Stella – Karaoke Lounge & Bar (Hilton Colombo).

Karaoke is a weird and wonderful institution. In Colombo it's generally a euphemism for seedy hostess bars, but there are a couple of exceptions like Soprano's and Stella.

Tucked away near the Hilton Colombo's lovely Il Ponte, Stella has been around for years, a refuge for the drunk and noisy.

Food & Drinks

The drinks here are expensive, but what else would you expect from a 5* hotel bar catering to the inebriated and undiscerning? We've tried a couple of the cocktails here, but they're not great. The B-52s, however, are a yum and flaming option for wild nights out, and come in at about Rs. 800 a pop.  Lion Lager is about Rs. 500++ for a big bottle. If you're on a girl's night out, you can try and make it on a Thursday before 11 PM for a 50% discount on regular drinks.

We've only tried the food here twice, both times with not very wonderful outcomes. The first time, we ordered some French Fries at around Rs. 500++, which they forgot about and we eventually cancelled. The second visit, we ordered an Italian-style beef burger (Rs. 1600++, so about Rs. 2000), which sounded great on the menu (which appears to be mostly Il Ponte stuff like pizzas etc, usually unavailable after around 1 AM).

The burger took 1 hour and 10 minutes to arrive, at which point we really just wanted to go home. Unsurprisingly, it was very dry, the beef was almost brittle, and the fries stale and hard (you can kind of see that in the photo above). Overall, it was very disappointing, but you can't really complain when it's 2 AM and there are very few other places else to turn.

Service & Ambience

The service is generally quite friendly. However, their entrance policy is equally random as they won't let in men with shorts (women's kneecaps are mysteriously okay though), but allow in large groups of drunken men on Friday/Saturday nights. In my experiences here over the years, the late night patrons generally won't harass/grope, but will keep pushing drinks on you (as in being offended if you don't want their drinks, not literally pushing drinks over you like a cat) or asking persistent questions if you're a couple of girls on your own. There's also usually at least one small fight/skirmish per busy weekend night, but the staff deals with it efficiently, shooing those involved out. 

Going on a weekday night or earlier than about 10 PM is a much nicer experience, with a smaller crowd, less smoke pollution, less noise, and quicker service.

Ambience-wise, there isn't much to talk about, it looks like your average karaoke spot from the '90s. Unlike other karaoke bars, they don't have an ancient song list and weird Eastern European stock videos on screen, but rather just song lyrics and a pretty updated song list. We came across quite recent stuff, like Beiber's new album and other pop hits on the radio, which was impressive.

Overall

I think Stella is probably the best karaoke bar in Colombo, but that isn't saying much. It's loud and raucous on weekends, but weekdays are quite nice. The positive is that they don't charge an entry fee, but the negative is that they're unfathomably strict with their men's dress codes. So head on down, keep some pants on, and feel free to embarrass both yourself and everyone around you with a tearful reggae version of My Heart Will Go On.

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

Highlights.

Latest.

KAMU.

Iftar delights at The Banyan, Heritance Negombo

Iftar delights at The Banyan, Heritance Negombo Written by Fathima Rukaiya, Mad Dogs Bodega, Banyan

Highlights Kamu

Budget-friendly Iftar spots 2024

Written by Fathima Rukaiya, In our previous article, we highlighted some exquisite and upscale Iftar

Highlights Kamu

Iftar Buffet Round Up 2024

Written by Fathima Rukaiya As Ramadan arrives, a warm feeling of reflection and community fills

Highlights Kamu

Discovering Pasta Paradise: The Pasta Factory, Galle Fort

In the historic Galle Fort, The Pasta Factory brings a taste of Italy to Sri

Highlights Kamu

A Home for Desi Dreams – Bombay Nights by Radisson Colombo

As we stepped into the ‘Dine’ in Radisson Colombo, our senses were immediately tantalized by

Highlights Kamu

Steak Bar: A Grand Sunday Brunch at Kingsbury, Colombo

Written by Shamrina C Welcome to the ultimate brunch experience! Nestled in the heart of

Highlights Kamu Yamu Guide

Trending.

Experience the Elegance and Excitement of RTC Tourism Race Day in Nuwara Eliya

RTC Nuwara Eliya will hold its RTC Tourism Race Day on 30th March 2024 at

Trending

“85th Annual Mount Lavinia 2-Mile Sea Swim” by SLASU held at the Mount Lavinia Hotel Beach

The "85th Annual Mount Lavinia 2-Mile Sea Swim" organized by Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union

Trending

Sheraton Colombo Hotel celebrates International Women’s Day with empowering insights

Sheraton Colombo Hotel, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary brands, marked International

Trending

Anantara Kalutara Presents an Elevated Gastronomic Journey to Italy

Kalutara, Sri Lanka - March 14, 2024 - Anantara Kalutara Resort is delighted to announce

Trending

List of Party Venues 2024

By Fathima Rukaiya Finding the perfect place to host a party can be a hassle.

Highlights Trending

LCY Unveils Debut ‘LCY for Her’ Collection, Redefining Women’s Polo Wear with Strength, and Sophistication

Thursday, 14, March, 2024, Colombo: LCY, a brand synonymous with manufacturing high-quality men’s polos of

Trending

Yamu Guide.

Steak Bar: A Grand Sunday Brunch at Kingsbury, Colombo

Written by Shamrina C Welcome to the ultimate brunch experience! Nestled in the heart of

Highlights Kamu Yamu Guide

9 Special Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Him

By Fathima Rukaiya Are you trying to find the perfect way to show your special

Highlights Yamu Guide

9 Special Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Her

Written by Fathima Rukaiya The season of love is upon us once more, and opinions

Highlights Yamu Guide

Romantic Dinner and High Tea date spots for Valentine’s Day  2024

Written by Shamrina C 1. Via Torino Indulge in a fine dining exclusive 3-Course meal

Highlights Yamu Guide

BYOB Bliss: 16 Places to you can Bring Your Own Bottle!

Written by Shamrina C 1. Giovannis Indulge in Italian flavors, grooving music, pet friendly, and

Highlights Yamu Guide

Unveiling Ramada’s Festive Christmas High Tea Extravaganza!

Written by Shamrina C Mark your calendars for the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of December,

Highlights Yamu Guide