Tucked away discreetly without flashy signage or bold advertisements, this establishment allows patrons to experience music as it was meant to be heard: on meticulously restored vintage sound systems.
Together with his wife, proprietor Yap Chee Khoon has transformed his passion for vintage audio into a full-fledged café experience.
“Nowadays, people don’t have time to sit down and enjoy music. This is a place where you can really enjoy it and listen to the oldies,” said Yap, a former electrical contractor.
Walking into the café feels like stepping into a different time. The space is divided into distinct sections, each with its own unique charm.
One room is dedicated entirely to 1950s sound equipment – cinema speakers, amplifiers, and preamps, all curated by Yap himself.
“I’ve been collecting vintage audio equipment for the past 10 years,” he shared with FMT Lifestyle. “I wanted to create a space where I can share all this experience with the public.
“It’s magical to play records and hear the sound from the tube amp and to see it come alive through the speakers.”
On weekends, with a minimum purchase of RM30, you can unwind in the quiet room and immerse yourself in the crisp, warm tones of vintage music emanating from the cinema speakers, offering a truly 3D sonic experience.
Vintage Kissa takes its name from Japan’s “jazz kissa”, or jazz cafés. Yap recalls his early fascination with sound, a passion rekindled a decade ago while passing by an audio shop.
“Straightway, I liked vintage audio,” he said. “It’s magical to me.”
The café draws a diverse clientele, from curious Instagrammers to serious audiophiles and nostalgic visitors longing to relive the sounds of their youth.
“A lot of my customers say, ‘Oh, my grandmother or my grandfather used to have this or something similar’,” he said with a smile. “We are really happy when a customer experiences this.”
The culinary offerings here are simple and unpretentious: Yap’s priority is the music, not the food and drink, he explained candidly.
As such, the menu includes basic items like coffee, tea, and light snacks – just enough to justify spending time there, but not so much as to distract from the main attraction.
“Some customers ask me, ‘Hey, what’s your signature dish?’ I tell them, ‘Sorry, we don’t have a signature dish. Our signature is the music.'”
Nevertheless, Yap acknowledges his venue is still evolving: many customers have requested live performances, but space constraints have made this a challenge. “It would be nice, actually,” he mused, hinting that an expansion could be in the works.
In the meantime, Vintage Kissa Audio Café offers visitors the rare opportunity to pause, listen, and appreciate the beauty of music as it was once enjoyed.
So, whether you’re a seasoned audiophile or someone simply looking to explore something new, this spot promises an experience that’s as rich and resonant as the sounds within its walls.
Follow Vintage Kissa Audio Café on Instagram.
Vintage Kissa Audio Café
8-2, Jalan PJU 5/9,
Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara,
47810, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
For location, click here.
Business hours:
12pm-9pm (Sundays, Tuesdays-Thursdays)
12pm-10pm (Fridays & Saturdays)
Contact: 016-239 3194