Delhi's First Vinyl Bar: How Genre is Revolutionising Delhi's Music Scene

In the bustling heart of Defence Colony Market, where the aroma of street food mingles with the evening breeze, an unassuming shopfront houses something Delhi has never seen before. Genre, a vinyl bar, represents more than just another addition to the capital's restaurant scene—it's a cultural statement that's reshaping Delhi nightlife. 

Since opening its doors, this intimate music venue has been quietly revolutionising how Delhi experiences vinyl culture, India, community, and the art of slowing down. With its carefully curated vinyl collection spinning everything from 50 Cent to A Tribe Called Quest, this unique record bar Delhi offers something increasingly rare in our hyperconnected world: a place where strangers become friends over shared beats, where the ritual of dropping a needle onto vinyl becomes almost sacred, and where the day's coffee culture seamlessly transforms into evening's craft cocktails Delhi conversations. 

The Vision Behind the Groove

The genesis of Genre reads like a perfect symphony of serendipity and shared passion. When Kunal Chhabra, coming from a background in music and entertainment, met Sahil Marwaha during an event curation at Dirty Garden, an idea began to take shape. "I told him that if he's willing to start another restaurant, I have an idea in mind, which was of a record bar, because there were none in Delhi, or still are none in Delhi," Chhabra recalls.

What emerged was a collaboration between five diverse founders, each bringing their unique expertise to create something unprecedented in Delhi's hospitality landscape. Sahil Marwaha, founder of Dirty Jungle, handles operations; chefs Hanisha Singh and Jamsheed Bhote craft the culinary experience; Aman Arora, provides financial acumen; whilst Simran Jain manages marketing. "If this was just a record bar, maybe it wouldn't have gotten as much traction, but like everything else coming together, people really enjoy it," Chhabra explains.

The decision to create this innovative music bar in Delhi wasn't merely about filling a market gap—it was about offering the capital something more substantial than the ubiquitous electronic music that dominates Delhi music venues. "I feel like everything in the market was getting very repetitive. Like everybody was doing the same Afro house sets and electronic music at places like Techno was the new boom," Chhabra observes. 

This establishment represents a conscious departure from typical Delhi nightlife trends, offering what he describes as "true flavour" through timeless curation rather than hype-driven selections that define most restaurants in Defence Colony.

The Art of Curation and Community

Walking into Genre feels like stepping into a friend's meticulously curated living room—if that friend happened to have impeccable taste in music and an extensive vinyl collection. The space transforms throughout the day, beginning as a coffee shop and brunch spot before evolving into an intimate evening venue where the lights dim and the music takes centre stage.

Chhabra's approach to curation reflects a deeply personal philosophy. "The kind of curation that we do is not based on hype." The record selection spans decades and genres, featuring everything from classic hip-hop to soul, R&B, and jazz—sounds that reflect Chhabra's own musical journey and resist the fast-paced electronic music dominating Delhi's club scene.

This commitment to authenticity has attracted an impressive clientele from Delhi's music industry. "Pratik Kuhad himself comes in whenever he's back in India to enjoy the music," Chhabra notes, whilst regular visitors include the founder of Boxout FM, Peter Cat Recording Co. members, Lifafa, and various other artists and managers from Delhi's indie music scene.

The space facilitates community building through what Chhabra calls "topic-based gatherings." Book swaps have proven particularly successful, with participants ranging from college students to successful entrepreneurs. "We pick a topic, right? Like something that we're interested in, like books," he explains. "We are just purely facilitators... But like then it is up to the people's interest that they come in and they want to foster their own communities." 

Beyond the Beats: A Multisensory Experience

Genre's commitment to the complete sensory experience extends into every aspect of the operation. The cocktail menu, crafted in collaboration with mixologist Gurung, draws inspiration directly from the vinyl collection. "I was sitting with the mixologist and we were playing some records on the vinyl and he was like, okay, this track, I know what to make for this," Chhabra recounts. Each signature cocktail translates musical tracks into flavour, creating what the team describes as a "multisensory experience that extends beyond the glass."

The physical space, designed by Delhi-based interior designer Pracheta Mehrish of Mo Boutique, while for identity design it's Non Zero, achieves a careful balance between concrete and wood, creating an atmosphere that's both industrial and warm. Fresh flowers sourced daily from local markets, carefully curated art, and candlelit corners in the evening contribute to an environment that feels both curated and organic.

The transition from day to night is perhaps Genre's most impressive feat. "Day, it is more of a coffee shop and like a brunch spot, a lunch spot, like a nice casual hang," Chhabra explains. "Then towards the evening, like it's more... the lights go down, the music gets a little bit louder."

This transformation includes changes in staffing—head baristas dominate the day shift whilst mixologists take centre stage in the evening—uniforms, lighting, and crucially, musical curation that shifts from light soul and jazz during brunch to more hip-hop oriented selections for Saturday nights.

Genre's popularity suggests a hunger in Delhi for spaces that prioritise quality over quantity, depth over superficiality. "Genre is not a party place," Chhabra emphasises. "You come, you have your drink, you enjoy the vinyls, you enjoy the listening experience." This philosophy has created what he describes as a space that "allowed people to have fun even when they're slowed down."

In a city where space is premium and genuine connection increasingly rare, this groundbreaking Delhi vinyl bar offers something invaluable - permission to slow down, listen carefully, and connect authentically. As the Delhi restaurant scene continues to evolve, Genre stands as proof that sometimes the most revolutionary act is simply creating space for people to truly hear each other.