Bad Times Records finds a new home inside La Cabane Hong Kong

Bad Times Records has reopened in Hong Kong inside La Cabane, marking a new chapter for the independent record store following its earlier five-month pop-up at Heath, the basement mall of Chungking Mansions.

The new location situates the shop within Hong Kong’s oldest natural wine store, creating a shared retail and events space built around collaboration.

The store also carries curated vintage clothing and has expanded its services to include turntable repairs and upgrades.

Founder Ani Phoebe shares with Mixmag Asia on how the move reflects a shift toward long-term sustainability: “We are in a collaborative business situation with La Cabane Wine Cellar where I believe that we mutually benefit each other—but I do think it has to be said that the more stable business here is La Cabane.”

She adds: “They've been in Hong Kong for more than 15 years. What I think we are providing them with is a new audience and a new twist on what everybody comes to expect from them.”

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The partnership has already led to Steps, a free daytime block party held on the pedestrian steps of Shin Hing Street. The event brings together vinyl DJs, food pop-ups, and natural wine, with an emphasis on community participation.

“Personally, I enjoy running Steps to platform local DJs and record collectors,” Phoebe says, adding “I’m encouraging of people who aren’t normally playing or gigging out in Hong Kong to come and spin their records.”

The next Steps event will take place on March 7.

Phoebe also sees Steps as a way to support vinyl culture more broadly. “I also love encouraging digital-only DJs to buy records and amass more of a collection through our store,” she adds, describing Steps as “a pretty community oriented, low stakes event”.

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Bad Times Records is closely tied to Bad Times Disco, the party and community platform founded by Phoebe.

In 2026, Bad Times Disco will mark its fifth anniversary with a month-long exhibition and series of events from May 1 to 29 at The Garage in Heath.

“Showing everyone how much we have accomplished, fundraised, published, and the people around us; the two physical pop-up record stores that we built through Bad Times Records, the dozens of BTD parties...and also getting to present that to a more contemporary art biased Hong Kong crowd will be a really important thing for us this year,” Phoebe says.

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For now, the focus is on settling into La Cabane and building the collaboration.

“People talk a lot about collaboration in Hong Kong, but to really do it, you have to put in the work, communicate a lot, and continuously try to see the other's perspective. We are excited to show people the coolest natural wine and record shop in the city,” Phoebe concludes.

Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.

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