diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 045780e..c065bcd 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](http://keepachangelog.com/) and this p
 - Adds a `gitlens.views.stashFileDescriptionFormat` setting to specify the description format of a stashed file in the views
 - Adds a `gitlens.views.stashDescriptionFormat` setting to specify the description format of stashed changes in the views
 - Adds a `gitlens.views.statusFileDescriptionFormat` setting to specify the description format of the status of a working or committed file in the views
+- Adds a `gitlens.views.repositories.compact` setting to specify whether to show the _Repositories_ view in a compact display density — closes [#571](https://github.com/eamodio/vscode-gitlens/issues/571)
 
 ### Fixed
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9959864..861d822 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -751,6 +751,7 @@ See also [View Settings](#view-settings- 'Jump to the View settings')
 | `gitlens.views.repositories.autoRefresh`        | Specifies whether to automatically refresh the _Repositories_ view when the repository or the file system changes                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
 | `gitlens.views.repositories.autoReveal`         | Specifies whether to automatically reveal repositories in the _Repositories_ view when opening files                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
 | `gitlens.views.repositories.branches.layout`    | Specifies how the _Repositories_ view will display branches<br /><br />`list` - displays branches as a list<br />`tree` - displays branches as a tree when branch names contain slashes `/`                                                                                                                                                    |
+| `gitlens.views.repositories.compact`            | Specifies whether to show the _Repositories_ view in a compact display density                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
 | `gitlens.views.repositories.enabled`            | Specifies whether to show the _Repositories_ view                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
 | `gitlens.views.repositories.files.compact`      | Specifies whether to compact (flatten) unnecessary file nesting in the _Repositories_ view. Only applies when `gitlens.views.repositories.files.layout` is set to `tree` or `auto`                                                                                                                                                             |
 | `gitlens.views.repositories.files.layout`       | Specifies how the _Repositories_ view will display files<br /><br />`auto` - automatically switches between displaying files as a `tree` or `list` based on the `gitlens.views.repositories.files.threshold` value and the number of files at each nesting level<br />`list` - displays files as a list<br />`tree` - displays files as a tree |
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index d7ac6c0..d8f6660 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1367,6 +1367,12 @@
                     "markdownDescription": "Specifies how the _Repositories_ view will display branches",
                     "scope": "window"
                 },
+                "gitlens.views.repositories.compact": {
+                    "type": "boolean",
+                    "default": false,
+                    "markdownDescription": "Specifies whether to show the _Repositories_ view in a compact display density",
+                    "scope": "window"
+                },
                 "gitlens.views.repositories.enabled": {
                     "type": "boolean",
                     "default": true,
diff --git a/src/views/nodes/repositoryNode.ts b/src/views/nodes/repositoryNode.ts
index a44a992..cfe4bda 100644
--- a/src/views/nodes/repositoryNode.ts
+++ b/src/views/nodes/repositoryNode.ts
@@ -74,7 +74,9 @@ export class RepositoryNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<RepositoriesView> {
                     children.push(new StatusFilesNode(this.view, this, status, range));
                 }
 
-                children.push(new MessageNode(this.view, this, '', GlyphChars.Dash.repeat(2), ''));
+                if (!this.view.config.repositories.compact) {
+                    children.push(new MessageNode(this.view, this, '', GlyphChars.Dash.repeat(2), ''));
+                }
             }
 
             children.push(