Whether you’re there to bring the house down with your rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey,” or as a stage fright-stricken friend singing along in the crowd, it’s hard to deny the pure unadulterated joy of a karaoke night.
Los Angeles’ karaoke bars present some of the best such experiences around, be it for their ambiance, their song catalog, or their encouraging audiences. If you’re planning a memorable outing with your closest friends, these local karaoke venues make for a fun alternative to nightclubs or concerts. Now, you just have to choose a song…
Private karaoke rooms in L.A.
1. Pharaoh Karaoke
Pharaoh Karaoke is a popular option in Koreatown for those seeking an elevated, private karaoke experience with a decent food and drink selection to boot. Guests can book one of their 34 private rooms for all different sizes of groups, making Pharaoh a popular option for birthdays and other celebrations. With over 4,000 constantly changing songs to choose from, plus great song recommendations from the staff, you’ll never run out of ideas for what to sing.
🌐 Reservations: Pharaoh Karaoke
📍 Location: Koreatown • 3680 Wilshire Blvd B-02, Los Angeles, CA 90010
2. The Venue
Descend into a sleek, subterranean restaurant with 13 private karaoke rooms to fit anywhere from 2-50 guests. In a welcome departure from your typical divey karaoke bar, The Venue steps it up with craft cocktails, small-batch wines and beers, and shareable restaurant plates featuring seasonal ingredients. The karaoke song selection amounts to over 100,000 options, plus songs in Spanish, Japanese, and Korean.
🌐 Reservations: The Venue
📍 Location: Koreatown • 3470 Wilshire Blvd b1, Los Angeles, CA 90010
3. Max Karaoke Studio
Little Tokyo’s popular Max Karaoke Studio is a fun and centrally-located option for karaoke in Los Angeles. Book private rooms for up to 25 people, and belt out your favorite tunes available in fourteen different languages. They offer a nice little alcohol selection including beer, wine, some simple cocktails, sake, and soju — everything you need to start or finish your night out.
🌐 Reservations: Max Karaoke Studio
📍 Location: Little Tokyo • 333 S Alameda St #216, Los Angeles, CA 90013
4. Dots Space
Dots Space is a small, all-ages karaoke studio in L.A. with four unique private rooms available to reserve. Each room has a distinct theme: options are “Pink Pop” for the girly-girls, “Old Hollywood” straight out of The Great Gatsby, “Hype LA” to lean into L.A. street culture, and “Silver Lake VIP” with Mid-Century Modern decor. Order from a menu of Japanese bites and sake, which comes straight to your room so you’ll never have to hit pause.
🌐 Reservations: Dots Space
📍 Location: Sawtelle • 2130 Sawtelle Blvd #101, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Public karaoke venues in L.A.
5. Cafe Brass Monkey
Brass Monkey has been a Koreatown favorite for decades, but this one is sans private rooms and guided by a charismatic host. Get up on stage and belt it out in an upbeat party environment till 2am every single night. The bar menu will keep you going through lunch and dinner, with classics like nachos, cheese sticks, burgers, and shareable snacks. Some tips: reserve a table in advance to guarantee a great spot, and get a parking validation card from the doorman to take advantage of free parking in the Mariposa lot.
📍 Location: Koreatown 3440 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010
6. New Wave
New Wave hosts lively karaoke nights in ’80s-themed digs, decked out with era-specific posters, records, and video game memorabilia. Even the American-themed menu has references like the “Billy Idol Bacon Burger” and the “Karate Kid Quesadilla.” Sing your favorite ’80s and ’90s hits all night long with a fun and welcoming crowd.
📍 Location: Bellflower • 17847 Lakewood Blvd, Bellflower, CA 90706
7. The Good Nite
For a two-drink minimum, you can join in lively karaoke nights daily after 9pm at The Good Nite. The NoHo dive is known to present high-energy drag shows, singles mixers, and themed karaoke such as musicals and Disney. Choose from a simple and fun menu of monthly rotating cocktails, which always deliver on quality despite the bar’s no-frills atmosphere.
📍 Location: North Hollywood • 10721 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
8. The GasLite
Anyone remember the viral video of Jewel going undercover at karaoke? That was at The GasLite, right here in L.A.’s Santa Monica neighborhood. The beloved local dive hosts lively karaoke nights every single evening from 6pm, continuing an impressive legacy that dates back all the way to 1962. Come before 9pm for happy hour, which gets you $5 off most drinks, $3 off beer, and generous beer buckets for $16-20.
📍 Location: Santa Monica • 2030 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403
9. Karaoke Bleu
Karaoke Bleu draws some serious L.A. karaoke aficionados, but anyone can participate for free, making for a nice budget-friendly night out on the West Side. The popular karaoke bar has been around since 1994, sticking to its reliable business model simply centered around great drinks and great songs (emo fans will be especially thrilled). Enjoy happy hour from 7-9pm Sunday through Thursday, or take advantage of their cheap bottle service for a group.
📍 Location: Sawtelle • 2064 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
10. Boardwalk 11
Boardwalk 11 is a full restaurant and karaoke bar in Culver City, and it’s one of the few karaoke options on that side of the city. The spacious venue is a good place to bring a group, with several dozen beers on tap and a lineup of tasty hamburgers and comfort food. Brave singers can take to the little wooden stage and belt it out in front of an encouraging crowd.
📍 Location: Palms • 10433 National Blvd #5, Los Angeles, CA 90034