LA’S Best: Karaoke Bars
On any given night in Los Angeles, you can grab a mic and belt out your favorite song. From bars that hand over their stages to the patrons to intimate private party rooms, we’ve put together a sample of where you can exercise your karaoke skills across Los Angeles.
MAX KARAOKE STUDIO
Tucked into a corner on the second floor of the Little Tokyo Galleria, Max Karaoke Studio is a bit hidden, but it’s also a very popular destination for friends who want to sing their hearts out together. Open the door to this karaoke studio and you might hear a group belting out Whitney Houston from one of the private rooms. Rates here are reasonable with Happy Hour specials from 1 to 8 p.m. daily, but you will need to call in advance to make reservations. Check their website for updates to the song list. Max Karaoke Studio also has locations in West L.A. and Torrance.
333 S. Alameda St., #216, Los Angeles 90013
TOKYO BEAT
Located on the second floor of a tiny Little Tokyo Mall adjacent to Japanese Village Plaza, Tokyo Beat is an intimate lounge specializing in karaoke. You can sing here six nights a week (they’re closed on Monday) until last call. Tokyo Beat has a full bar and serves ramen. Karaoke is free with a purchase of food and/or drinks. The cozy bar has ample seating and room to perform in the middle of the floor. Plus, there are large, easy-to-read video screens with the lyrics. There are two private rooms, with rentals starting at $30 an hour. If you want to beat the crowd, come here during the week or stop by early in the evening on the weekend.
319 E 2nd St. #205, Los Angeles 90012
HECK YEAH KARAOKE
For those who are feeling bold, try Heck Yeah Karaoke. The eight-year-old karaoke party goes down on the weekends in Little Tokyo’s Japanese Village Plaza. Anyone can join, but there’s a catch. You’ll be singing in the middle of the plaza, surrounded by the crowds that frequent the plaza’s boutiques, restaurants and cafes. If you prefer private karaoke rooms, this might be too much. However, if the stage at your local karaoke bar isn’t quite big enough for you, then you might want to take a shot here. Typically, you’ll see ordinary folks take to the stage, but, in early 2018, Win Butler of Arcade Fire stepped up to perform. Check Heck Yeah Karaoke’s social feed for updates on the schedule.
Japanese Village Plaza, 335 E. 2nd St., Los Angeles 90012
NITE FLIGHTS AT MELODY LOUNGE
On most nights at Chinatown bar Melody Lounge, you’ll find DJs spinning tunes from a wide variety of genres. On Sundays, though, the KJs takeover with Nite Flights. This weekly party can get lively, even when the night is just beginning. The ample selection of songs is pretty heavy on alternative and indie music and you’ll certainly find selections that are out-of-the-ordinary for karaoke here. No cover.
939 N. Hill St., Los Angeles 90012
KARAOKE TUESDAYS AT THE OFFBEAT
The Offbeat‘s Tuesday night karaoke party is quite new, but it’s already gaining steam. KJ Andrew Holguin spent more than a decade at the reigns of Ground Control, the now-defunct but once beloved karaoke night, and his turn at The Offbeat is similarly eclectic. If you want to sing songs by Siouxsie and the Banshees or Depeche Mode, this is the place to go. But, if you also want to try your hand at late ’80s/early ’90s hip-hop, this is also the place to go. The crowd here goes off early and they’re quite encouraging too, whether or not you can actually sing well.
6316 York Blvd., Los Angeles 90042
CAFE BRASS MONKEY
Show up to Cafe Brass Monkey before the singing starts and you’ll find a small, chill bar with vintage appeal. Once karaoke begins, though, the scene can get boisterous. Cafe Brass Monkey is a local institution, long known as the place to go for karaoke. Times to take the stage vary throughout the week. On Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, karaoke starts at 8 p.m. On Wednesdays through Fridays, the party gets going at 5 p.m. Entrance is at the back of the building.
3440 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown 90005
PHARAOH KARAOKE BAR
On the basement level of a complex that looks like a cross between an office building and a shopping mall, a trail of lights will lead you deeper inside Pharaoh Karaoke Bar. This Koreatown joint features private rooms ranging in size from small to x-large and, while the rental prices start at $30 an hour for a small room, it can be a high-end experience. On Thursdays through Saturdays, there are minimum order requirements, beginning at $150 for two hours of karaoke, plus your choice of alcohol/food combinations. Their bar includes top shelf brands and they have a fairly ample food menu. Call to make reservations.
