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Lobster, cheap drinks and a microphone
Lobster, cheap drinks and a microphone
Eater file photo

10 Twin Cities Karaoke Bars to Belt It Out

These are the best picks for singing your brains out.

by Eater Staff
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Lobster, cheap drinks and a microphone
| Eater file photo
by Eater Staff

To say that Twin Cities dive bars have got game is a vast understatement. Some of the best dive bars in town have many activities in common including pull tabs, meat raffles, and most importantly, karaoke. Whether you prefer your moment in the spotlight with a Grainbelt tallboy or a cheesy Heggies, we present to you the 9 best spots for karaoke in the Twin Cities, compiled and written by local music expert and writer, Pat O'Brien and Eater Editor, Joy Summers.

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Vegas Lounge

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965 Central Ave NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 378-1873
(612) 378-1873
Visit Website
The top of the heap of local karaoke spots. Get here early or the wait will be long, though the entertainment from the crowd will be worth it. Cheers and jeers abound during the night so choose your songs carefully to achieve hero status for the night. Karaoke is seven nights a week. That's right, every single night. If you plan to drink (um duh), bring cash.

2. Ballentine VFW Post 246

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2916 Lyndale Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 823-6233
(612) 823-6233
Visit Website
Cheap drinks and a fantastic crowd converge on Lyn-Lake to make this country and metal-heavy karaoke one of the most boisterous in town. Tip well, wait your turn, and make sure you choose at least one song you’re only mildly sure you’re fully familiar with. Sundays 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday-Friday 9 p.m. to midnight.
Photo courtesy Yelp

3. The 1029 Bar & Smack Shack

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1029 Marshall St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 379-4322
(612) 379-4322
Visit Website
This Northeast gem gets packed to the gills on weekends but it moves fast and there’s food from Smack Shack to be eaten. Hang out and listen to the denizens belt out hits from Loggins to Whitesnake to Pearl Jam and everything in between. A high tech touch screen sign up allows for easy access and no regrets. Karaoke is every Wednesday through Sunday from 9 p.m. til close.
Photo courtesy 1029

4. Otter's Saloon

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617 Central Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 331-4169
(612) 331-4169
Visit Website
Minneapolis’ most oddly-shaped bar also has great karaoke and a crowd who will sing along to almost anything, whether they know the lyrics or not. Duets are massively popular here, so if you and a friend have one in mind, here would be the place to roll it out. Karaoke is held Sunday through Tuesday, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Wednesday through Saturday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Photo courtesy Yelp

5. Joe & Stan's Bar

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949 7th St W
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 293-0571
(651) 293-0571
Visit Website
One of the Twin Cities’ best kept karaoke secrets happens to be hiding in the shadows of the old Schmidt Brewery in St. Paul. Pick from an absolutely massive songbook and make use of the wide space you’re given to work with for any dance moves you might have. If “Free Bird” is your jam, this might be the spot to do it. Karaoke is Saturday night only, from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Photo courtesy Joe & Stan's Facebook page

6. Dulono's PIzza

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607 W Lake St
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 827-1726
(612) 827-1726
Visit Website
Where you head when yacht rock and classic rock are your first choices for karaoke madness. While you’re hanging out make sure to order what is arguably (and self-proclaimed) best pizza in town or the dessert item they concocted that must be seen to be believed. Karaoke is every Monday and Tuesday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Photo courtesy Dulono's

7. Moose on Monroe Bar & Grill

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356 Monroe St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 623-4999
(612) 623-4999
Northeast’s diamond in the rough, the karaoke here runs fast and loose and the crowd will cheer for you, regardless of song choice. Take a break from the pinball machine and step up—a ‘90s MTV hit might be a good first choice. Karaoke is Tuesday through Saturday starting at 9 p.m.
Photo courtesy Yelp

8. Sporty's Pub and Grill

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2124 Como Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 379-8407
(612) 379-8407
Visit Website
Located just off of campus, you have to know what you’re looking for to find it, but you’ll know when you’ve gotten there. Grab some above-par grub, a songbook, and spend the night belting out all those songs you loved in high school and secretly still love today. Karaoke is every Wednesdays and Fridays from 10pm to bar close.

