Honeycomb Hi-Fi pairs a custom Ojas sound system with a record shop on the second floor of Pullman Dubai Downtown. You enter through the shop into a low-lit room with wood finishes and close-set seating. There are books to browse, too, and rotating art exhibitions.
The weekly programme includes listening sessions and DJ sets. Soul, funk and disco sit alongside hip-hop and house; some selectors take the evening towards techno. Choose by the line-up. A night spent following a record collector through older soul records is a different proposition from a set aimed at the dance floor.
Matt Abergel’s izakaya menu makes dinner part of the visit, with small plates alongside sake and cocktails. Honeycomb suits an evening with friends who want to pay attention to the music without committing to a silent listening session. The Ojas installation is a reason to go; the selector is a reason to choose a particular night.