Attention divas, here are all the karaoke joints and KTV bars to hit in Singapore when the urge to sing hits hard
Some might call it cheesy, but karaoke has got to be one of our ultimate guilty pleasures (fun fact: our very own Honeycombers gals got kicked out of one of these karaoke bars for having faaaaar too much fun). Doesn’t matter if you’re a bathroom singer, show-stopping diva or can’t hold a note to save your life – KTV bars provide a safe space to just sing and have a ball of a time with friends and families. So… clear your throat, do some lip trills and breathing exercises and get ready to impress us with your talent (or lack thereof) at these karaoke bars in Singapore. Hit that track!
K Box
Established since August 2002, this familiar name is the largest karaoke chain in Singapore, with eight outlets furbished with state-of-the-art karaoke systems. Often decked with a slew of Chinese songs (don’t worry; there are English songs too!), here’s where you’ll often discover aspiring Mandopop divas. Riding on their popularity, they’ve also launched K suites, a more upmarket boutique-style karaoke lounge at Bugis+ and Orchard Parade Hotel.
K Box, various outlets islandwide.
Manekineko
Manekineko has to be one our favourite karaoke places in Singapore for three reasons. One, it’s fortune cat-themed. Two, its rooms are cosy, and come with WiFi and charging points. Three, standardprices include free-flow drinks and snacks; upgrade if you want a buffet dinner. Book the corporate room if you’re throwing a party – it comes with a pool table and can fit up to 30 people.
Manekineko, various outlets islandwide including Cathay Cineleisure and Marina Square.
Skinny’s Lounge is your go to for late night karaoke urges. Photography: Skinny’s Lounge
Skinny’s Lounge
At the end of Boat Quay you’ll find American bar and KTV joint Skinny’s. It’s open till 3am (and 4am on Saturdays!), so when you don’t want a good night to end and the urge to sing hits hard, you know where to go. Skinny’s does good classic cocktails with some fun stuff thrown in, so that bottle of wine you happen to have in your handbag? Put it away, ladies. There’s just one KTV room at Skinny’s, so book ahead (reservations are $200 per hour) so you don’t resort to trying to gatecrash someone else’s party. Not that we’d ever try to do that.
Skinny’s Lounge, 82 Boat Quay, #01-02, 049870, open Monday-Friday 5pm-3am, Saturdays 7pm-4am.
Ten Dollar Club
Living up to its name, this is the place for a fun sing-along session with your mates without having to burn a huge hole in your pockets. At $10 per session, you’ll get the bare karaoke essentials as well as free-flow of hot and soft drinks. You’re even allowed to bring outside food just in case all that belting makes you hungry!
Ten Dollar Club, various outlets islandwide
Teo Heng
Strictly no smoking, no alcohol; this is your best bet to bring your family out for a karaoke night. This family-friendly KTV bar offers clean and vibrant looking studios, exuding a warmth and safe ambience. Aside from providing free Wi-Fi at all their outlets, do note that its rates are hourly-based, depending on room sizes.
Teo Heng, various outlets islandwide.
Tang Music Box
A hit with most karaoke lovers in Singapore, Tang Music Box has an extensive selection of songs in a myriad of languages. Feeling a little chilly in the studio? They’ll kindly provide you with blankets. Need a breather? Then head over to The Meeting Place, the main hall where you’ll get to mingle with like-minded people while deciding which snacks to get. Psst…they are typically open ’til 6am on weekends.
Tang Music Box, #02-03/04 Foundry, Clarke Quay, 3B River Valley Road Singapore 179021, p. 6338 6659.
Cash Studio
If you are looking for top-charting songs or classic oldie hits, Cash Studio has it all. But what’s more interesting about Cash Studio is that it’s known amongst fans of Japanese and Malay music for having a good assortment of J-pop, J-rock and uber sentimental Malay music in its mix. And if the room is vacant after your designated timeslot, they might let you stick around a little longer!
Cash Studio, various outlets islandwide.
Party World
You can’t think of karaoke in Singapore without immediately thinking of Party World. This KTV institution offers a gamut of song choices in a variety of languages, and reasonable prices which include alcohol. After all, what’s a karaoke party without booze, right?
Party World, various outlets islandwide
And if you need inspiration for mixing up your karaoke repertoire, check out these go-to songs from the Honeycombers crew (we’re remaining anoymous for this one)…
“I HAVE to sing Hold On by Wilson Philips. It’s a song I sing for positive, personal empowerment.”
“Anything from the Princess of Pop: Britney Spears. The original Queen B. I will sing anything from her first album to last. Or any broadway song. And the occasional Whitney and Mariah. I find that I can definitely reach those notes after three glasses of wine.”
“A few drinks inside me and Trace the Face busts out the moves and the notes to Madonna’s Like A Prayer. Every. Single. Time.”
“When I karaoke I don’t even know myself. I pick boyband songs from across the generations like Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, One Direction… and then I move on to Southern hip-hop which is really crass compared to their East Coast counterparts. And then I cover emo-pop ditties like Fall Out Boy and the sorts. Hell is other people’s music and the karaoke room is purgatory.”
“I’m that guy who’s convinced they can rap after a few drinks, so everyone has to suffer through Gangster’s Paradise by Coolio.”
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