9. Rail Station Bar & Grill

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3675 Minnehaha Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 729-3663
(612) 729-3663
Visit Website
This neighborhood joint boasts everything that's great about a dive bar: meat raffles, proper pours and surroundings that aren't really divey at all. Hit the mic Thursdays and Saturdays 9:30 to close. -Joy Summers
Photo courtesy Rail Station Facebook page

10. Elsie's Restaurant, Bar & Bowling

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729 Marshall St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 378-9701
(612) 378-9701
Visit Website
Family friendly bowling alley and restaurant by day, a blazing stageless rock and roll glory dream by night. Well, the bowling alley is still going strong, but still: karaoke nights inside this Northeast spot is always a fun (and sometimes) fuzzy memory. Karaoke is every Friday and Saturday night beginning at 9 p.m. - by Joy Summers
Photo courtesy Elsie's Facebook page

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1. Vegas Lounge

965 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
The top of the heap of local karaoke spots. Get here early or the wait will be long, though the entertainment from the crowd will be worth it. Cheers and jeers abound during the night so choose your songs carefully to achieve hero status for the night. Karaoke is seven nights a week. That's right, every single night. If you plan to drink (um duh), bring cash.
965 Central Ave NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 378-1873
Visit Website

2. Ballentine VFW Post 246

2916 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Photo courtesy Yelp
Cheap drinks and a fantastic crowd converge on Lyn-Lake to make this country and metal-heavy karaoke one of the most boisterous in town. Tip well, wait your turn, and make sure you choose at least one song you’re only mildly sure you’re fully familiar with. Sundays 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday-Friday 9 p.m. to midnight.
2916 Lyndale Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 823-6233
Visit Website

3. The 1029 Bar & Smack Shack

1029 Marshall St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Photo courtesy 1029
This Northeast gem gets packed to the gills on weekends but it moves fast and there’s food from Smack Shack to be eaten. Hang out and listen to the denizens belt out hits from Loggins to Whitesnake to Pearl Jam and everything in between. A high tech touch screen sign up allows for easy access and no regrets. Karaoke is every Wednesday through Sunday from 9 p.m. til close.
1029 Marshall St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 379-4322
Visit Website

4. Otter's Saloon

617 Central Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Photo courtesy Yelp
Minneapolis’ most oddly-shaped bar also has great karaoke and a crowd who will sing along to almost anything, whether they know the lyrics or not. Duets are massively popular here, so if you and a friend have one in mind, here would be the place to roll it out. Karaoke is held Sunday through Tuesday, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Wednesday through Saturday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
617 Central Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 331-4169
Visit Website

5. Joe & Stan's Bar

949 7th St W, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Photo courtesy Joe & Stan's Facebook page
One of the Twin Cities’ best kept karaoke secrets happens to be hiding in the shadows of the old Schmidt Brewery in St. Paul. Pick from an absolutely massive songbook and make use of the wide space you’re given to work with for any dance moves you might have. If “Free Bird” is your jam, this might be the spot to do it. Karaoke is Saturday night only, from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
949 7th St W
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 293-0571
Visit Website

6. Dulono's PIzza

607 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Photo courtesy Dulono's
Where you head when yacht rock and classic rock are your first choices for karaoke madness. While you’re hanging out make sure to order what is arguably (and self-proclaimed) best pizza in town or the dessert item they concocted that must be seen to be believed. Karaoke is every Monday and Tuesday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
607 W Lake St
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 827-1726
Visit Website

7. Moose on Monroe Bar & Grill

356 Monroe St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Photo courtesy Yelp
Northeast’s diamond in the rough, the karaoke here runs fast and loose and the crowd will cheer for you, regardless of song choice. Take a break from the pinball machine and step up—a ‘90s MTV hit might be a good first choice. Karaoke is Tuesday through Saturday starting at 9 p.m.
356 Monroe St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 623-4999

8. Sporty's Pub and Grill

2124 Como Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Located just off of campus, you have to know what you’re looking for to find it, but you’ll know when you’ve gotten there. Grab some above-par grub, a songbook, and spend the night belting out all those songs you loved in high school and secretly still love today. Karaoke is every Wednesdays and Fridays from 10pm to bar close.
2124 Como Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 379-8407
Visit Website

9. Rail Station Bar & Grill

3675 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Photo courtesy Rail Station Facebook page
This neighborhood joint boasts everything that's great about a dive bar: meat raffles, proper pours and surroundings that aren't really divey at all. Hit the mic Thursdays and Saturdays 9:30 to close. -Joy Summers
3675 Minnehaha Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 729-3663
Visit Website

10. Elsie's Restaurant, Bar & Bowling

729 Marshall St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Photo courtesy Elsie's Facebook page
Family friendly bowling alley and restaurant by day, a blazing stageless rock and roll glory dream by night. Well, the bowling alley is still going strong, but still: karaoke nights inside this Northeast spot is always a fun (and sometimes) fuzzy memory. Karaoke is every Friday and Saturday night beginning at 9 p.m. - by Joy Summers
729 Marshall St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 378-9701
Visit Website

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