Best karaoke bars in California: find options near you

All of the employees were respectful kind courteous. Venue is fairly clean. Bar door security guard (beard, belt buckle) checked to make sure detector worked every new person. Male bartender (shaved head, very loud) was handling a huge crowd between a game and a concert pretty successfully. Female bartender (Dark lip liner dark or black hair) looked like a fricken princess as she effectively got through a large chunk of customers. Also didn't realize about the wrist bands and the concert security guard kindly told me I needed one and where to get it. Suuuper musky in there during the summer. Expect to be hot (probably the worst part of this venue is the air conditioning or lack there of). Cigarette smoke travels in everytime the door opens. No outside drinks/food. No clear cups outside even if it's not alc. Sometimes you can pay to enter the concert with a card and sometimes you can't. Atm inside doesn't work so don't count on that. EECU is walking distance, but I'd suggest not walking that far for a female at night (vagabonds). Even though I couldn't buy a wrist band with a card I was able to use a card at the bar for everything else.

Great spot for love music, feels way more personal with the artists. Tickets can be sold at the door and you get in quick. Bar is easily accessible with decent prices. Highly recommended, check out Vienna Vienna.

Absolutely tip your bartender and be nice. Been a customer for years, although my trips to Tower are much more infrequent than they were almost 2 decades ago, Strummer’s still offers the same satisfactory service, comfortable atmosphere and welcoming layout it did when I first started going there. God Bless Tower District!

Great to have a local live music venue where the beer doesn't suck. Good sound.

Went to see Glass Spells in concert, we arrived a little early so we figure we order some food. The food was delicious & fresh to order, definitely will eat there again! The concert area was great, the drinkers were separated from the non drinkers by a barricade. Everyone there was a vibe & having a great time. The sound system is amazing and every performer sounded amazing! I'll continue to go there not only to eat & drink but for future concerts!

Event was hot, I over dressed, though I was disappointed with the entertainment it was a cool place to checkout. It was very hot and humid little to no air circulation and it didnt help with a mosh pit up front. Side area almost feels like a partial diner. Oh also has a lacking bathroom situation.

Badd Burgers stopped in to take over kitchen and the burgers were 🔥 Strummers itself is calm at times and loud others and just a fun place to chill and vibe. They just need the bathrooms worked on I had never seen a men's line before lol 😆

Servers were exceptionally well organized and efficient. In the chaotic, loud, fun space that is Backstage, the ladies who took and brought our orders were friendly, fast, and accurate. We had a great time and enjoyed the food, the singing, and the service. Delicious food. (My pics don't do the food justice!) I so enjoy this place!

What a great hidden gem! We caught happy hour and the prices and food were excellent! Cat was one of the BEST servers I've ever had. She's friendly and helpful and seems to really enjoy what she's doing. We were also there for karaoke. The line up was LONG so get there early. The singers were great and very entertaining. It seems like a small neighborhood bar but as an outsider, I felt welcome.

The staff here really makes the experience enjoyable. The bartenders and servers are quick, friendly, and always happy to suggest drinks or food based on what you like. Every meal comes out fresh and hot thanks to the hardworking kitchen team, and the place stays clean even when it's busy. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, making it an easy spot to catch up with old friends or even meet some new ones while you're there.

What a burger. Monday special is a great deal! Highly recommend this

Classic dive bar near the Sony Pictures lot in Culver City. Long standing bar with history. There are stories of old Hollywood players coming in and wreaking some havoc. Supposedly the munchkins were known to raise hell in here after wrap. (Yes it’s been around that long) The food is a step above your typical bar food. The drinks and service are solid. Apparently it’s a superb karaoke bar.

Food and service are great. The mac and cheese is amazing. Just two things we didn't like, the tables are tiny and horrible for eating, second is it's super dark and hard to see anything, can't even read the menus without using the phone flashlight. We would go back for sure.

It’s a fun place, but realistically it closes at 1:00am. No more karaoke and good luck getting a drinks. The staff are in a rush to leave.

First time visiting Retro Junkie since it was WPLJs back when I still drank alcohol, now over ten years. My buddy and gym partner told me about the emo cover band and I had to check it out. Brought my fiance and we had a fun evening. We played pool for a few games. People started showing up. And then the band started to play. They played so many great songs and were truly putting on a performance. There were tacos outside and wouldn't you know it they didn't charge for water. I'm going to have to keep my eye on this place to see about future shows.

place used to be really fun… now theyre charging $20 cover fees when the Bar is filled with 40+ crowds….. no hate to our older folks. just not the place to charge a $20 cover fee when everywhere else in the area is free entry. especially for ladies! not getting my attendance again thats for sure lol.

