Break Room 86
Cocktail bar · Koreatown ·
80s-themed speakeasy with karaoke, dancers, and arcade games
80s-themed speakeasy with karaoke, dancers, and arcade games
"It's frequently packed, but you wouldn't know Breakroom 86 existed unless you knew where to look. Folks jonesing for a night of '80s-themed karaoke and debauchery will dig this gem, hidden in the docking port of The Line Hotel. Breakroom 86 is a watering hole-in-the-wall started by the dudes who did Dirty Laundry, as well as Butchers and Barbers and La Descarga (another sweet, Havana-inspired speakeasy in Ktown). You'll want to get out your lace bustier and your piano keyboard necktie to blend in with the colorful space, replete with arcade games, vintage lockers and TV monitors showing music videos. Ideal if you dig immersive attention to detail, impromptu b-boys doing burlesque and syrupy drink concoctions that taste like Capri Sun and rum-flavored push pop made a cocktail baby (highly recommended if your goal is to drive the struggle bus the following day)." - The HR Dept
"An '80s-themed entertainment bar at the hotel complete with private karaoke chambers, positioned among the hotel's multiple nightlife options." - Laura Itzkowitz Laura Itzkowitz Laura Itzkowitz is a writer and editor based in Rome. She has been contributing to Travel + Leisure since 2014, when she started as a fact checker before becoming a contributing digital editor in 2015. She has also held positions as a contributing editor at The Points Guy and the NYC cities editor at DuJour Magazine. In addition to Travel + Leisure, her writing has appeared in Architectural Digest, Surface Magazine, Brooklyn Magazine, T Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, GQ, Departures, Afar, Fodor's, Town & Country, Condé Nast Traveler, Robb Report, Hemispheres, and others. When she's not jetsetting around Italy and beyond, she can be found in Rome, enjoying some cacio e pepe or relaxing at home with her husband and two dogs. Originally from the Boston area, Laura moved to New York City in 2011 to pursue a master's degree in creative writing and translation at Columbia University. She also holds a bachelor's degree in French from Smith College. * 10+ years of experience writing and editing * Co-wrote "New York: Hidden Bars & Restaurants," an award-winning guide to New York City's speakeasy scene published by Jonglez Editions in 2015 * Contributed to "Fodor's Brooklyn," published by Penguin Random House in 2015, which won silver in the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism competition * Contributed an essay to "Epic Hikes of Europe," published by Lonely Planet in 2021 * Updated the 2022 edition of "Fodor's Essential Italy" Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"There are aggressively-themed bars and then there’s Break Room 86. The bar inside The Line hotel in Ktown (you can only access it through the loading dock) takes its 80′s theme extremely seriously, starting with the vintage vending machine you have to walk through to get inside. Once you’re on the other side, you’re transported to an 80’s high school extravaganza complete with lockers, private karaoke rooms, a dance floor, and even Michael Jackson impersonators performing on top of the bar." - brant cox, sylvio martins, nikko duren
"There are aggressively-themed bars and then there’s Break Room 86. The bar inside The Line hotel in Ktown (you can only access it through the loading dock) takes its 80′s theme extremely seriously, starting with the vintage vending machine you have to walk through to get inside. Once you’re on the other side, you’re transported to an 80’s high school extravaganza complete with lockers, private karaoke rooms, a dance floor, and even Michael Jackson impersonators performing on top of the bar." - Brant Cox
"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang feels like a piece of Las Vegas got bored and moved to Koreatown. This slightly wild "speakeasy" on the bottom floor of The Line hotel has a light-up dance floor, several disco balls, an elevated stage, and the kind of bouncer who might send you home for wearing flip-flops. Expect to wait in line for at least 20 minutes on a Friday night, especially if you plan on getting in before 11:30pm for no cover charge. It's always a bit of a fiasco out front, but once you're inside the packed bar two-stepping to disco tracks it'll all be worth it. RSVP ahead of time if you plan on doing bottle service, and check their Instagram for updates on the DJ lineup before you arrive." - Nikko Duren
