19 April,2026 12:27 PM IST | Mumbai | Junisha Dama
Idoru opens up its decks to visiting DJs, indie musicians, and vinyl collectors, allowing them to play from their own collections
An unassuming entrance in Bandra leads you to Idoru. A compact, 28-seater cocktail bar, it's built with a sound in focus to complement your drinking experience. At its core is a carefully assembled vinyl setup, records pooled in from personal collections, and two PLX1000 turntables. To build on this, the bar has added nearly 200 LPs specifically for its shelves, creating a mix of personal archives and curated additions.
"Music is not entirely at its fore, but it is a cocktail bar with an incredible music system - to play music you don't hear otherwise," says Anil Kably, one of the four founders. The listening experience is anchored by a custom-built sound system. The main speakers have been built in Jakarta, while the bass units are made in India, inspired by classic Lansing designs. It also features Dynaudio custom BM-15s paired with an Euphonia rotary mixer, resulting in a sound that is warm, rounded, and detailed without harsh highs or mids. The audio remains immersive even at higher volumes, while still allowing for easy conversation across the table.
The experience is anchored by a custom sound system. The main speakers are from Jakarta, while the bass units are made in India, inspired by Lansing designs
Music programming follows a loose arc through the night. "We have a lot of '70s funk and groove-based music. Most of our collection is from around the world: Libya, Africa, and even Bollywood funk. But we do play other music too, it could be indie or alternative, electronica, or funk house," says Kably.
Idoru also opens up its decks to visiting DJs, indie musicians, and vinyl collectors, allowing them to play from their own collections. This approach turns the space into a rotating showcase of music, rather than a fixed playlist-driven venue. "We can't play vinyl all night, every night. One would need over a thousand records for that," says Kably.
Co-founder Anil Kably says this turns the space into a rotating showcase of music; Vinyl collector Shardul Sharma played his collection on a Sunday in April
While vinyl is central to the experience, the format isn't treated rigidly. Digital tracks are also part of the mix, ensuring that the focus remains on sound quality and selection rather than purism.
Follow @idorubombay for listening sessions
Off The Record at Gaijin
Another spot in Bandra, Gaijin has a midweek vinyl ritual, Off The Record. Each edition features a different artist, and you can attend simply to experience the sound. The back alley at Gaijin is drawn from Tokyo's neon-lit streets and has rakugaki-style graffiti, Kawaii doodles, and Japanese pop art influences. This section of the bar is a great place to be on vinyl nights, where you can listen, drink, and converse. To know about their next vinyl night, follow them on Instagram @gaijinmumbai
Sing out loud
At Lyla in BKC, your Wednesday night can be spent singing out loud in candlelight. The music is at a soothing decibel, and everyone's encouraged to sing along with a drink in hand.
