You don't need the best vocals to sing karaoke. In fact, it's usually much more entertaining when you don't. All you need is some confidence and high energy. Here's a list of some of the best karaoke bars in NYC where you can belt out your favorite songs. And don't worry–we're all laughing with you, not at you.
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Insa
328 Douglass St, Brooklyn, NY 11217
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If you don't live there, Gowanus can be a trek out of the way. But it's worth it if you're headed to Insa - the upscale Korean restaurant run by chef Sohui Kim and her husband/partner Ben Schneider. Set up within a sprawling space, the restaurant features a cozy bar at the entrance, a massive wood-lined dining room with seating for over 100 guests, and plenty of karaoke rooms in the back for those who want to belt a tune after dinner. Karaoke, of course, is always encouraged, so come prepared with your favorite hits in mind.
186 W 4th St (btw Jones & Barrow St), New York, NY 10014
Karaoke Boho West 4
Karaoke for two is sometimes just what you need when you feel the need to have some fun outside of your living room, but still want to keep it chill. Karaoke Boko offers private rooms (starting at $27 per hour) where you and your partner can sing your hearts out to your favorite classics, whilst having drinks and food delivered to you in between sets. Is there anything better than that?
Ms. Kim's puts the "lounge" in karaoke lounge. If you're looking to step up your karaoke experience, look no further. This upscale bar, restaurant, and lounge has all those high end touches that will give you a premium experience while you belt out your favorite tunes.
1452 2nd Ave (btwn E 75th & E 76th St.), New York, NY 10021
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What makes this UES staple timeless is its unpretentious attitude and easygoing crowd. It’s the ideal place to shed any jitters and fearlessly get up on stage and serenade strangers with your vocals. The drinks are cheap and the vibes are those people just looking to have fun, so go on and give the performance of a lifetime at this time-tested neighborhood karaoke dive.
6 Wyckoff Ave (btwn Jefferson & Troutman St.), Brooklyn, NY 11237
The Cobra Club
This amalgamation of people who champion doing their things has become a hub for the following: kick-ass coffee, musical inspiration, a melodic escape, and a bar where you can sip, sing, rock, jam or literally anything in between. If you picked up on the fact that the drinks are all named after Misfits songs, you’ll fit in just fine. This place rocks.
32-46 Steinway St (btwn Broadway & 34th Ave), Astoria, NY 11103
Karaoke Shout
32-46 Steinway St (btwn Broadway & 34th Ave), Astoria, NY 11103
Whether you’re a K-town karaoke pro or a secret shower singer, you’ll want to take to the mic at Karaoke Shout. Book a private room amongst friends or live your out rock and roll fantasies in the main room. It's karaoke; so no matter what you're working with, your mic won't get cut short. Want to serenade your lover? You can even book a room for two.
Korean fried chicken and beer go together like pb&j. In Korean, there’s even a specific word for it: chimek, and when you’re in the mood for some, Turntable should be your go-to place. The secret to Korean fried chicken lies in the double frying method, which makes it extra crispy, as well as the sweet or spicy glaze that’s then added on top. Of course, what’s better than some karaoke to kick up an already good time. The space almost feels speakeasy-ish, as it's nestled past a set of stairs that lead you to a spacious second floor.
The emphasis at Gunbae is split equally between dining and entertainment. Korean culture focuses on both, and there is even a word in Korean meaning “going up”, describing the act of eating on one floor and then going upstairs for entertainment. Here, you go down, but the idea remains the same. After some ‘grill at your table’ BBQ, you and your party can head downstairs to one of the three rooms to sing and turn your meat sweats into karaoke sweats.
9 Saint Marks Pl (btwn 2nd & 3rd Ave), New York, NY 10003
Sing Sing Karaoke
9 Saint Marks Pl (btwn 2nd & 3rd Ave), New York, NY 10003
Sing Sing stays true to its roots. With one location on St. Marks, and the other on Avenue A, this spot is as real and to the point as its LES regulars. The bar doesn’t try too hard to impress, it simply is what it is, and therein lies its beauty. There are a few rooms in the back where you can pay $9 per person, per hour to sing, or you can sing at the bar in front of a crowd for $2 a song.
From Sunday to Wednesday, enjoy free karaoke, and from always to always, enjoy a dance floor of people all bumping to the tracks of a live DJ set. The cocktails are delicious, strong, and named after your favorite karaoke song lyrics.