3680 Wilshire Blvd., Suite B-02, Los Angeles 90010
RECITAL KARAOKE
Outside of Recital Karaoke, located on the third floor of City Center on 6th, you’ll see photo collages filled with the images of pop stars and other celebrities, marked with signatures and room numbers. That’s essentially a scrapbook of who has sang here: Black Eyed Peas, Linkin Park, actor Sung Kang and more. Recital opens in the late afternoon, earlier than a lot of other karaoke spots in Koreatown. This makes Recital ideal if you want to get in some singing time after lunch or before dinner, but, like most spots, it’s open until 2 a.m.
3500 W. 6th St., Suite #330, Koreatown, 90020
BOARDWALK 11
Remember when Jimmy Kimmel, Snoop Dogg, and Psy sang “That’s What Friends Are For” together? That happened at Boardwalk 11. Located in the Westside neighborhood of Palms, this restaurant/bar serves up burgers and beer with a side of karaoke. The beer menu is extensive and the karaoke book is thick. You can sing nightly, with karaoke time starting roughly around 8 p.m. Show up early to make sure you get your time on the stage and check their socials for news on upcoming events like karaoke contests.
10433 National Blvd. #500, Los Angeles 90034
THE GOOD NITE
It’s all about karaoke inside The Good Nite. Sure, you’ll find comedy shows as well inside this small, North Hollywood bar, but singing takes priority. The karaoke stage is open nightly and starts at 9 p.m. except Mondays and Thursdays, when karaoke goes down at 9:30 p.m. after the comedy performances. The 10-year-old bar has a rep for its karaoke scene and you likely will find some very good singers here. How good? Well, we heard someone take on an Adele song and nail it.
10721 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood 91601
It doesn’t matter if you were born for the spotlight or if your friends dragged you along, karaoke is bound to come up at some point in your social life.
In our ever-expanding nightlife scene, the options for flexing your vocal skills are endless, so we decided to round up the city’s best karaoke bars so you can take the mic and feel like a rockstar for the night.
SoopSok Karaoke
4070 W 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90020
SoopSok (pronounced “Soup Soak”) is a karaoke beacon right in the heart of Koreatown. Private rooms and a full restaurant mean you can post up here for as many songs as your heart desires. Within business hours of course. Keep an eye out for holiday specials to enjoy some savings with your singing.
KARAOKE BLEU
2064 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Located on the bustling stretch of Sawtelle where all of the best ramen joints convene, Karaoke Bleu is the perfect bar to stop by while you wait for your table at any of the Tsujita noodle shops nearby. Order a surprisingly reasonably priced cocktail and hop on stage to perform your favorite showtune or stadium rock ballad. We’ll be your biggest fans.
Backstage Bar & Grill
10400 Culver Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
The Backstage is one of the top karaoke destinations on the West side. Don’t worry about a cover charge or a drink minimum; this staple has been serving patrons without those silly things for 80 years. Want to know if they have your signature song? You can check online before you go!
Cafe Brass Monkey
3440 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90010
At Cafe Brass Monkey, the room is your audience. The open layout bar is casual and invites performances and encouragement from everyone. Order a specialty cocktail and dive into their song booklet – you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.
Max Karaoke Studio
333 S Alameda St #216
Los Angeles, CA 90013
With three locations in the greater Los Angeles area, Max Karaoke Studio has a room for everyone. The bashful can enjoy only sharing a hand-picked audience of friends. Max’s music catalog is also one of the most up-to-date in the city!
Lounge Ohjah
328 1st St Second Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Lounge Ohjah offers a full bar, appetizers, and small bites in addition to their open-air karaoke floor. Attendees pay a $6 entrance fee and a two-drink minimum. The size of this lounge is ideal for small or big groups, so if you’re in Little Tokyo, this is where you want to hit the town with your friends.
Shrine Karaoke
2999 W 6th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90020
If you’re looking for something a little different, Shrine Karaoke bar might just be your best bet. Their European-Egyptian decor lines the walls of their 15 party rooms. Make a reservation online and get your party planned!
