Admit it, you love karaoke. Started in Japan in the 1970s and thought to be a passing trend, the simple pleasure of singing along to all our favorite songs has since conquered Southeast Asia, the North American continent and is creeping into Europe.
In the last five years its popularity has increased dramatically, with bars and cafes all over Budapest blasting music and cheerful volunteers singing along, to the amusement of their friends and whoever else happens to be there.
While numerous places exist in Budapest for party-style public karaoke, new winds are blowing in from the East. On January 29th, 2008, Karaoke MIYABI, a ‘Japanese box-style’ karaoke parlor, opened its gates, offering nine separate soundproof rooms (for 2-6 people and 8-10 people) to guests who like to sing and dance in smaller private groups of friends.
A chic club operating on a membership system, MIYABI takes its inspiration from the thousands of venues in Japan where everyone from students to businessmen to politicians and celebrities go. Karaoke boxes are perfect for shy singers who do not dare sing in front of a crowd, but are more relaxed with their friends. You can sing yourself hoarse to 4,600 English songs (and more than 45,000 Japanese, Korean and Chinese songs), and in May they will begin offering Hungarian and other songs. In the small-group format, you don’t have to wait for hours for your song to come up, just to be too shy to get up and belt it out.
While you’re waiting and laughing, you can ring the bell or pick up the in-room phone to call a waiter and order drinks or ask for help. The karaoke machines are high-technology affairs and can be adjusted for tonal differences, key changes, bass and much more.
MIYABI is open Monday through Saturday from 8pm to 2am. A positive ID is required for membership, which the venue will keep it in strict confidentiality for security reasons. Call after 6pm to make a room reservation.
Csillagvár Shopping Center
1039 Budapest, Rákóczi u. 36
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Tel.: +36.1.250.8644, +36.20.399.3997
