Vinyl Room gets a makeover in Burlingame

“I think it’s always been driven by music and dancing,” he said. “There’s not a lot of places on the Peninsula [where] you get entertainment and music. Things change and evolve over time, but for the most part, Vinyl Room is still doing the entertainment, the music, the DJs, the bands, the karaoke, the salsa.” 

The refurbishments, which include new booths, album-themed wallpaper, wood paneling, neon bar shelving and a refreshed dance floor, were intended to update the space for customers, many of whom are locals and have become regulars. 

“Burlingame is a local community. People pass by all the time, they see the door open, they walk right in,” Loreno said. “We’ve been a part of the community for over 19 years now — a lot of people come in. Sometimes I get friends’ kids that are 21 now popping in.” 

Loreno co-owns Vinyl Room and other Bay Area bars like Barrel House and Persona with Jose Nativadad. He said a company trip to New York inspired the elevated new cocktail menu. New drinks include the electric bloom, a mix of vodka, kumquats, butterfly tea and lime, and the jarrito jam, which includes Reposado tequila, tamarind, mezcal and agave. 

Patrons will be able to enjoy the new beverages alongside the classic Vinyl Room vibe, which includes Wednesday karaoke night, Thursday salsa — including free lessons from 8-9 p.m. — and Friday and Saturday DJs. 

Vinyl Room works to bring music to the forefront while still creating an approachable space for conversation, Loreno said, which means less House and EDM-focused music. 

“We want the music to be approachable for everyone,” he said. “People want to go in there and talk and have a conversation. … When you’re playing EDM, house, techno, it’s kind of hard to do that. We’re sticking to a little bit more wide range of music.” 

Especially given the new look, Loreno says the goal of the cocktail lounge is for Peninsula residents to unwind, relax and have a drink without feeling they need to make the trek to San Francisco to have fun. 

“We’re offering something to the Peninsula that’s maybe something people generally go to S.F. for, but they don’t need to,” he said. “We have nice cocktails, nice music, nice vibe. For locals, you don’t necessarily have to go to S.F. to experience what we’re offering at Vinyl Room.” 

Vinyl Room is located at 221 Park Road and is open from 4 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Tuesday, 4 p.m. to late on Wednesday and 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.