The 5 Coolest Karaoke Bars in L.A.
If you’re looking to douse your night in a bubble-gum pink lens of a classic rom-com, the perfect place to begin is probably one of the great, dimly-lit but always fun karaoke bars of Los Angeles. Picture it: You’re out with the team for a surefire office holiday party good time and find your song comes up as you’re standing next to that friend (or colleague) who you think of as a bit more…couldn’t sharing a mic to belt out “Islands in the Stream” very well be just what you need to seal the deal of a love connection?
We at LAMag think this is a distinct possibility for you, which is why we took a look at five of L.A.’s best karaoke bars or nights. So have a read through the list, begin those vocal exercises, and start to pick out your song. Stumped on what to sing? Just go with “Bette Davis Eyes;” you’ll slay.
Cafe Brass Monkey,3440 Wilshire Blvd.,Koreatown
Nestled in the heart of K-Town, Brass Monkey is consistently hosting a karaoke party, literally any night of the week. Guests may find themselves pulled into group-sing-alongs fueled by $5 margaritas or $10 menu cocktails, such as the notorious Horny Monkey or the Pink Soaked. For those wanting to escape L.A.’s glitz and glam, this exposed brick and wood haven is the perfect dive bar to dip into and sing your heart out.
The Famous Cocktail Lounge, 154 S. Brand Blvd, Glendale
For the cocktail snobs of the amateur-singing community, The Famous lounge offers a menu saturated with bitters, juices, syrups, and various infusions, all prepared in-house with locally sourced ingredients. Karaoke nights are only scheduled for Mondays and guests are invited to sip on drinks priced at $3 off. They have some luxurious but perplexing names like I’m In Love With the Coco and Gatsby’s Toast. See Glendale’s historic Huntley-Evans building for yourself with this velveteen gem.
New Wave Restaurant & Bar, 17847 Lakewood Blvd, Lakewood
Sink even deeper into that aforementioned Ringwald-rom-com fantasy at an 80s-themed food and adult beverage establishment: New Wave Restaurant & Bar. Proclaiming that you’ll “Experience the 80s” inside, guests can expect themed events and tributes dedicated to major Decade of Greed bands like U2 and a multitude of brightly-colored cocktails. Karaoke is hosted Wednesdays with a dance floor to accommodate any guests ready to let loose.
Pharaoh Karaoke Lounge, 680 Wilshire Blvd B-02
For a more intimate experience, Pharaoh Karaoke Lounge offers 34 private rooms for two-hour rentals that include bottles of liquor, chasers, and finger-food dishes. You can sing and dance the exact way you do in the shower when no one’s watching aside from those whom you want to. All of this while in the company of the fruity flavors of Soju.
The Good Nite10721 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood
Located on the east side of North Hollywood, The Good Nite has a wide song selection, with karaoke jockeys who will even tailor to your needs if you just have to sing that one song (“Bette Davis Eyes”). While it might not look breathtaking from the outside, this tucked-away spot will likely have you coming back for more in the following weeks. Guests can expect a lively, supportive crowd and a screen to serve the audience as a whole.
Karaoke Bar
KARAOKE BARS
Brass Monkey
- 3440 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90010
Unique Karaoke Bar in Koreatown that has been around for a long time. Come enjoy an old speakeasy vibe.
KARAOKE BARS
Royal Lounge
- 210 S Glendora Ave
West Covina CA 91790
Kick back at this cool spot with strong drinks, live bands, and karaoke nights. It’s a perfect place for cheap thrills.
KARAOKE BARS
Shuttle Inn
- 9067 Imperial Hwy
Downey CA 90242
Shuttle Inn Bar in Downey is a casual local dive bar offering entertainments such as pool tables, live music, and a selection of beer and spirits.
KARAOKE BARS
BAC Street Lounge
- 2422 Artesia Blvd
Redondo Beach CA 90278
BAC Street Lounge in Redondo Beach, CA offers patrons a charming dive bar atmosphere with an assortment of craft beers, cocktails, and regular live blues music performances
KARAOKE BARS
The Gas Lite
- 2030 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica CA 90403
This divey, down-home karaoke bar is beloved by locals for its erratic nature and easygoing appeal. Enjoy the lack of pretense and order some shots for your friends.