Kim’s + Bronto Bar

Tucked away just off Hennepin Avenue in the heart of Uptown, Kim’s is possibly the most beautiful restuarant in Minneapolis. Ann Kim, the James Beard award-winning chef and mastermind behind it all, opened the doors to her fourth restuarant in 2023. Besides the fact that the food is adventurous, bold and delicious, Kim’s has an incredible sound system, designed by Uncanned Music, that curates the perfect vibe every time you sit down to eat. It features custom wood bookshelf speakers built by Ben Newman Furniture and assembled by SSHH, as well as full-range Tannoys and hidden subwoofers spaced throughout the dining room. The restuarant can be packed with patrons, yet your conversations still feel intimate. There’s no need to yell to be heard, and yet all the while you can still feel the thump of a Brothers Johnson bass line grooving to accompany you. This is due to the acoustical design of the restuarant. Considerable treatments were made in the design to keep the conversations flowing and the music hugging you gently while you dine.

All this said, the real audio lover’s gem is Kim’s accompanying speakeasy: Bronto Bar. You can only enter from the alleyway, and down a flight of stairs to the basement where you’ll find a custom designed omniphonic audio system. Immediately you’ll notice the two large eye-shaped, walnut speakers built into the bar. And yet it feels as if the sound is coming from all around you. This is due to numerous speakers built-in to the walls and more clandestine subwoofers filling out a full-range, bumping, high fidelity musical experience. It’s truly something to behold & experience. To top it all off, the system also features a DJ booth: Technics turntables, a mixer and a reel-to-reel tape machine.

SSHH is proudly responsible for installing the audio system and local consulting throughout the extensive build process. We also highly encourage you to explore UNCANNED MUSIC — we are proud to partner with them on many projects.

Learn More About Kim’s + Bronto Bar | Photos By Drew Arrieta

Audio System Design / Project Lead By: Uncanned Music

Photos by Drew Arrieta