Japanese-inspired listening cafe culture arrives in Newcastle
Newcastle is about to gain a venue unlike anything it’s seen before. On Thursday, September 11, Maru Hi-Fi will officially open its doors, introducing locals to a Japanese-inspired listening cafe designed and built by owners Andrew Coughlan and Joel Hillier.
The pair, whom you may recognise as the owners of Jam’s Karaoke Bar next door, have taken their engineering backgrounds and poured them into creating what Andrew describes as, “a completely handcrafted space, acoustically designed to an insane degree.”
Maru Hi-Fi owners Andrew Coughlan and Joel Hillier
“To give you an idea of how intense this project was, the whole building has been structurally re-hung. We have four tonnes of soundproofing on top of us. We’ve also made a virtual sun that we can control, depending on the mood.”
Inside, Maru Hi-Fi is intimate and warm, with every detail considered to reflect its Japanese inspiration.
“The space is cosy, it’s true to form in terms of a Japanese kissaten (cafe).”
Original features of the building have been preserved where possible, including the timber ceiling, whilst reclaimed elements, like the 150-year-old windows rescued from a Sydney hairdresser, add to the venue’s character.
But what sits at the heart of this new venue is the music. Designed as both a jazz cafe and a listening bar, the venue draws inspiration from Japan’s famed Jazz Kissa culture, where people would gather in intimate day and night spaces to listen to records, unwind, and find community outside of home and work.
“Our vinyl selection is mental, it’s all killer, no filler. There will be a lot of tracks played that people may not be familiar with; it’s all quality. It’s the kind of music all kinds of people can get around.”
Maru Hi-Fi will also host guest DJs and live neo soul and jazz performances, many of which will be live-streamed, supported by professional-grade lighting and cameras installed throughout the venue.
“We’ll be inviting artists in here for guest DJ sets where they can choose from our selection of vinyl, as well as inviting artists to take over the stage here on occasion.”
Every detail of the audio setup has been thoroughly researched, sourced, and refined. Andrew personally refurbished and modified the entire analog signal chain of equipment, including turntables that are over 50 years old, secured custom hand made mixers, and jumped through many hoops to import those stunning Westminster speakers, all the way from Japan, strategically installed on the back wall.
Alongside the music is a food and drink offering that runs from morning through to late-night.
“The whole concept of the venue is really ambitious. From Wednesday to Sunday, we’ll be open all-day early from breakfast through to late-night drinks. It’s Japanese fusion for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
For visitors during the day, full breakfast menu dine-in will be available alongside a quick grab-and-go menu offering easy eats like baguettes. Coffee is roasted by their highly respected neighbours, Floozy HQ. Evenings will see a more refined dining experience unfold.
The 5:30 - 9pm menu will have you deciding between natural or Yuzu Kosho Mignonette oysters, beef tartare, raw kingfish, wagyu rump cap, soba noodles and deep fried icecream. The after 9pm menu switches up to a simpler but equally tasty mix of karaage chicken, and dumplings.
“The dinner offering is incredibly refined, thanks to our extremely talented and passionate kitchen team, led by Chef Tony Andrews. We want patrons to experience food at the same level offered by high-end restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne but at a Newcastle price point.”
The drinks program is equally considered, featuring innovative cocktails to a curated wine list designed to pair with the menu. A highlight is the handshaved ice balls made for those ordering a nip of one of the quality Japanese whiskeys available.
“With our cocktails, we have really gone for it. Everything that goes into our cocktails takes time.”
The classics - margarita, negroni, and French Martini sit adjacent to the Signature cocktail collection, an evolving collection of inhouse designed cocktail flavours crafted by Dominic Vun, and with descriptions like soft, warm cinnamon roll with house-made vanilla glaze, you’ll no doubt be wanting to be working your way through each of them.
With design cues, and murals by celebrated artist Brontë Naylor adorning the walls, along with a soundscape unlike any other in Newcastle, Maru Hi-Fi is set to become a cultural hub in the city, a place for music lovers, food enthusiasts, and anyone looking for their third place outside of home and work.
“There’s a lot of these kinds of listening bars gaining popularity across the globe at the moment. But I guess what we’ve done is really tried to do it right. With the proper gear, we completely understand it and have put this together from the ground up painstakingly slowly over the last few years. We want this to be something completely different to anything else seen in Newcastle before.”
With its handcrafted design, world-class sound system, refined food and drink offering, and a music program set to rival venues in Sydney and Melbourne, Maru Hi-Fi is more than just a new cafe – it’s a cultural statement for Newcastle.
By blending Japanese listening bar traditions with a distinctly local spirit, Andrew and Joel have created a space that feels both ambitious and inviting, a place to escape the everyday and sink into an experience that’s completely unique to the city.
Oh and a fun little scavenger hunt for you all – see if you can spot the koi ponds (yes, multiple) hidden somewhere in the venue.
