New hi-fi listening lounge, Ralph’s, opening in Birmingham next week

Birmingham’s newest cocktail destination is almost ready to welcome its first guests.

Ralph’s Listening Room, a hi-fi cocktail lounge that combines craft cocktails with curated music on a high-end stereo system, is set to open its doors at 2204 2nd Ave N in downtown Birmingham in late July. We met with owners Qadeem and Speegle to learn more about Ralph’s before it opens to the public.

What is a listening lounge?

At its core, a listening lounge is just what it sounds like—a place where music is the focus, not just background noise. Inspired by the jazz kissa of post-WWII Japan, listening lounges have risen in popularity in recent years, driven by the resurgence in vinyl records and the yearning for “third places”: accessible, low-cost environments where people can relax and build community.

Last year, longtime friends-turned-business-partners Qadeem Hassan and Speegle announced plans for a new hifi lounge in Birmingham. Dubbed Ralph’s Listening Room—a nod to Speegle’s late father—the new lounge is located at 2204 2nd Ave N across the street from the House of Found Objects, Canary Gallery and El Barrio.

Over the past year and a half, Qadeem and Speegle have transformed the space into a warm, inviting lounge complete with cozy seating options, a hi-fi stereo system and more than 1,500 vinyl records.

“We want this to be a third space. A very friendly environment where anyone feels welcome to come—not just for alcohol, but for the music, community and atmosphere.”

Qadeem Hassan, co-owner, Ralph’s Listening Room

Behind the bar, hundreds of vinyl records, bottles of spirits and vintage audio equipment decorate the wooden cubbies above the backsplash. A PrimaLuna EvoLution tube amplifier powers the bar’s two massive speakers—high-end Klipsch Cornwall IV’s—to provide a true-to-life listening experience at any volume.

“Ralph’s isn’t a club, so we won’t be blasting these at max volume. We want Ralph’s to be closer to the listening lounge experience, where guests can focus on the experience of soaking up incredible music on a high fidelity stereo system.”

Speegle, co-owner, Ralph’s Listening Room

What kind of music can I hear at Ralph’s?

The short answer? All kinds of music.

According to Speegle, Ralph’s music programming will change throughout the week, giving regulars something new to discover each visit.

• Tuesday: Instrumental music + low-sensory listening
• Wednesday: Jazz
• Thursday: Artist spotlights featuring selections from a single musician’s catalog
• Friday: New music releases, with special listening events for major album launches
• Saturday: Guest-curated sets spanning genres like reggae, house, R&B and decade-themed collections
• Sunday: Soul music
• Monday: Closed

In addition, Qadeem and Speegle plan to collaborate on a curated music-and-cocktail pairing for the last Saturday of every month.

“We started pairing cocktails with a certain genre of music while we were doing Ralph’s pop-ups around town. For example, we chose Brazilian Funk as the theme for our pop-up at Tucana Tiki Bar—I made a playlist and Qadeem curated five drinks that felt like that music. We want music and drinks to feel like a handshake at times, especially during those last Saturdays of the month.”

Speegle, co-owner, Ralph’s Listening Room

What’s on the menu at Ralph’s Listening Room?

At Ralph’s Listening Room, Qadeem has curated a bar program as diverse and vibrant as Speegle’s music selection. Divided into three music-inspired sections, Ralph’s menu includes:

• The Track List, which features Ralph’s original seasonal cocktails.
• B-Sides, which highlight classic cocktails—including lesser-known variations on familiar favorites.
• Highballs, which pay homage to the Japanese hi-fi bar tradition with five creative takes on the classic spirit-and-soda cocktail.

While Qadeem is keeping individual cocktail details under wraps for now, he hinted that fans may recognize one familiar favorite.

“The ‘Ring My Bell’ is back. If you know, you know.”

Qadeem Hassan, co-owner, Ralph’s Listening Room

In addition to its cocktail program, Ralph’s will offer an extensive lineup of zero-proof cocktails and other non-alcoholic options.

When does Ralph’s Listening Room open in Birmingham?

According to Qadeem and Speegle, Ralph’s Listening Room will begin with a series of soft openings the week of Monday, July 27th to help establish a rhythm behind the bar, refine service and make any adjustments before announcing a grand opening at a later date.

“Building out Ralph’s has been a really cool process. We’re relieved to be at the finish line, and we’re excited to finally share what we’ve been building with Birmingham.”

Qadeem Hassan, co-owner, Ralph’s Listening Room

Follow @ralphslisteningroom on Instagram to stay up-to-date on official opening announcements.

Have you attended one of Ralph’s Listening Room pop-ups? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!