No matter the occasion, a k-session with the pals is always a good idea. We’re familiar with the usual affordable karaoke spots, but K.STAR Karaoke is one that’ll bring an unrivalled experience with its special themed rooms. Lucky for you, there are 2 outlets you can visit – Orchard Central and Plaza Singapura.
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It’s quite obvious that the “K” in K.STAR stands for “karaoke”. But according to the owner, it’s also interchangeable with “Korean” – the decor is partly Korean-inspired. Incidentally, there’s also a K-star Road in Seoul, where hallyu entertainment companies are based. Time to let your inner G-Dragon rear its head here, maybe?
Perhaps not many venture up to the higher floors of OC these days, but you can’t miss the entrance of K.Star Orchard Central once you’re up the escalator on Level 5. You’ll be greeted with a gorgeous turquoise feature wall full of giant paper flowers, along with a huge LINE plushie.
You’ll also see a giant standing microphone too. It actually works, so go ahead and belt notes for the LOLs. In the event that you need to queue, chill out on their comfy sofas at the reception area and have fun snapping photos with more LINE plushies against the tropical backdrop.
There’s a projector screen there as well, so feel free to belt out some tunes while your room is getting prepared. If what’s currently playing isn’t your kind of jam, just approach the counter staff to request for your song of choice and they’ll be happy to assist.
If you always find yourself jostling for space with your friends in cramped karaoke rooms, you’ll be glad to know that the Orchard Central outlet is comfortably spacious – the largest can hold a whopping 35, and even the smallest can accommodate up to 6. They’ve got other room sizes for a maximum party of 10, 15, and 20 people, and each has a unique design.
There are 10 Mini Rooms here, suitable for groups with 6 pax or less. These rooms are fairly simple yet vibrant, each following a fun colour scheme – a fresh change from the usual nondescript ones or tacky ah beng variety found at many other karaoke joints.
Some of the rooms come with adorable LINE cushions.
Other styles include a cheery yellow ice cream-themed one, as well as a calming green one with a barbershop design. Most of the mini rooms have clear windows offering a view of Orchard Road, so you can imagine how pretty the scene below would be once the streets get lit up in the evening.
The larger rooms are a tad flashier, and are suitable for parties and class/corporate outings. For an immersive experience, book yourselves a Panorama Room (max 20 pax), where a projection screen covers the entire back wall, and then some.
Apart from showing what’s already playing on the 85” TV screen in front, the projector is pre-programmed to change backdrops depending on the song. For example, there are heart-shaped lights all over during Rihanna’s “California King Bed”.
Fun fact: if you pick the “Happy Birthday” song (unfortunately only available in Mandarin), the projector screen will automatically produce a backdrop of birthday candles.
The watercolour painting in this one matches the hues on the ornate “stained glass”, bringing an added touch of serenity
If you prefer something less flamboyant, go for one of the chapel-themed Premium Rooms (max 10 pax, from $30/hour) or Deluxe Rooms (max 15 pax, from $40/hour), with artificial stained glass windows.
Planning a huge get-together? The VIP Party Room (max 35 pax) will be perfect. Instead of a TV, this one has a massive projector screen spanning 6-metres, and is slightly curved for optimum viewing no matter where you sit.
All rooms come with a drinking game spinner. The wording is only in Chinese, but some of these can be translated to: “Find someone to finish your drink”, “Drink half your cup”, and….“Kiss someone”. Not for the faint-hearted or weak-livered. Each room also has a tambourine and pair of maracas, so you can get into the groove and shake that booty.
You can shoot some pool at the larger rooms when you’re tired from the singing marathon too. Alternatively, you can book the room with dart machines instead. The cost of the games are already included in the room fee, so you can have as many tries as you like.
Most of these larger rooms also come with working standing mics in addition to the normal handheld ones – and you can actually swing them around on their stands. So muster up the courage to take centre stage, and get ready to rock.
That’s not all. You can adjust the volume, singing accompaniment, and even the mood lighting with a simple touch control on the wall – no more having to huddle in a group over the main control screen. If the disco-esque strobe lights give you a headache, pick the slower “Romantic” setting, or omit them altogether with the “Bright” mode.
Onto the next outlet. There are 8 rooms at K.STAR Plaza Singapura, with 4 different themes: Dragon Ball Z, Funky Astro, Pink Carnival, and Retro Lounge. They’re perfect for couples and smaller groups that just want to chill out in town for a couple of hours in private.
On the other hand, the bigger Deluxe Rooms can hold anywhere from 10-12 people – although we’d caution against packing the room till you’re sardines.
Celebrate birthdays at K.STAR and get free room decor.
The special Birthday Suite and Panorama Rooms are also great to host large parties at. These come equipped with a virtual panoramic wall that covers the back wall and its sides to give an added layer of ambience.They also have some props like wigs, balloons, and marquee signs to spell out names so you don’t have to worry about buying them last-minute.
The family suite has 1 main room and another smaller room that is partitioned off.
There is also the Family Party Suite that is two rooms in one for when your entire clan needs a gathering space. The main room has two separate tables and a huge U-shaped couch with stools that can fit more than 20 people. The side room is also partitioned off so the adults can sit back and relax while the kids can scream however loud they want in the other room.
We’ve saved the best for last – the VIP room is not only expansive and spacious with two separate seating areas, there are also trippy lasers from the ceiling and wall projections to add to the atmosphere of you and your fellow VIPs. You can easily fit over 35 of your friends and family for any party here and avoid those awkward “Where was my invitation?” conversations.
What sets this new K.STAR at Plaza Singapura apart is the minimart that sells a variety of Korean snacks and drinks. After all, that’s partially what the “K” in K.STAR stands for.
This is no generic mama shop either, mind you. The shelves are lit up in a bright green and pink for that whimsy feel, and even the baskets are golden metal types so you can feel like an atas grocery shopper.
From cream cookies and biscuits to the infamous super-spicy instant noodles, you can get a snack to bring home or nibble on in the themed rooms. You can also get your favourite flavour of soju ($16/bottle).
K.STAR Karaoke has brought its A-game to the karaoke scene with its themed rooms and quirky decorations. Additionally, both places serve an array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks so you can hydrate after busting out tunes. Pair those with some bar bites like the Seaweed Chicken ($9.50) or Calamari Rings ($9.50) and you’ll walk away with a satisfied tummy.
Full list of room packages and F&B prices.
Check out our other guides here:
Photography by Pepita Wauran.
Originally published on 8th June 2018 by Rachel Yohannan and Josiah Neo. Last updated by Joycelyn Yeow on 19th June 2023.
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