Visiting my sister to celebrate her husband's birthday and the performance was a Prince cover band that was Great, We danced & Drinks were good, security, door host & Waitress so Sweet (Natalie) who checked on us all night in reserved seating. I didn't eat but heard the taco truck in the back is pretty good, will try nxt time. I had a ball!!!

Retro Junkie is a blast on a Thursday night. Live music, great energy, and a fun retro vibe that keeps the crowd going. Drinks are solid and the atmosphere is exactly what you’re looking for. Definitely coming back.’

I think their recent reviews speak for themselves. We were denied entry by Vinny the head of security who has clearly let the title get to his bald head. We arrived with a seltzer in hand and he told us we could not have it on their property so we took it back to our car 2 blocks down. We came back and he denied us entry because we didn’t follow his "order" to throw it away. He never told us that. He then proceeded to say we were going to cost him his liquor license, at the time there was plenty of other men drinking in their actual lot out of their trunks with beer cans. My friends and I were all brown and didn’t look like the demographic that was in the building. Even his mate was questioning why he was doing this. Absolutely horrible establishment, but what more can you expect from a location in Walnut Creek. Anyways, check out Albany, ca for better, more welcoming environments.

All those people and one toilet. Plus $25 cover charge, if you like very loud retro music and you like to stand, have at it. Limited parking on busy nights.

Have seen a few shows here (pharcyde was killer) and think its a solid spot. Ive only been for shows, buts always been friendly with a nice atmosphere. All the staff have been good people and good at thier jobs.

We tried to go in for pride night and karaoke, we were informed by the bouncer it was a two drink minimum and he checked our ids, we are all late 20s early 30s, the bouncer took extra long to check my sisters id and then she lightly bounced into the door frame because two other people were in the door and he said "no we’re not doing this tonight" and kicked her out because she was "too drunk"and so my whole group left since there was no sense in fighting with the bouncer. We have been to this bar before and enjoyed it and karaoke but this instance with the bouncer makes us not want go back.

I've been coming to this bar for years. The bartenders are always so sweet.. however, the DJ and the door man were a piece of work. I noticed that my name had not been called after a group of girls came in and immediately were able to sing their songs. I went up and asked the DJ when my song will come up because these people just walked in. And he immediately gave me attitude stating, "YOU'RE BEING RUDE. BOUNCER, REMOVE HER" out loud on the mic and I was so confused. Of course, I was a bit tipsy and confused. The bouncer was so aggressive and they wouldn't explain WHY I was getting kicked out. The bouncer threatened to call the cops on me and his body language was terrifying. He was blocking me with his whole body when I tried to walk to the bathroom and at the point, customers were hanging up on me too because of the scene he was causing. I am a calm and reasonable person, there was no need for the staff to be so rude. It was really scary and disappointing. I hope the staff gets proper training in de-escalation because they escalated the hell out of a nothing-situation.

The Mint is, without a doubt, one of the few bars in the city that you can go to and feel at home. The vibes are great, drinks are bomb (try a marg or a cosmo), and the KJs will have you feeling like a star. Tip your KJs and bartenders well, and be patient when it gets busy. As long as you're good to them, they'll be great to you!

First of all, I'd like to say that bartenders are really nice and amazing. But the whole problem came with DJ. See, I submitted my song request at 9PM. I even bought two drinks respecting their policy (and even after checking with the manager that they won't enforce it. He's super nice too). Two hours passed by, and my name still doesn't come up. All this while, I see people submitting request after me got their names called up. So after two hours, I went to him and asked about my spot in the queue. So rudely he said "not for a while". Only then I realized that the so called "DJ" will only call your name after you tip him. Is this how you guys run business? I take kareokes very seriously and my whole day is ruined cause of this. See, I'm the kind of guy who tips right after my song is over. I even respected the two drink rule and this is what I get? I see a lot of reviews mentioning the same thing and owners responding with "we'll take a look at this". But the fact that this is still happening is a clear indication that they are in on this. Thank you for ruining my day!

March 21, Approximately 12:40am, The staff at The Mint made this a miserable experience from the moment we walked up. The bouncer skipped any kind of greeting to immediately bark orders about a two drink minimum. He talked down to our group and acted completely unprofessional; I could tell he was judging and assuming our crew was exaggeratedly drunk; judging a friend for having a drink and then literally snatching a bag of pumpkin seeds out of another friend's hands to throw them in the trash. While I understand policies against outside food and drink, there is no excuse for being that aggressive and disrespectful. This behavior was objectively atrocious.Once inside, the carpets are so disgusting, small viewing area. The song selection is very outdated and limited to whatever files they happen to have. When I finally found something, I politely approached the DJ booth to ask where to leave my request. This older, grey-haired man running it cut me off mid-sentence. He was dismissive and snappy, telling me they were closing and there were already 20 people that he didn’t even get to. Between the aggressive security and the unprofessional DJ, it’s clear this place doesn’t value its patrons. There are much better spots in the city where you can sing without being treated like garbage. Avoid this place if you actually want to have a good time.

Had such a great time at The Mint! The bartenders were super friendly; the atmosphere was fun and eclectic. Props to KJ Jason – . Come early to get on the rotation and find a table especially if you have a larger party. This spot is a must if you love karaoke in The City…

Our group of adults—all well over 40—had a terrible experience at Mint Karaoke. The man at the door was unbelievably rude from the start. One of our friends forgot their physical ID, but we had multiple other ways to verify age—and he still treated us with total disrespect. She had left and came back in with other proof. But he still handled it wrong. Instead of handling it professionally, he spoke to us like we were causing trouble, even saying "Don’t mess with me," as if we were about to fight him. Completely unnecessary and uncalled for. It’s not what you say—it’s how you say it. We ended up leaving and had a much better time at the sushi bar next door—great vibes, friendly people—and then headed off to Pandora Karaoke where the staff actually knew how to treat customers right. Mint Karaoke? Never again. No experience is worth being spoken to like that.

Incredible experience! Nightcapped our Valentine's day here and the drinks and vibes were immaculate. Plenty of room to dance and hang. The complimentary arcade games were a highlight. They had two shows of great dancers to MJ and Beastie Boys that were iconic. 12/10 Recommend

Really neat speakeasy-esque spot. 80s themed decor and vibe. Cool for a drink or 2. Believe you need to get a bottle to do karaoke which is kind of a bummer but makes sense if you have a decent sized party.

Had a horrible experience with the DJ (old man with glasses and white hair). My husband was being polite to the DJ (willing to tip him for the song). Requesting one!!!!! Only one song!!!!! He pushed my husband after his encounter with him. DJ said "I play whatever I want" after he already agreed to play at least that one song. Even the bouncer said the DJ is a rude guy. We came all the way from TX to have a good time. Left very disappointed in how we were treated. Will not recommend this place. Don’t waters your money. Music was not even good at all.

Really cool hidden gem in K-Town. Cool walk in experience. You immediately walk in to cool vibes and 80’s music. The ratio men/women is great. Cool singles spot or even to take a date for a chill experience.

Stepping into this place felt like accidentally time-traveling straight into the 1980s and I mean that in the best possible way. Neon lights, big energy, great music, and the kind of vibe where you half expect someone to walk in wearing a Members Only jacket. The drinks were solid, the crowd was friendly, and the whole place had that perfectly chaotic "let’s have a good time and not overthink it" energy that a great bar needs. Special shoutout to the go-go dancers, who absolutely brought the party. Tons of energy, great moves, and they really kept the room buzzing all night. Honestly, they deserve their own round of applause. If you’re looking for a place that doesn’t take itself too seriously, plays great throwback music, and delivers a fun night out with a little retro flair, this spot absolutely delivers. We came for a drink and ended up staying way longer than planned which is usually the best sign of a good bar. Would definitely come back… preferably with bigger hair and better dance moves next time.

This speakeasy you go through a side door, the hallway has storage items , you get to a vend machine were you enter into the bar. The dj plays 80 music , 80s decor, they have some old game machines you can play for free on, drinks are great I had a mule and lemon drop , and they had (2) performances at 12am which was great. Definitely a place to check out. Also if you went to go to another place the same building but in the front has a lounge called Kiss Kiss Bang Bang , also a fun spot.

Went on a Saturday night. Be prepared to wait in an extremely long line with very young 20 something year olds. Very packed inside but if that’s your vibe then the music and ambience is very cool and retro. The cocktails are just alright. They could be more tasty. They also have hidden rooms you can book out for karaoke and some live dance performances on the hidden stage behind the bar. Enjoy!

The two times I been here I’ve had a great time. Customer service is amazing from the bar, security, and the MC of the night very respectful. I will refer this place to anyone and everyone. Great place to create memories. Grateful to have found such family oriented place. Thank you Pandora for a beautiful night!!

The room was adorable and that’s where the compliments stop. The staff was incredibly rude and couldn’t be bothered to even pay attention and when they did they acted as id it as a giant hassle. They ran out of diet in their fountain at 830 on a Friday. The machines were not user friendly. Thank goodness I have good friends to make it worth it.

