Whether you want to rock the hell out of Journey or croon the hell out of Journey (there's more to karaoke than Journey, San Francisco!), here are our favorite spots in San Francisco to sing out loud, sing out strong. (Feel free to tell you us personal karaoke song favorite in the comments.)
Playground
This second-floor, Korean-run karaoke parlor and restaurant in Japantown not only has a full Korean food menu (in addition to drunk snacks like garlic fries and popcorn chicken), and a full bar, but they also offer private rooms for the shy songstress among you who needs at least 3 Tsingtaos and an audience of only dear friends before she can belt out "A Whole New World." Drink specials like "Your 5th bottle of soju free!" and "Buy 3 pitchers of Korean beer and get the 4th free" definitely tend to encourage sloppy, sloppy times. Private rooms are $30/hr with a 2-hour minimum, and they accommodate 8 to 20 people, depending on the one you reserve. They recommend calling at least a day ahead (415-929-1471). — Jay Barmann (favorite karaoke duet: "Islands In the Stream")
1705 Buchanan (at Post)
Festa
This bar and karaoke lounge is hidden in plain sight inside the Japantown mall, but its unassuming nature lends itself to casual acts of impulsive karaoke. There are no career karaoke artists hanging 'round, so expect more of an amateur crowd belting out favorites in front of the signature city lights backdrop. Though it's never a destination, Festa is always the place you end up while you were on your way somewhere else. — Rose Garrett (favorite karaoke songs: "Jolene," "You Make Me Wanna")
1825 Post, #210 (at Post)
Crooning along to KJ Paul.
Anything hosted by KJ Paul
With four nights a week around town, Karaoke Jockey Paul is part entertainer, part DJ and part sound engineer who will make sure the sound system matches your impeccable set of pipes. Our karaoke ringer prefers the vibe KJ Paul brings to the glowing back patio at El Rio on Wednesdays, but you can't go wrong with at Dalva, the Lookout, Toad Hall, or your own private gig. — Andrew Dalton (favorite karaoke song: "...Baby One More Time")
Sunday - Wednesday, various bars. Or for private hire. KJPaul.com
DJ Purple
DJ Purple Dance at Slate
More than just an opportunity to sing in front of a crowd, DJ Purple's roving dance parties makes singers part of a full-on stage show. The songbooks are curated on a nightly basis to keep the party going, so don't expect to drop in and belt out some Celine Dion slow jams, you will get sexy live saxophone solos and over-the-top costumes to elevate the experience. — Andrew Dalton
Thursday nights at Slate (2925 16th Street at South Van Ness) Check the calendar for more Bay Area shows.
Dimples
Literally a dive-karaoke joint, we're never quite sure what is happening in the other private rooms at Dimples' subterranean Japantown digs, but that is probably because we were too busy having such a great time belting out "Baby One More Time" and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" over a couple big bottles of Asahi. Bafflingly, you can still smoke here and we're not entirely sure anyone has ever called last call. — Andrew Dalton
1700 Post (at Buchanan)
The Mint
What can be said about The Mint that hasn't been said before? It's the place in the city to sing karaoke and get lit. It's got an impossibly long and narrow bar, with superbly intimate karaoke section. More fun than the karaoke itself is the angry drunk patrons pissed that the KJ (karaoke jockey) hasn't selected their song. (Hint: you need to tip the guy before you bust out yet another Neil Diamond song.) — Brock Keeling (favorite karaoke songs: "Stoney End," anything by Fleetwood Mac)
1942 Market (between Laguna and Buchanan)
