Guidebook for San Francisco
Shopping
This isn’t your average record shop. It has the wildest collection of weird and wonderful records and the most stunning interior architecture of any shop I’ve ever been in. There’s also a selection of high-end audio gear, books, and ’zines, and another three rooms of clothes, shoes, and accessories. Come for the records, stay for the experience.
The shop is hidden away in an unassuming factory block off a main street in Dalston, and you have to ring the door buzzer to get in. It’s open every day, though.
13 locals recommend
LN-CC
24 Shacklewell LnThis isn’t your average record shop. It has the wildest collection of weird and wonderful records and the most stunning interior architecture of any shop I’ve ever been in. There’s also a selection of high-end audio gear, books, and ’zines, and another three rooms of clothes, shoes, and accessories. Come for the records, stay for the experience.
The shop is hidden away in an unassuming factory block off a main street in Dalston, and you have to ring the door buzzer to get in. It’s open every day, though.
Hands down the No. 1 spot for new dance music in the city, and one of the best in the world. If there’s a hot new 12" that you need to have, Phonica is the place to go. I worked there many years ago, so name-drop at your peril.
The staff can be a bit grumpy and may snap at you if you bring 10 records to the listening counter on a busy day. Avoid their wrath and listen to the back catalogue on the in-store computers and pick new records off the back wall for a listen.
7 locals recommend
Phonica Records
51 Poland StHands down the No. 1 spot for new dance music in the city, and one of the best in the world. If there’s a hot new 12" that you need to have, Phonica is the place to go. I worked there many years ago, so name-drop at your peril.
The staff can be a bit grumpy and may snap at you if you bring 10 records to the listening counter on a busy day. Avoid their wrath and listen to the back catalogue on the in-store computers and pick new records off the back wall for a listen.
It represents the soulful side of Soho. The shop has an excellent collection of reggae, African, Latin, and world music, as well as more cutting-edge experimental sounds. Worldwide FM and Boiler Room founder Thristian cut his teeth here, so that should give you a hint of the global sounds to be found within.
Head down to the basement, where you’ll find a haven of secondhand vinyl and a great selection of movies, books, and magazines about music, photography, fashion, and art.
Sounds Of The Universe
7 Broadwick StIt represents the soulful side of Soho. The shop has an excellent collection of reggae, African, Latin, and world music, as well as more cutting-edge experimental sounds. Worldwide FM and Boiler Room founder Thristian cut his teeth here, so that should give you a hint of the global sounds to be found within.
Head down to the basement, where you’ll find a haven of secondhand vinyl and a great selection of movies, books, and magazines about music, photography, fashion, and art.
A hidden gem in maritime Greenwich, this shop is the little sister to the ones in Notting Hill and Soho, which are also well worth a look. However, I’d recommend this location over the others as it’s slightly off the beaten track, so you’re more likely to find a bargain. There’s no listening deck here, so bring a YouTube enabled device and earphones.
Esteemed diggers and producers Sean P and Richard Sen both work here; if you’re lucky enough to visit when they’re working, you’ll have some of the best ears in the game to dish out recommendations.
Music & Video Exchange
23 Greenwich Church StA hidden gem in maritime Greenwich, this shop is the little sister to the ones in Notting Hill and Soho, which are also well worth a look. However, I’d recommend this location over the others as it’s slightly off the beaten track, so you’re more likely to find a bargain. There’s no listening deck here, so bring a YouTube enabled device and earphones.
Esteemed diggers and producers Sean P and Richard Sen both work here; if you’re lucky enough to visit when they’re working, you’ll have some of the best ears in the game to dish out recommendations.
Located in the outer reaches of North London, Alan’s can prove a bit of a trek for those staying in the south. But it’s a treasure trove of rare groove, European jazz, American soul, Motown, post-punk, go-go, and just about every other sub-genre you could imagine. It’s all secondhand and organised in a sublimely wonderful mess.
If you’re lucky, Alan himself will make you a cup of tea to make you feel at home. My advice is to set aside an afternoon and let the digging begin!
Alan's Records
218 High RdLocated in the outer reaches of North London, Alan’s can prove a bit of a trek for those staying in the south. But it’s a treasure trove of rare groove, European jazz, American soul, Motown, post-punk, go-go, and just about every other sub-genre you could imagine. It’s all secondhand and organised in a sublimely wonderful mess.
If you’re lucky, Alan himself will make you a cup of tea to make you feel at home. My advice is to set aside an afternoon and let the digging begin!
South London’s unsung secondhand vinyl mecca, Rat Records is a big hit with locals but very much under the radar for those north of the river. It’s all pre-loved vinyl here, with a selection that changes every week, so you’ll never see the same thing twice.
