Sakura Karaoke Bar
Alex Yu – The Peninsula
Karaoke comes in a few different flavors in Chicago. I most often return to home turf in Chinatown for my karaoke fix; Sakura Karaoke Bar hosts communal karaoke and offers private party karaoke, and you can ready your singing voice with inexpensive drinks in between some Kanye West and Taylor Swift.
Trader Todd’s
Ramon Gomez – The Gwen
In the heart of Lakeview is Trader Todd’s, a karaoke go-to with two stages, comfort food, and cocktails. They have karaoke every day, so no matter your time frame, there is an opportunity to grab a mic and sing your heart out. Bonus: there are plenty of options for dining and cocktail options within walking distance right off the Belmont stop.
Brando’s Speakeasy
Rebecca Starodub – The Ritz-Carlton
Brando’s Speakeasy is one of my favorite spots for karaoke downtown. The space has a laid-back vibe, and great happy hour specials. Whether you have a large group or not you’ll feel like the life of the party when you sing.
Alice’s Lounge
Luis Torres – The Trump Hotel
Alice’s Lounge in the Belmont/Cragin area is my go to for karaoke. It’s more of a local dive bar that’s usually open later than most bars in Chicago. Locals flock to this place to belt out some of their favorite tunes, complete with smoke machine and all. It offers drink specials every night as well. Alice’s has karaoke just about every night and it’s a great place to hang out with friends.
Editor’s Pick:
Mom’s Place
Erica Abdnour, Concierge Preferred Magazine
I have never had a bad time at the hidden gem that is Mom’s Place in River North! This upstairs pub offers two areas: the front bar with a great live band, and a back bar where the karaoke happens. The DJs are fantastic and friendly, and the crowd never fails to cheer you on – trust me, Freddie Mercury would be offended by my rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody, but the Mom’s crowd makes me feel like my album is going platinum!