Pixote Karaoke Bar — Restaurant in Porto

Preface: I have hosted karaoke in DC for over a decade, so I am familiar with the many problems that can arise, and have strong opinions on what good karaoke protocol is.

Story: We came on Wednesday for my birthday, and were denied entrance because my sister and brother in law were wearing sandals instead of close toed shoes. We came back Thursday to try again, because I love karaoke and it was still my birthday. Plus, the other two karaoke bars we tried to go to weren’t open at all, so, slim pickings. We got in Thursday. They give you a card to tally your drinks - 5€ minimum, and 150€ charge if you lose it. Sometimes a soda was 2€, sometimes it was 2.50€ (my partner doesn’t drink alcohol, so he only had Coke Zero, but it was different prices on his ticket at different times). 2.50€ for well, 6€ or more for a Jameson or other call.

We arrived at almost 1a, and the bar was half empty. We got a table for 4 immediately (even with several tables reserved). You need a QR reader to see the song list, and reception is spotty, so download one in advance. I put songs in for me and my partner before I even got drinks, because I know waits can be long.

A lot of people came in after us, and by 1:30a it was basically full. I checked my decibel meter on my phone (again, pro kj, so I have one) and it was an average of 106 decibels, which is as loud as they say it is.

I checked my watch at 1:15a, because I’d seen the warnings. My partner sang at 2:30 (we were about to walk out when his song came up. I’d literally already closed our tabs). In that time I saw the host, the bartenders, and several groups of young girls, guys, and a family sitting at the front all sing multiple times. Now I know they may have all signed up before us. Or had one friend sign them all up for songs before they arrived. Or been friends of the KJ. But the waiters and host are paid to be there. I was paying to be there. But I sang after them. For me, that’s poor form, especially if anyone is singing more than once (no matter how beautiful).

Even when the host knew it was my birthday, we watched the same table sing at least 2 songs in a row - one of which it didn’t seem like they even wanted to sing.

It was a friendly, and fun atmosphere, although I feel sick from all the cigarette smoke (it’s no joke). But seriously don’t expect to be on the list in under 90minutes.

I finally sang at 2:45a, almost 2 hours after I arrived. They take your payment card at the door on your way out, so even if you pay you can’t lose it, and I also can’t show the weird system they use to measure what you owe. They didn’t overcharge from what they saw...

A friend and I went to karaoke at this bar twice on our holiday. The first night (Friday) it was packed. They picked my friend after a while, and then when he went up to sing, one of the hosts walked up with his own microphone and took over the singing, so my friend didn't really get to sing his song. Meanwhile, they didn't pick either of my songs for hours, until I specifically went up and asked them if they might pick me. They then eventually picked one of my two songs after we'd been there for hours.

We decided to give it a second chance and went back a second night (Tuesday). The bar was quite empty, with maybe 20 people there. We were there 3 hours and they did not pick either of us even once, while other people sang 3 or even 4 times. I even went up to ask if they would pick one of my songs and they lied and said i was next. But then I never sang (nor did my friend) and we finally gave up at 3:00 and left.

Also, as a side note, they have a stupid policy where you receive a card when you arrive. The card tells you how much you have to spend on drinks, based on your gender. If you lose this card during the evening, they expect you to pay them 150€. Absolutely insane and feels kind of scammy.

Would never go here again. Pity because it's a very cool venue with a great sound system. But they pick singers based on their feelings and mostly their friends. We don't know if it was racism (my friend is not white) or homophobia (I am quite obviously gay in appearance), but it was not a...

Where to start? I'm giving this place 1 star because it's not possible to give negative points. When we entered, a guy said we couldn't get in because a friend of ours was wearing flip flops. This is very old school but it would be sort of fine if by the end of the night there wasn't girls (maybe dressed a bit more girly) also wearing flip flops. Then, they treat this place like a disco: they give you a card with minimum consumption and if you lose it, you pay 150€, drinks are crazy expensive and overall the place has a very Jersey Shore vibe. Then, they only pic your songs if they know you. If not, they completely ignore you (what kind of karaoke place is this?) THEN, they picked up on me because I was drinking tap water from my reusable water bottle (I had beers, wine and a bayleys, so it was not that I wasn't contributing to their wealth...) to which they replied: we also have water to sell. I mean... Jeez. And let's face it, they weren't being exactly polite talking to me about this. I put away the bottle and after a while forgot about it and accidentally put the bottle on top of the table (wasn't even drinking it was just on top). The same guy came at me SCREAMING: what is that bottle doing there? I said that I had enough of this place and that I was gonna leave. To which he of course started being even more arrogant. Never coming back. Absolutely...