The Five Best Karaoke Bars in Sydney
Check out our pick of the best places for belting out drunken renditions of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in the wee hours of the morning.
Ahh karaoke: the best fun you can have with a microphone in one hand, a beer in the other and a group of giggling friends tumbling over themselves around you. And let's be honest, karaoke establishments are not thin on the ground in Sydney - head down to Chinatown and there's a plethora of skeezy joints with dim lighting, squashy booths and '80s ballads coupled with K-pop videos and mis-translated lyrics.
While these places have their charms, the best karaoke experiences are to be had in a select few of the city's sing-along establishments. So we've taken it upon ourselves to provide you with a list of the places we reckon are best for belting out renditions of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'I Will Survive' in the wee hours of the morning to your nearest and dearest.
1. Ding Dong Dang
Ding Dong Dang is something of a Sydney institution for karaoke fans. Down the Central Station end of Surry Hills, it's much like the karaoke equivalent of the suburb itself: understated, intimate, offbeat and quirky. There's a fully stocked bar to choose from and an easy-to-browse song directory with all the classics lined up, accompanied by K-pop videos which are nothing short of endearing.
The rooms are reasonably priced, but better yet they're themed - the space odyssey room is a particular favourite. There's a decent selection of beer and wine to be had, mirror balls and couches sturdy enough to jump around on. Overall, you couldn't ask much more of a karaoke joint.
Address: 7 Randle St, Surry Hills
2. Mizuya
Unlike many of the more dodgy karaoke establishments in this area of town, Mizuya inexplicably closes at midnight as opposed to three or four or even six in the morning. With over 100,000 songs which are constantly being updated, Mizuya is clean and well-designed and a good choice for a birthday party or awkward after-work bonding session.
Mizuya a full bar with over 200 drinks - significantly more than you'll find at most karaoke joints - and there's also a Japanese restaurant attached, from which you can order tasty things on sticks through the touch screen in the room. Genius.
Address: 614 George St, Sydney
3. Ju Ju
Karaoke is served alongside dinner on most nights at this underground Japanese restaurant in the Cross. The best dinner and karaoke combination night to be had in Sydney, it's not for the shy or belligerent. There are no private booths, just a microphone that circles the room, so everybody gets to hear you sing.
Generally you'll have to wait until a reasonable post-10pm time to begin belting out tunes, but being part of a restaurant there's a pretty good range of tasty Japanese comfort food to be had, and beers like Asahi and Sapporo are readily available. And remember, it's bad manners to wear your shoes here, so put on your best socks.
Address: 82-94 Darlinghurst Rd, Kings Cross
4. Strike Bowling Bar
This is karaoke attached to ten-pin bowling, and possibly a spot of laser skirmish if you're keen. Strike charges per room, as opposed to per person, so it works out well if you're in a big group.
All the rooms are immaculately themed and clean - there's the polka dot room, the Victorian boudoir, the executive party room, and there's a pretty flash touch screen to order your songs, but sadly no soft-filter video clips to accompany your choices. Moreover, there's a prop box with wigs and over-sized glasses to enhance your performance, and a couple of tambourines and maracas to add a bit of pizzazz to your performance. They've also got an excellent menu of snacks and a decent bar serving cocktails for your tipsy lady-friends.
Address: 22 The Promenade, King Street Wharf and 207/122 Lang Rd, Moore Park
5. The Pickled Possum
A room filled with middle-aged karaoke enthusiasts belting out '70s and '80s classics has never been as fun as this; just make sure to show up in a big group later at night and with a couple of stiff drinks in you.
Widely renowned as one of the more bizarre establishments in Sydney, the person with the microphone is king at the Pickled Possum, and drinks are frequently made by seniors wearing rubber gloves. There are no booths, so you have to be prepared to sing to a crowded room, but the eccentric collection of inebriated 'characters' are having so much fun and taking the karaoke enterprise so seriously you wouldn't want to be in a booth.
Address: 254 Military Rd, Neutral Bay
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