Looking for a place to sing your heart out? Karaoke is alive and well in the Washington, D.C. area. From local dives to upscale venues, some of the best karaoke bars in the nation are located in D.C. Here are five of them that are considered favorites by many D.C. locals.
Image: RLHyde (Flickr)
Kostume Karaoke
1942 11th St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 232-6590
If you take karaoke seriously, you should check out Kostume Karaoke on 11th Street. Drunken theatre folks adorn themselves with props and costumes (provided by the club) on an elaborate stage for full-costume karaoke. This is not the place to go if you are shy. Kostume Karaoke has a lively singing crowd that likes to take things over the top. Get there early to get your name on the list, but even if you don’t get a chance to perform, you will undoubtedly have some laughs watching the free entertainment. Who doesn’t want to see a six foot tall burly man with a blond wig in a mini skirt singing a Dolly Parton song?
The EFN Lounge & Motley Bar
1318 9th St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 341-8281
Monday night may be an inconspicuous night for karaoke, but everyone in the local area knows that this is where the party is if you want to sing. While the EFN Lounge is primarily noted as a gay bar, it is frequented by a wide variety of clientele; younger, older, business people, drag queens and college students all seem to fit in here. This edgy, funky neighborhood bar is a great choice for karaoke goers to feel comfortable in front of a crowd.
Brass Monkey
2317 18th St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 667-7800
Located in the Adams Morgan neighborhood between N. Belmont Rd. and N. Kalorama Square, the Brass Monkey is kind of a dive, but true Karaoke fans know that hole-in-the-wall bars are sometimes preferable places to let loose and sing. The drinks are cheap, and they sometimes serve free pizza for the patrons. Head straight for the basement of this bar where it is usually packed on any given night with karaoke fans. The music selection is fairly decent, and as long as you tip the DJ, he will make sure that you get on the karaoke wait list.
Café Japone
2032 P St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 223-1573
Go back to karaoke’s Japanese roots and give Café Japone a try. From sushi to ramen to agedashi tofu, the menu offers a tasty variety of Japanese cuisine. The ambiance may strike some as a bizarre, “Lost-in-Translation” kind of club with black walls and purple sofas. The karaoke is more of a free-for-all rather than a well-organized waiting list. That can be a good thing, however –especially if you know what you are doing, want to take over the club and sing songs at the top of your lungs from a huge song book.
Recessions
1823 L St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 296-6686
Perhaps on the dingy side of karaoke bars, Recessions is a solid local cozy bar with cheap beer and the promise of a good time. Once you get past the seedy, motel-like entrance and make yourself comfortable, Recessions offers the complete local lounge experience and has an unassuming karaoke crowd if you need to brush up on your karaoke repertoire. You will not be disappointed with its robust song list.
April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Washington, D.C.