Nice rooms and great service. Their music systems have pretty up to date music selection and is easy to use. You can set the lights to set the mood of the room. Service is excellent.

It was a chill fun atmosphere with everyone eager to see the next act. Everyone who performed were great!

The upstairs area is an open karaoke bar while there was private rooms downstairs. We were able to get a small room for 4 without a booking, 2 hiurd minimum. Good range of songs in various languages. Had a good time there.

Not a lot of songs that I wanted, my fault for not looking before trying. Overcharged. Tip on drinks, tip in the room, your friends have to also tip and I spent 5h there and it came out more than U$ 1000. Sorry I will not recommend. My friends were like "oh let’s do this but somewhere else, drinks are too expensive for the service."

This is a very nice karaoke place! They have a lot of private rooms and a cozy open area. Everything seemed clean and well-organized. We walked in on Saturday evening and luckily got a private room for a couple of hours. However, I recommend making a reservation ahead of time, especially on weekends. The staff was very responsive, which was great. Personally, I thought it was a bit overpriced, but we still had a great time singing and enjoying drinks.

I had a blast here on Saturday. It was karaoke night and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. The drinks were great and affordable, the DJ was awesome, gave out mic covers to lessen the spread of germs between singers. The crowd was awesome and our group had a lot of fun.

Visiting from Scotland. What a find this bar. Incredibly well stocked bar. Super friendly staff and great atmosphere. They add also have an amazing whisky bar upstairs at weekends. It's on a par with anything I've experienced in my native country. Also the proprietor Jason is Incredibly warm and welcoming. If you find yourself in Oakland, this place is a must visit ✨️

Really fun spot for drinks and karaoke! Friendly bartender and doorman. There’s a classic photo booth for taking pics (it takes Apple Pay). Had a grand time hearing these local dudes harmonize some old 70s tunes on the stage, it was awesome!

This place is home to an awesome monthly dj showcase in their upstairs portion. Such an awesome gem in Oakland.

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Brooke, and let me just say, amazing doesn’t even begin to cover it. From the moment I sat down, she was incredibly attentive, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about her craft. You can tell she really cares about every guest’s experience, and it shows in every pour and every conversation. If you’re lucky enough to have Brooke behind the bar, you’re in for a great night. 10/10 would come back just for her!

Came for the karaoke on Monday night with a large group and had A BLAST, thanks to DJ Chris! We were able to easily join the queue via QR codes posted around the bar and he kept the good vibes going all night long. Our group is only in town for a couple days but we were extremely happy with the experience and had a great time. Only come to Legionnaire if you’re trying to let loose and enjoy strangers belting your fave songs. Bonus: the bar is only 21+

Came in Sunday night got scammed by the bartender. There was only one working, and he was rude and smug from the start. He messed up our drinks and even gave one of my friends the wrong, cheaper tequila, which was either deliberate or he was completely incompetent. He then overcharged my other friend by $9, and when she pointed it out, he initially said, "That's how much it costs." When she pointed to the menu, he took the receipt and said, "you care too much," then walked away like it was nothing. Myself and another friend went back up to the bar to sort it out and stood there for 15 minutes while he blatantly ignored us. When we finally walked down to where he was, he sarcastically said "nice move." He then spent another 5 minutes fumbling with the receipt and register before saying we could either get a credit or come back the next day to talk to a manager. No apology. No accountability. Just attitude. Like we were the ones who made the error. He literally could've just admitted his mistake and said he didn't know how to reverse the charge. We took the credit just to get out of there, ordered a drink we didn’t even want (the first ones were bad anyway), and left. To make matters worse. My other friend got a notification that a $30 tip was added to her card AFTER we left. She never wrote it in. Never approved it. He added it himself. That’s not just shady, that’s credit card FRAUD. This bartender was unprofessional, dishonest, and clearly had no interest in doing his job. First time at this bar and definitely the last. If you go here, watch your drinks, your tab, and your receipt. He clearly thought he could get away with it and probably has. I'm sure this isn't the first time either and management must not care since he still has a job.

This had the most amazing food with the best homemade taste. We came thanks to 559eats and it really hit a spot. We had the Chile Verde, carne asada torta and tamales and every single bite was amazing. The staff was so friendly and helpful. Amazing family run business and would definitely recommend!!!

I've been coming here for 26 years. They have the best homemade food. You can never go wrong with anything in the menu. The staff is super friendly and easy going.

Had a torta and I would say one of the best tortas that I've had. Very cool 😎 atmosphere. If you like Mechaladas than it is also a must to experience. The only reason I gave it a 4 on service is that the bartender was also the waitress and cashier.

