Best Karaoke Bars: Where to Sing Your Heart Out Around the World

When you think of best karaoke bars, venues where people gather to sing publicly, often with themed rooms, live music systems, and a crowd that doesn’t judge. Also known as singing bars, they’re not just about hitting the right notes—they’re about letting go, laughing with strangers, and turning a night out into a shared memory. You might picture Tokyo’s neon-lit booths or Seoul’s all-night private rooms, but the truth is, great karaoke lives everywhere—from basement pubs in Berlin to rooftop lounges in Dubai.

What makes a karaoke nightlife, the culture and social scene built around public singing in bars and clubs stick with you isn’t the sound system or the song list—it’s the energy. It’s the person who didn’t know you five minutes ago but now sings backup on ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’ It’s the bartender who knows your drink before you ask because you’ve belted out ‘I Will Survive’ three nights in a row. This isn’t just entertainment; it’s connection dressed in glitter and microphone feedback.

Some of the most unforgettable nights happen in places you’d never expect. In Paris, you’ll find jazz-infused karaoke in dimly lit corners of Le Marais, where the crowd claps louder than the backing track. In London, there are bars where you can sing while sipping craft beer, and in Istanbul, karaoke nights blend Turkish pop with classic rock, all under strings of fairy lights. Even in Abu Dhabi, where nightlife is often quiet and upscale, there are hidden spots where expats and locals drop their inhibitions and sing along to Abba at midnight.

The best karaoke venues, physical locations designed specifically for group singing with equipment, private rooms, and curated song libraries don’t care if you can’t hit the high notes. They care that you tried. That you showed up. That you didn’t sit quietly while everyone else danced. These places thrive on authenticity—not perfection. The most popular ones have walls covered in photos of past singers, sticky floors from spilled cocktails, and playlists that go from Beyoncé to Bing Crosby without apology.

If you’re looking for a night that feels alive, skip the fancy clubs and head somewhere where the music is loud, the lights are low, and the only rule is: sing like nobody’s listening—even though everyone is. Whether you’re traveling solo or with friends, a good karaoke bar turns strangers into teammates and quiet nights into stories you’ll tell for years.

Below, you’ll find real stories from travelers and locals who’ve found magic in the most unexpected places—where the mic was passed, the crowd roared, and the night didn’t end until the last note faded. These aren’t just lists of bars. They’re maps to moments that stuck.