Rave: Karaoke

We’re not going to lie, initially the idea of karaoke made
us cringe (and let’s be honest, a little terrified). Singing in front of an
audience not knowing what notes we can or cannot hit and without an
abundance of shots? No, thank you, not for us. All this changed when we
discovered the world of private karaoke rooms at a friend’s birthday, then
later while visiting Korea and Japan, where karaoke
bars are their answer to an after-party. So whether you’re braver than us and
it’s public karaoke you’re after, or you prefer less audience and
more mic time, we’ve rounded up the best places in the city to sing your heart
out.

Public karaoke bars

Cadillac Lounge 1296 Queen St. W.

Complete with a full-size stage and smoke machines, we only
recently discovered that this bar (with one of the best patios in the city) offers
karaoke on Saturday nights.

The Gladstone 1214 Queen St. W.

Head on over to the Melody Bar at the Gladstone Hotel Friday and Saturday nights and hang out at what Now Magazine has
voted “Best Karaoke Bar” for eight years straight.  

Sneaky Dees 431 College St.

Sing away your case of the Mondays at Sneaky Dee’s Monday
night karaoke. With more than 15,000 songs to choose from, no cover and $3
drinks before 11 p.m., now the nachos
aren’t the only reason to head to this College Street favourite. 

TKO’sSports Pub 1600 Danforth Ave.

Don’t
be fooled by the crowds of men watching hockey or UFC – the upstairs of this
Danforth sports bar doubles as a karaoke bar on Saturday nights. Bonus: great
wings, great burgers. We’re sold.

The smoke machine adds a little something extra at Cadillac Lounge.

Image source

Private karaoke rooms

XO Karaoke 693 Bloor St. W.

Thank you to one of our best friends who decided to host her
birthday at XO Karaoke a few years back and introduce us to this gem. Conveniently located beside Clinton’s in the heart of Korea Town, we say why not make a night of it, or hit it
up late night like they do in Korea and Japan. And if XO is too crowded, BMB Karaoke is just down the street!

Bar+ Karaoke & Lounge 360 Yonge St. 2nd floor (above Swiss Chalet) 
Another private karaoke bar intro’d to us via a birthday celebration, Bar+ has a huge selection of English, Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Thai music open to all who love to sing and dance. One of our favourite parts? We got to bring our own snacks in, as long as we bought drinks from their bar. Stuff your face, sing at the top of your lungs and get your drink on. Good times.

Izakaya  294 College
St. 

After enjoying our regular sushi dinner at this delicious
new Japanese restaurant at College and Spadina, we got to talking to the owner
who let us in on a secret: the back room of the restaurant turns into a private
karaoke room if booked for 20 people or more. Sushi and karaoke? You know where
to find us at our next birthday.

S Lounge 4901 Yonge St. 2nd floor

If you are willing to make the trek (we prefer adventure) to
Yonge and Sheppard then we strongly suggest you check out this snazzy karaoke
bar. With themed rooms and a menu clad with pub
favourites and Japanese food alike, this karaoke bar is in a league of its own. 

Just two of the rooms at S Lounge

Image source

So next time you’re looking for birthday, bachelorette, or just regular Saturday night plans, why not check out the karaoke scene in Toronto. After all, there’s never a dull moment when a little Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys or Journey singalong is involved.