Came out for dinner and a beer best torta ever and the michelada was fire

The person playing music is a vibe , the food was okay , I’m Mexican myself so I know what real authentic Mexican food taste like , food 5/10 but evrything else was a vibe ☺️

No complaints. One of if not the only "College Bar" near Fresno State. There big beer is one of the old giant mugs. Kinda like drinking a pitcher $15. They had a Miller Highlife special when I was there 4 or 5 dollars, can't recall. I saw the poster advertisement about the high life after I ordered a coors.

With much regret, It is time to say goodbye to one of our favorite little places to sit and have a red bear and grab a bite to eat. We have been coming to this establishment for a long time. But this last time we came I was just astonished with the ridiculous amount of fees, such as a kitchen prep fee, a carryout fee, other taxes, and total taxes to the tune of about $19 added to the bill of $84.24. On top of that, they want a 15 to 25% gratuity. Carry out fees, kitchen, prep fees, and other taxes on top of the taxes we already have to pay are absolutely insane and as a consumer, I’m just tired of being taken advantage of. With no explanation of what other taxes are and to be taxed on top of those other taxes is unbelievable. So I’m sorry to say I have to say goodbye to this little establishment and wish you good luck. There are suckers born every day I will never be one of them again.

Cool place. Friendly people. Played some pool and had a good time. 🥸

Honestly one of my favorite bars. music is always good .

Drinks are overpriced. Atmosphere is 30+ which is really great. Bartenders are exceptional and there is karaoke. No food selection and drinks are a bit weak. All in all good place for about an hr or 2 – max.

Husband wife date night 😜 Love this place, the bartender was freaking awesome 😎👍🏽her name is Blanca she was freaking amazing, She remembered my husband and my drinks so it was easy reorder. The Music was dope 😎 service was amazing 😍 we will be back soon 😀 come through!

We called in here for a few whiskeys while we were passing through Fresno for one night. This bar was great, very relaxed and welcoming to tourists. A kind bar lady even brought us over a couple of shots to wish us safe travels. Would recommend.

I like old bars. Pool tables, darts, good music on the box, friendly bartender. A friend told me about it. It was a weekday when we stopped in. Will check it out on the weekend.

Nice place to bring a date for a drink and music. We went on karaoke night. Fun atmosphere

I came for the karaoke but ended up enjoying the food just as much. The menu offers bar favorites with a little extra quality, and everything I've tried has been really good. They also have a great selection of beers to choose from. The karaoke hosts do an awesome job of keeping the crowd entertained all night. Whether you're with friends or celebrating something, this place is always a fun choice in LA.

Simply incredible experience. The ambiance is great and very chill. Great people from all over LA. It has a karaoke stance and good tables and drinks. Totally recommended if you are around Culver City.

This place is amazing. The sound quality of the karaoke is the best I've heard in a long time. Also, their social poker events are free, risk no money, and are fun as hell. They have a typical bar except that they have a huge selection of craft beers.

If I could rate this any lower, I would. The bartender tried charging me more than I consumed. He thought that because me and my sister were ordering in pairs, I was drinking. Little did he know I was DD and was aware of what we were ordering. My sister brought up the fact that he didn't ask for a CC to keep tab so, after so many customers, how is he keeping up with what I'm consuming? I found it interesting and kept up on my phone. We decided to change that last drink to see what he would charge. Sure enough, he over charges 4 additional beers. When he notices me looking at the receipt, he stops me and tells me "you don't have to count, believe me, I promise you, I'm charging you correctly." He refused to give me his name and claims to be the manager. So many reviews on this place are horrible. I wish I did my research beforehand. I suggest you do.

This place is totally awesome. Drinks were made nicely. I was here for my bday. I didn't have to pay anything extra for my party of 15 people , they set aside a long dining table, kept my cake in refrigeration until I blew out the candles. The waitress Maria was especially attentive and catered to us swiftly and prompt. I believe Boardwalk 11 has every song you could ever think of and their system for sound was BoomBastic! I will definitely return to this Gem.

Cute neighborhood bar with karaoke, string drinks, and good food. Fun times! Had to take a star away because PARKING SUCKS! Rides hare for sure

I went on a Thursday after work during happy hour and I looked it a lot. The bar is clean and stocked with craft beers and a decent liquor selection. The staff and regulars were friendly. We had some wounds which hit the spot, we were only sad that they ran out of pretzels when we went. Unfortunately I couldn't stay for Karaoke on this day but I have been in the past before it got remodeled about 2 years ago and it was super fun.