Honeycomb Hi-Fi: Meet the Vinyl Bees

by Sophie She

Honeycomb Hi-Fi: Meet the Vinyl Bees

15 Jan 2025

Let us say it is a Friday night. Let us say you are in the mood to go out. But not just go out and get hammered, go out culturally. Go out to the space with good music, perfect audience, delicious cocktails and actually good vibes, where you can easily speak with bartenders and other guests. Well, we know just the place.

To add a short personal note, when this author moved to Dubai some years ago, she was looking for a place that would feel like a cozy speakeasy, where you can come in and chill alone, listening to proper sounds and sipping good cocktails. That is how she found Honeycomb. In addition to all this fleur, they also have delicious food, which makes it a perfect place to spend your whole evening.

So yeah, eventually, The Sandy Times’ team, this author included in the forefront, loved Honeycomb so much, we ended up creating an ultimate Japanese experience there, hosting Kenji Takimi — read more about this iconic DJ here. Before you all swoosh in the place, let us give you a chance to get to know Honeycomb Hi-Fi a bit better.

Reserve your spot for January 17 here

Instagram: @honeycombhifi

A perfect mixture

Right in the heart of Dubai, Honeycomb Hi-Fi has rapidly carved a niche as a unique cultural hub, blending the timeless allure of vinyl records with the cozy intimacy of an Izakaya. This one-of-a-kind venue by VKD Hospitality, co-founded by Varun Khemaney and Khalil Dahmash and shaped under the creative vision of Serge Becker, is not just a place to dine and unwind — it is an experience that resonates with music lovers, food enthusiasts, and culture seekers alike.

“We always like to research and get inspired by what’s happening around the world,” shares Varun Khemaney, reflecting on Honeycomb Hi-Fi’s origins. The idea for a vinyl listening bar was sparked by similar spaces in Japan, Los Angeles, Paris, and London. “opening a venue that would celebrate this timeless music format was exciting,” Varun explains, emphasising the rare and tactile charm of vinyl. When Serge Becker expressed his long-time desire to open an Izakaya, the team saw an opportunity to merge these two passions into a singular, ground-breaking concept.

What is up with the bees?

The venue’s name, Honeycomb Hi-Fi, pays homage to the warm, golden glow created by the plywood interior. “Serge wanted to create the entire listening room pretty much out of construction grade plywood,” says Varun. “This material was often used in old recording studios for acoustic purposes, and its simplicity aligns with Japanese design sensibilities. “If you think about it, bees are social creatures that gather in colonies to work together — our aim was to create a space where like-minded individuals would come together to collaborate and share their love for music, food, and culture. The name fit perfectly!”

The record shop

Honeycomb Hi-Fi’s charm lies in its intricate layering of experiences and a vast amount of details for those who know. Guests enter through a fully functional record store, offering rare and imported vinyls, curated merchandise, and even innovative audio products from Teenage Engineering (iykyk). This tactile introduction sets the tone for what lies ahead.

Instagram: @honeycombhifi

Secrets to unravel

One of the favourite details of this author is a small symbol, put on a curtain that serves as an entry to the kitchen. Right after you enter the space, look on your right and you will see a fun symbol, looking like, well, a modern reinvention of yin-yang or some symbol from Avatar: The Last Airbender. In fact, it is actually a silhouette of a 45 rpm vinyl plug. As 45-s are peculiar in size, they have a special adapter to fit the player. Come in on January 17 and look for this sign!

Izakaya dining meets Hi-Fidelity

Behind the record store is the heart of the space: the Izakaya. Combining an intimate atmosphere with culinary excellence, Honeycomb Hi-Fi’s dining experience is helmed by Chef Matt Abergel, a visionary whose connection to the project was serendipitous. “Serge introduced us to Matt during a culinary trip to Hong Kong,” recalls Varun. Despite turning down numerous consulting gigs in the past, Chef Matt was drawn to Honeycomb Hi-Fi’s vision, its love for vinyl, and the chance to collaborate with Serge. Now a partner in the brand, Chef Matt brings innovation and authenticity to the menu.

The perfection of Izakaya dining meets the perfection of the Japanese-inspired Ojas sound system — a masterpiece of acoustic engineering that redefines how music is heard and felt. Designed for audiophiles and music enthusiasts, the system delivers unparalleled sound clarity and depth, making every beat and melody resonate with precision. This state-of-the-art setup was designed and personally tuned by the creator — Devon Turnbull — adding the Hi-Fi, which stands for Hi-Fidelity, to the Honeycomb’s image.

The community at heart

Varun highlights community as the cornerstone of Honeycomb Hi-Fi’s success. “Your community will keep you going through tough times and good times,” he says. By creating a space where patrons feel a sense of belonging, the venue has cultivated a loyal following among audiophiles, creatives, and food enthusiasts. “We curate programmes for our community, fly in international guest DJs, and host unique events to give back to them.”

This commitment to community will take center stage in the upcoming Japanese Culture Experience by The Sandy Times. Scheduled to feature a blend of traditional and contemporary Japanese art, music, and cuisine, this event epitomises Honeycomb Hi-Fi’s ethos of cross-cultural exchange and creativity. With a lineup curated to inspire and engage, it is set to be a highlight in Dubai’s cultural calendar.

Honeycomb Hi-Fi is more than just a venue, it is a manifestation of its founders’ passion for creating meaningful spaces. Inspired by intimate, off-the-beaten-path locales in New York, Toronto, and beyond, Honeycomb Hi-Fi’s team strives to bring a personal touch to Dubai’s dining and entertainment scene. “We want all our restaurants to feel personable, approachable, and authentic,” Varun says.

As Honeycomb Hi-Fi continues to evolve, it remains a beacon for those who appreciate the finer details — from the crackle of a vinyl record to the artistry of Japanese cuisine. With its innovative programming and unwavering focus on community, this space is set to leave an indelible mark on Dubai’s cultural landscape.

by Sophie She