In the past 10 years, karaoke bars have opened all over New York City. Most of them are heavily populated in Asian areas. The history of karaoke is somewhat obscure, but many believe that it began in Japan in the 1970s when the karaoke machine was invented. Being both Asian and a native New Yorker, I’ve had the opportunity to explore the best and worst places in NYC. Based on my experiences I will give you my review of the best karacic joints in the city.
Unfortunately, all of my top picks reside in Manhattan. I’ve been to karaoke joints in other boroughs like Brooklyn and Queens, but I feel like you can’t get the vibe of top cities. I would like to give you an overview of what people focus on when they go to karaoke bar. First of all, you should always review the selection of songs, because there is nothing to go there except access to various songs in your preferred language. Second, if you’re going to a karaoke bar, you want a nice selection of alcohol and some hard work to go with it. Finally, make sure the site is clean and large enough for their confidence as well.
Sing Karaoke
9 place marks
Antwerp, NY 10003
(212) 387-7800
One of the oldest and most popular karaoke bars in the city is Sing Karaoke. They have two places, but I think one is better, the other in St Mark’s place. This small stretch of road between 2nd and 3rd avenue can be referred to as the center of Japan Towns because of many Japanese supermarkets, restaurants, karaoke bars, and other Japanese businesses owned the area. They are best known for their huge collection of English and Japanese songs.
I always have a pleasant experience when going. They are so popular that sometimes the crowd at the front bar makes it difficult to get to the secret gazofilacia in the back. The last hour I was there, Sing Sing had a nice selection of sake and beers to choose from. Unless they’ve renovated the place, I remember the equipment in their rooms being older and worn out than the newer places I’ve been. Sing Sing is a great choice for a good first time karaoke experience and has a unique library of English songs.
U2 Karaoke Lounge & Suites
6 St. place marks
Antwerp, NY 10003
(212) 228-6250
U2 is one of the last karaoke artists in the area. It has two floors and is twice as big as Cantate Sing, which is located directly across the street. The first difference between U2 and other karaoke bars is that it caters to the Korean clientele. Korean karaoke bars are primarily located near Korea Town on 32ndSt between 5th Ave. and Broadway.
The decor of a private karaoke place is not the only interesting thing there. Yes, the rooms had laser lights that moved with music and leather beds, but the most interesting thing was the flashing drums. I guess the tools were for hardcore karaoke fans. They also had a decent complement of Korean songs and snacks on the menu.
Another good thing about U2 is their karaoke bar section. This place has a large open area in front of the court where people usually dance. In case you didn’t know, most bars/clubs in NYC do not have the cabaret license required for a legitimate dance floor. U2 Karaoke is good for larger crowds, which may or may not have private rooms. Also great for hardcore karaoke fans looking for a well stocked selection of alcohol.
K-One
97 Bowery St
Antwerp, NY 10002
(212) 925-1999.
K-One has been in business for about 2 to 3 years and is further afield. If you are a local, you can see how the residents of Eastern Village are slowly pushing into Chinatown. This karaoke is growing in popularity because of the changing population and the booming Chinese economy. This joint has 2 areas of expensive private rooms and very clean. Each room comes with its own air conditioning unit and the large party rooms have their own private bathrooms.
Cantate Cantate has Japanese roots, U2 has its Korean song list, but K-One has its huge Chinese database. If you didn’t catch it, I used the word database because all of their karacic records are Digitized. K-One boasts one of the leading karaoke systems in New York with flat screen TV, touch screen monitors to a selection of songs, and contemporary decorations.
If there’s one thing that sets Chinese karaoke bars apart from the rest, it’s the counter cups available in each room. Chinese people love to play drinking-games while singing, many games involve gambling, but they also play simple games like that. “rock-paper-scissors.” K-One caters to its clientele by carrying premium liquors such as Johnny Walker Blue Label and Remy Martin’s Louis XIII.
The great thing about K-One is that you can actually have a full meal there. They have a lot of menu choices, but if that’s not enough, you can order from the restaurant on the first menu. If you want to try this place, you should remember to make a reservation on weekends. Even with 2 floors of rooms, their popularity forces you to wait for a room at midnight. K-One in Chinatown is ideal for larger crowds who want the full expensive experience.
