K1 Karaoke Lounge

This collection of 18 rooms up a few grungy flights of stairs off Dixon Street lacks in the design stakes – in our room, the walls were decorated with a stencil 
of an afro’d bloke next to the words “I’m rapper”, and a large poster for Hennessy VSOP. But rooms are big and uncluttered, making for a good amount of dancing space, and the black leather lounge seats and tables are sturdy (not that we’d encourage getting on them… ahem). Word of warning: you have to pay a holding deposit to order any alcohol and the staff can be less than friendly.

The system
Similar to most around Chinatown: search in the system for your singer using a not-too-glitchy remote.

The songs
The selection is decent, and there are some original clips – just look at Kylie and Robbie getting all grabby in ‘Kids’ – but K1 rates a zero on our ‘Where’s the Johnny Cash-o-meter’.

K-Factor
The sound system is killer… and you can have four microphones per room for those latter-career Spice Girls moments. Rooms range from six people ($38/hour) to 40 people ($148) – prices for Friday and Saturday nights. Happy Hour rates available.