Blind Dragon might be your new favourite spot to sing in Dubai — if you can afford a karaoke addiction.
The Asian-themed karaoke lounge is the latest in Dubai to offer private suites, starting at Dh2,500 for a five-person room, which can then be redeemed on food and beverages. It opened last week at The Atrium, the dining and entertainment hub next to The W Hotel in Al Habtoor City, a world away from its home base in West Hollywood. Ditching arduous song books for easy-to-search iPads, Blind Dragon is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 5pm-2am.
tabloid! spoke to Lee Maen, a founding member of Innovative Dining Group (IDG) — the people behind Blind Dragon, as well as Katana restaurant in Downtown Dubai, Delphine restaurant in The H Hotel and Boa Steak House in Abu Dhabi — to find out what the lounge is all about.
When people walk into Blind Dragon, what can they expect?
It feels like a living room. It doesn’t feel like a sterile karaoke room. You have a TV and little iPad tablets that have all the music on them to pick out. [You search Frank Sinatra, and up comes 20 songs.] It’s just really comfortable [with] sexy lighting. The rooms have twin mirrors, so you can see into the main room, but no one can see you. Several of our servers are great singers as well — so they’ll get you started, they’ll help you sing.
What’s the concept of Blind Dragon?
Blind Dragon is a lounge. We have our first in Los Angeles, West Hollywood. It’s a very celebrity-driven place. There’s a DJ playing different types of music throughout the night, and then we have private karaoke rooms. At this location, we have five. A room fits between 10-20 people. There’s thousands of songs that people get up to sing.
Can you tell us where the name comes from?
A blind dragon was a secret entrance during the prohibition days in the US. In our location in Los Angeles, you actually enter through the garage. It feels very secretive, a little mafia. So it’s like, you turn a blind eye.
How does this differ from some of the other karaoke spots here in Dubai?
I’ve only heard of one. I haven’t been to it. But in Asia, karaoke is very big and they’re beautiful places. In LA, it’s kind of rinky-dink. It’s not nice karaoke bars — not luxurious, plush and comfortable. I think we’re the first one to be beautiful and upscale. When I say upscale, it doesn’t mean that you have to be upscale to come.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
I’m a fabulous dancer, I’m not a good singer. We did it last night with a group, and I don’t know if I have a go-to, but I’ll tell you what’s pretty good — Touch Me by the Doors. I also did Bust a Move by Young MC. And then as a group, we all did Wonderwall by Oasis.
*For bookings, contact 04-4370033 or reservations@blinddragondubai.com.
