Chorus Karaoke | Empire State NYC

Hidden fees, forced tipping, and misleading policies — avoid this place at all costs. Do not book here. My friend called a week in advance to ask about Chorus Karaoke’s drinking policy and to make a reservation. She was told drinks were not mandatory and that we could only book for one hour at a rate of $40. When we arrived, we were informed of a $60 minimum ($20 per person for our group of three) that had never been mentioned before and is not listed on their website. Once in the karaoke room, a staff member stayed with us, pressuring us to order drinks. When we declined, we were told the $60 minimum for drinks or food was mandatory. At that point, my friend’s credit card was already held at reception, so leaving wasn’t an option. The service itself was also disappointing. A staff member interrupted us twice during our final minutes, and our tablet was taken before our full hour was up. At checkout, tipping was automatically added to our bill without notice, leaving us no choice regardless of service quality. We were then given a voucher for a “free drink” at the bar, which only applied to basic drinks. When we asked for a cocktail, the bartender said it would only be included if we left a review. It was obvious they were trying to secure positive reviews in exchange for drinks, which may explain the suspiciously high 5-star ratings on Google despite no one describing their actual experience. Overall, this business relies on hidden fees, misleading policies, and pushy service. I would not recommend booking here under any circumstances.

vibes are so great in here. calvin is an awesome bartender!!!!! the best place to hang with friends and sing!

The atmosphere is very nice here. Everyone working here is super nice including Calvin. Wonderful space to have fun with your friends and decompress after a long day.

My friend and I recently visited this karaoke spot, and unfortunately, the experience was disappointing due to poor communication and unprofessional service. When we walked in, we were told it would be $40 for 1–4 people. Since there were only two of us, it already felt a bit unfair, but we agreed. The front desk employee also mentioned there was a $10 minimum — however, he never clarified that it was per person. Once we got to the room (around 6:45), the front desk employee spent some time explaining how to use the table. Shortly after, the server came in to take our order for the minimum. I ordered two drinks that totaled $10, and she then stated it was a $10 minimum per person… which directly contradicted what we had originally been told. That lack of clear communication was frustrating. To make matters worse, when we asked what time our session ended, the front desk employee told us our time had started five minutes earlier — even though he had been in the room using that time to explain things we didn’t need explained. We were never clearly told when our time officially began. He eventually said he would “restart” the time, meaning it would end at 6:50 since we had paid for one hour. However, at 6:40, not even a full hour.the server abruptly came in, said “this is the last song,” grabbed the iPad, and walked out. It felt rude and completely cut into the time we paid for. When it came time to pay, we were told the tip was already included. Considering the rudeness and consistent miscommunication throughout the visit, that felt extremely unfair. Our original total was supposed to be $40, yet it ended up being $75 with fees. Overall, the environment and service left a bad impression. Clear communication, respect for customers’ time, and transparency with pricing would make a huge difference. Unfortunately, we won’t be returning.

We had a really wonderful time! Came for fiancés birthday. The pricing was fair and the drinks were delicious. Loved the voice, music and echo control and the lighting. Special thanks to Nani at Check In who helped get us set up and explained everything to us. Looking forward to coming back soon.