The best karaoke spots in Hong Kong

Cosmos@RedMr is Hong Kong's first-ever karaoke lounge that combines the casual vibes of a cafe with full-on karaoke. Going to karaoke – or 'sing k' as Hongkongers would call it – usually entails a night of loud music and even louder singing, but here, things work a little differently. Rather than staying inside a dark-coloured room (like most karaoke rooms in Hong Kong), each room is beautifully designed with colourful interiors and plenty of natural light seeping through. And instead of giving your eardrums a hard time, every customer gets a pair of headphones so as you sing to your heart's content. You'll be able to hear your vocals through them, no matter good or bad.

Unlike other karaoke venues around town, Junels Restobar’s karaoke system is set up in their dining room. While the thought of singing in front of a room full of strangers can be daunting, the atmosphere of this Filipino restaurant couldn’t be any further from that. Their microphones are open for anyone who’s in the mood to sing a tune, and everyone else is encouraged to sing along, which makes the karaoke experience at Junels enjoyable and friendly.

Red Mr is one of the biggest players in town. Depending on what you're after, you can either opt for a traditional karaoke experience or get a room replete with beer pong, dart board, Xbox, and a host of other goodies that serve as ample distraction. Red Mr's rooms can typically accommodate any number and as many as 30 people. The prices vary depending on when you visit, so be sure to call ahead and check.

Tucked away in the same building as Bing Bing, Singsing can be considered its younger but more sophisticated sibling. As the name suggests, this is very much a singing-focused venue, with the vibes of an upscale karaoke lounge. Visitors can line up their song choices on Singsing’s huge electronic tablet before heading up to the two-seater podium with a dedicated karaoke setup. They also host singing competitions where the best singers can stand to win bottles, so keep an eye on their socials.

Head to Wan Chai to find Club String, a member’s only karaoke club that’s been running since 2005. If you’ve got a specific song in mind that you want to belt out, Club String allows patrons to select songs from their phone. In addition to their state-of-art karaoke system, Club Strings also provides guests with entertainment like billiards, darts, and live music performances every Thursday night from their bar and lounge area. 

One significant advantage Neway has over its rivals is its exclusive licensing contract with some of the biggest record labels in the region. That means they almost always have official videos and backing tracks for the latest Korean, Taiwanese, and Cantopop tunes. Prices range from $83 to $229 depending on the time of day you arrive and the branch you visit.

This popular gay bar (supposedly a bear haven, though from what we hear, that's an exaggerated reputation) is another great spot for some convivial public karaoke. It's also one of the more reasonably priced bars around, so you can sit back and enjoy a drink without emptying your bank account. Once you've built up sufficient liquid courage, you can try out Boo Bar's state-of-the-art karaoke system, which has a diverse selection of tunes for you to choose from.