, and this venue plants a marker on the global map. It proves that the culture of fidelity can take root anywhere, even in a city better known for its views than its nightlife. More than that, it suggests a new layer to Vancouver’s identity — one where listening becomes not a pastime but a ritual.
Stay until the final track and the room shifts. Drinks empty, lights dim further, and the last record lingers in the air before silence folds in. Climbing the stairs back to street level, the contrast is sharp: the city feels louder, brighter, faster. Yet you carry with you the sense of stillness and resonance that Lala instils — proof that even in a restless city, listening can become its own form of escape.
Rafi Mercer writes about the spaces where music matters. For more stories from Tracks & Tales, subscribe, or click here to read more.
