Monster Ronson's Ichiban Karaoke

Karaoke Bar right by Warschauer Straße Station

Anyone stepping out of Warschauer Straße station in Friedrichshain will reach house number 34 in less than two minutes. There stands a low-rise building with an illuminated sign, which from the outside looks more like a snack bar than an institution. In fact, Monster Ronson’s Ichiban Karaoke is the most famous address of its kind in the city and has already celebrated its twenty-second birthday. It was founded by Ron Rineck, who calls himself Monster Ronson and previously toured squatted houses across Europe with a mobile sound system. This origin is evident in the place: it’s louder, more colorful, and significantly less polished than classic Asian-style karaoke rooms. Surrounded by clubs, late-night shops, and snack bars, the evening rarely ends at the doorstep. The audience is largely queer, mixed, and completely unfazed by whether someone hits the right notes or not. First-timers quickly realize that embarrassment is not a category in this establishment. Precisely this attitude has made Monster Ronson’s Ichiban Karaoke a fixture in Berlin’s nightlife over the years, attracting visitors from outside the city as well.

Fourteen Private Booths and a Large Open Stage

Inside, the venue is divided into two worlds. The open stage in the main room is for everyone who dares to perform in front of an audience, framed by disco balls and plenty of mirrored surfaces. Additionally, there are fourteen private booths in four sizes: two small ones for up to four people, eight medium ones for about six, three large ones for eight to twelve, and one XL booth for up to sixteen guests. The small booth costs 20 Euros per hour, the XL version 48 Euros. Groups of twenty or more can rent the main stage completely. Around the regular operation, there are unique formats not found anywhere else, such as Boxhopping, where guests sing their way through several booths, as well as drag and dance shows. Reservations are made in advance and require prepayment; the large booths can always be booked, the small ones only on specific days. Payment is accepted in cash and by card; admission is from twenty-one years of age with ID. Bringing your own bottles is allowed, but incurs a corkage fee of 100 Euros per bottle, which usually takes care of that issue. Cloakroom service is included in the admission fee.