Opening in London’s West End this September, U9 Karaoke Bar is a new kind of nightlife destination, where East Asian tradition meets tech-forward glamour. Located on Whitcomb Street, steps from Leicester Square, U9 Karaoke Bar is London’s first high-end East Asian-inspired karaoke and cocktail bar, a bold reimagining of the classic KTV experience for the London audience.
Opening its doors on 12th September, U9 Karaoke Bar pays homage to karaoke’s roots in Japan, Korea, China and beyond – combining it with a playful space-age aesthetic. Behind the minimalist exterior, guests can book from nine private karaoke suites, ranging from rooms for 12 people, to a VIP suite for 40 guests, each designed to be a personal club complete with KTV-style visuals, space-led interiors, made-to-order cocktails, concierge bottle service and in-room ordering, state-of-the-art sound systems, and club-lighting.
While East Asian culture is at the heart of the inspiration, its doors are open to everyone. With a library of over 450,000 songs across genres, languages and eras, U9’s karaoke offering is built to delight seasoned KTV lovers and first-timers alike, whether you’re singing throwbacks, Mandopop, K-pop, power ballads, or Britpop. Beyond the private rooms, the cocktail lounge offers an eclectic lineup of DJs, , and elevated drinks from visionary Bar Manager Egidio Bizzotto, formerly of Disrepute Bar and Hakkasan.
The venue’s food and drink offering is a refined exploration of East Asian flavours. The menu spans sushi, temaki, dim sum, and Korean fried chicken, each prepared with a focus on quality and authenticity. The cocktail program champions clarity, balance, and precision, using a restrained selection of ingredients to deliver bold, defined flavours. Techniques such as rehydration and compact flavour bases echo the efficiency of the concept’s space design, while Asian influences, from Szechuan pepper and star anise to lemongrass, weave through the drinks list. Signature cocktails include the Etsu Gin Highball, finished with lemongrass dust, Pampelle, and Camomilla Liqueur.
This stripped down, space-age aesthetic also carries through to the look and feel of the venue itself. The underground venue’s interiors blend sleek materials, LED accents and ambient lighting in a spacecraft meets speakeasy style, designed to transport guests into an unworldly nightlife experience altogether.
Chiara Artico, Opening Manager of U9 Karaoke Bar, says: “Karaoke has been a huge part of social life across East Asia for decades – it’s where people come together to laugh, unwind and connect. We felt it was time for London to experience that, but in a way that feels elevated and considered. U9 takes the heart of that tradition and reimagines it through a London lens – with futuristic design, drinks and a KTV atmosphere all working together to create something new. There’s nothing else like it here, and we’re excited to open the doors.”