To get the best selection, you have to be there when they do the stock switch. This happens on Saturday mornings, and there’s usually a queue to accompany this renewal. If you can wake up early enough on Saturday, head here for opening time at 10:30 am.
11 locals recommend
Rat Records
348 Camberwell New RdSouth London’s unsung secondhand vinyl mecca, Rat Records is a big hit with locals but very much under the radar for those north of the river. It’s all pre-loved vinyl here, with a selection that changes every week, so you’ll never see the same thing twice.
To get the best selection, you have to be there when they do the stock switch. This happens on Saturday mornings, and there’s usually a queue to accompany this renewal. If you can wake up early enough on Saturday, head here for opening time at 10:30 am.
In the past few years, Peckham has seen a resurgence in record stores. Rye Wax is in the middle of the revival, and is part of the CLF Art Cafe complex—a good place to hit once the sun goes down. It’s also a bar and a small basement venue, where the experimental music that the shop is associated with gets played to the masses.
The real reason to go to Rye Wax, besides all the great music, is the tacos. Tucked between the bar and the record shop is Taco Queen. I go here every week, and let me tell you: These are the best tacos this side of Mexico City!
23 locals recommend
Rye Wax
133 Rye LnIn the past few years, Peckham has seen a resurgence in record stores. Rye Wax is in the middle of the revival, and is part of the CLF Art Cafe complex—a good place to hit once the sun goes down. It’s also a bar and a small basement venue, where the experimental music that the shop is associated with gets played to the masses.
The real reason to go to Rye Wax, besides all the great music, is the tacos. Tucked between the bar and the record shop is Taco Queen. I go here every week, and let me tell you: These are the best tacos this side of Mexico City!
Yam Records is a real pillar of the community. It’s manned by great selectors and producers like Rhythm Section’s very own Z Lovecraft and Ben from Chaos in the CBD. Right next door is Balamii, a youth-led, online radio station. You might walk into the middle of a grime cypher as South London’s next generation hone their skills.
In addition to the latest local releases, you’ll find Japanese rarities, West African private pressings, and all manner of weird and wonderful records.
YAM Records
135A Rye LaneYam Records is a real pillar of the community. It’s manned by great selectors and producers like Rhythm Section’s very own Z Lovecraft and Ben from Chaos in the CBD. Right next door is Balamii, a youth-led, online radio station. You might walk into the middle of a grime cypher as South London’s next generation hone their skills.
In addition to the latest local releases, you’ll find Japanese rarities, West African private pressings, and all manner of weird and wonderful records.
It’s one of the most highly regarded record stores in the world, with an in-house label that consistently tops end-of-year charts and is known for pushing the boundaries of what a record label can be. Ideally situated in Ladbroke Grove, it’s the perfect way to end a wander around Portobello Market on a Sunday.
There are lots of reissues here—so it’s a good opportunity to stock up on classic jazz, dub, and experimental recordings. However, I recommend heading straight to the in-house label section, where you’ll find out-of-print and hard-to-find 12's.
8 locals recommend
Honest Jon's Records London
278 Portobello RdIt’s one of the most highly regarded record stores in the world, with an in-house label that consistently tops end-of-year charts and is known for pushing the boundaries of what a record label can be. Ideally situated in Ladbroke Grove, it’s the perfect way to end a wander around Portobello Market on a Sunday.
There are lots of reissues here—so it’s a good opportunity to stock up on classic jazz, dub, and experimental recordings. However, I recommend heading straight to the in-house label section, where you’ll find out-of-print and hard-to-find 12's.
Cosmos has a seemingly endless collection of jazz, from bebop to fusion and plenty in between, alongside a selection of rock, psych, disco, hip-hop, and house. It’s well worth visiting to find stuff that you probably won’t find in many other stores in London.
Opened around 18 months ago, this is the UK outpost of a Toronto store of the same name that’s been in business for nearly 20 years. It ships in records from its sister store, so you’ll find lots of African, Asian, and North American records that don’t tend to reach our shores very often.
Cosmos Records London
324d Hackney RdCosmos has a seemingly endless collection of jazz, from bebop to fusion and plenty in between, alongside a selection of rock, psych, disco, hip-hop, and house. It’s well worth visiting to find stuff that you probably won’t find in many other stores in London.
Opened around 18 months ago, this is the UK outpost of a Toronto store of the same name that’s been in business for nearly 20 years. It ships in records from its sister store, so you’ll find lots of African, Asian, and North American records that don’t tend to reach our shores very often.