Murmur HiFi Lounge to Open in Providence Winter 2025-2026
(Photo courtesy of Murmur Hi-Fi Lounge)
Prepare to put your records on, Providence! Something brand new is coming soon to downtown…
We’ve been sitting quietly on some exciting news from Cornish Associates for a while now: Providence’s first ever listening bar, Murmur HiFi Lounge, will open in the winter of 2025-26 at 276 Westminster Street in downtown Providence!
Murmur is a high fidelity, analogue listening lounge, inspired by Japanese jazz kissatens from the 1920’s; these jazz coffee shops were designed to enhance music listening and appreciation while providing a sonically superior space for guests to enjoy music, drinks, and food. (Is this a match made in heaven?!) Co-owners Robert Troutman and Allison Johnson were inspired by this concept following Troutman’s visit to Tokyo decades ago.
Murmur will be a welcome and very unique addition to Providence’s vibrant music scene.
“Downtown Providence has such a rich and storied music history and we’re excited to start writing a small chapter of it. And given the greatness of the previous occupants of our space at 276 Westminster–Black Rep, Roots Cafe, and Aurora–we are truly standing on the shoulders of local giants.”
Murmur’s music program, on any given evening, will showcase a variety of genres, with very few exceptions. For guests seeking the ultimate listening bar experience, Murmur will offer a private listening room as well.
ABOUT THE OWNERS
Troutman and Jonhson came to Providence from Minneapolis and Philadelphia to attend school and never left. (We’re learning this is the familiar story of many who come to Providence!) By day, Johnson is an architect and Troutman a graphic designer. The two share their passion for music since Troutman is a guitarist and Johnson a pianist.
For a little taste test, here’s a few musical albums that they’ve had in frequent rotation recently:
Revolver by The Beatles
Headin’ South by Horace Parlan
London Calling by The Clash
MF DOOM X Tatsuro Yamashita by Dan Tanda
Murmur by R.E.M. (of course)
FOOD AND DRINK AT MURMUR
Murmur plans to feature a unique cocktail menu created by Parker Luthman, Murmur’s bar manager and beverage director. The bar menu includes a curated collection of spirits, sakes, beers and wines. The bar will highlight a Toki Highball machine; this machine is more common in Japan, but still unique to the States and even rarer in New England. And it makes a perfect, ice-cold whisky highball each and every time that drinks more like a beer or glass of champagne than a mixed drink.
Murmur’s food program will be designed by North alum, Samantha Kundrat, and is loosely izakaya and yakitori based, featuring a standard format of skewers, dumplings, and sandos, which will rotate seasonally and highlight locally-sourced ingredients with a uniquely Rhode Island twist.
THE LOGISTICS
Murmur hopes to open in December of 2025 at 276 Westminster Street. It will be open six days a week, Wednesday through Monday, at 4 p.m. There are plans to add a brunch service, as well. (“Actually we think it might be illegal to have a listening bar and not have a Sunday jazz brunch…”) For updates on Murmur, visit their website and follow on Instagram. Follow @indowncitypvd on Instagram for up-to-date announcements regarding downtown businesses.
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