15 May 7–13, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents 12 Best Karaoke Spots in Dallas You probably can’t hit the big notes in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ but we know that won’t stop you. Here are all of the places you can attempt it. BY ALEX GONZALEZ T here are two kinds of people in this world: those who love ka- raoke and those who are afraid to have fun. The pastime of inebriated bachelorette par- ties, high school choir singers whose ca- reers never took off and Japanese businessmen is what dreams, including nightmares, are made of. There are few places where it’s socially acceptable to get absolutely hammered and attempt to hit the high note in the final chorus of Prince’s “Kiss,” on a microphone no less. Who knows? You might stumble upon a pop princess at a karaoke bar. Last year, Kacey Musgraves (or, rather, her Bianca Val- entine alias) stopped by a beloved gay bar in Oak Lawn to offer a once-in-a-lifetime per- formance. But whether you’re a vocal pro or a nov- ice, the power of song can soothe almost any emotional ailment, even more so when you’re with friends, loved ones and co- workers who are about to be acutely aware of your vocal range. Dallas has some of the best karaoke spots in the city, and even bet- ter, some of the best performers. Here are some of our favorite spots: Alexandre’s 4026 Cedar Springs Road (Oak Lawn) Drag queens make everything more fun, ka- raoke included. Every Sunday from 9 p.m. to midnight, Alexandre’s on the Cedar Springs Strip hosts “Cher-e-oke” with renowned Cher impersonator Wayne Smith. Bonus points if you know the entire number for Wagon Wheel Watusi. Charlie’s Star Lounge 4319 Main St. (Old East Dallas) Charlie’s Star Lounge might be the most fa- mous karaoke bar in the city that isn’t fully dedicated to the activity. The venue, which converts into a karaoke room on Fridays, has a regular cast of patrons of varying skill lev- els. The drinks are cheap, which is good, be- cause the more you’ve had, the better everyone will sound. Barbara’s Pavilion 325 Centre St. (Oak Cliff) Barbara’s Pavilion is one of the oldest LG- BTQ+ bars in Dallas. Tucked into a discreet street in Oak Cliff, the bar hosts frequent ka- raoke nights, by frequent we mean every Thursday, Sunday and every other Saturday. It’s a true dive bar with a little rainbow and a whole lot of singing. The Goat 7248 Gaston Ave. (Lakewood) Lakewood isn’t exactly the quiet, manicured suburban enclave everyone assumes it is. At least not on Wednesdays and Sundays, when one of the best dive bars in Dallas dedicates its corner stage to karaoke. If you need all the liquid courage you can get, the bar fa- mously opens at 7 a.m. every day but Sunday, when it opens at noon. Liquid Zoo 2506 Knight St. (Oak Lawn) The star power can be felt throughout this queer- and trans-friendly dive bar, and even more so on the aforementioned Cher-E- Oke nights, because you can never have enough Cher. One Nostalgia Tavern 6521 Abrams Road (Lake Highlands) One Nostalgia Tavern (also known as “one nasty,” if you’re nasty) has served as one of Dallas’ most popular karaoke joints for nearly five decades. The movie This World Won’t Break and the show Cruel Summer both filmed scenes in the tavern, so if not for the music, go for the historical rele- vance. Mac Karaoke 3525 Royal Lane, Suite 311B (Northwest Dal- las) At Mac Karaoke, an Asian-themed karaoke lounge, you and your closest friends can rent a private room and choose from a selection of thousands of songs: Today’s Top 40 hits, Korean and Japanese earworms and deep album cuts you won’t be able to sing along with anywhere else. If you’re too drunk to remember your performance, Mac Karaoke will send you home with an audio recording, so you’ll never forget it - or live it down. The Round Up Bar and Saloon 3912 Cedar Springs Road (Oak Lawn) The Round Up is a favorite of music icons Robyn, Charli XCX and Lady Gaga. And ev- ery night of the week, you too can feel like a legend on the bar’s karaoke stage. But you may want to wait until 10 or 11 p.m. to sign up - that’s around the time everyone starts feeling drunk enough to tip karaoke singers. Twilite Lounge 2640 Elm St. (Deep Ellum) This Deep Ellum venue offers a permanent stage for singers — those by trade or by acts of liquid courage. So grab a gin and tonic and pour your heart into that Amy Wine- house cover. Who knows? Dallas’ own loop daddy, Marc Rebillet, was known for ap- pearing at Twilite before he traded Big D for the Big Apple. Uptown Pub 3605 McKinney Ave. (West Village) Whether you’re catching the big game or singing karaoke on the patio, Sundays are better at Uptown Pub. One of the last true dives in uptown, the Pub serves an eclectic mix of guests and an even more eclectic se- lection of song offerings. Their sound sys- tem is so loud, you can hear singers belting all the way from Whole Foods on McKinney. Talk about star power. Single Wide 2110 Greenville Ave. (Lower Greenville) Keep it trashy and just a little bit nasty at Single Wide, our favorite trailer-park themed bar on Lower Greenville. The en- ergy from the crowd mimics that of the best rock concert you’ve ever been to. City Night KTV Karaoke Bar & Café 2528 Old Denton Road, No. 150 (Carrollton) Sure, you’ll have to make the trek to the furthest limits of “far North Dallas,” but this one makes it worth it, especially if you’re in a group. When you step into the neon-lit bar, it’s the closest you’re going to get to an authentic Japanese karaoke ex- perience in Dallas. There are 20 rooms to choose from for reservations, each with varying prices and themes inspired by cit- ies like Chicago, Los Angeles, and, of course, Tokyo. A server is assigned to each room, too, so you don’t have to pause your cover of “Don’t Stop Believin” (dying cat version) for a trip to the bar. Mike Brooks | B-SIDES | t Music The cozy Charlie’s Star Lounge in Old East Dallas is great for karaoke. SCAN HERE TO ENTER TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS
