Where to go when the mood to sing strikes? Pittsburgh boasts more than enough karaoke nights at bars and clubs citywide. But what if you want something more, something off-beat, something a little risque, even?
In honor of Pittsburgh City Paper‘s second annual Karaoke Kabaret, taking over the Funhouse at Mr. Smalls on Thu., May 15, we compiled a short roundup of local karaoke nights and venues that break the mold. Refresh your go-to karaoke song list, warm up your vocal cords, and prepare for musical fun.
Bareoke
facebook.com/PGHNaturists
and instagram.com/pghnaturists
A case of stage fright often solicits the advice, “Just imagine the audience naked.” In the case of Bareoke, hosted at P Town by the Pittsburgh Area Naturists, the nudity isn’t imagined and includes the performers. Let it all hang out in a 21-and-over environment touted as safe and inclusive — while nudity is required (women are permitted to wear bottoms if they prefer), rules barring photography and video, sexual harassment, and non-consensual touch are in place to ensure patrons feel comfortable singing full frontal.
Broadway Jukebox
nonstopbroadway.com
Release your inner theater kid at a place for adult kids, Dave and Busters. NonStop Broadway regularly takes over the arcade chain’s Homestead location for a night of showtunes from stage musicals like Les Miserables, Little Shop of Horrors, Cats, and many more (an event description touts a catalogue of over 1,000 songs from which to choose). Rap your way through Hamilton, try to sustain the high note in Wicked’s “Defying Gravity,” or do Chicago proud with a sexy rendition of “Cell Block Tango,” while your fellow karaoke patrons sing along.
Cobra K-Box Karaoke
4305 Main St., Bloomfield.
cobrapgh.com/karaoke
This entry delivers more ambiance than novelty, drawing singers into a Korean barbeque restaurant that, with its glass blocks, snake-inspired name, and stylish lighting, resembles a set piece from an ‘80s action movie — the kind with sleazy, ponytailed villains and slo-mo fight sequences. Positioned under a fake pagoda roof, Cobra’s three K-box rooms offer private, soundproof spaces for parties to let loose, meaning that diners enjoying their wagyu beef won’t be disturbed by your friends’ ensemble performance of “If You Wanna Be My Lover.”
It’s also a heck of a deal — at $50 an hour (or $30 for a seemingly insufficient 30 minutes), up to 10 guests receive a dedicated server and access to a 52,000-plus digital song bank with “multi-language functionality.” Best of all, unlike most karaoke nights, you won’t have to wait forever to sing.
Sad Karaoke
SadKaraoke.com
There are no crowd-rousing renditions of “Living on a Prayer” or upbeat Disney tunes at Sad Karaoke. Here, singers are encouraged — nay, required — to belt out the most emo, most heartbreaking tracks imaginable. Co-organized by Alternate Histories founder Matt Buchholz and Andrea Laurion, and hosted at Golden Age Beer Company in Homestead, the event offers an alternative to traditional karaoke nights, where bummer songs are usually met with derision for killing the vibe. Feel free to sing “Driver’s License,” “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” or most of Adele’s catalogue without judgment. Check the Sad Karaoke website for updates on upcoming events.
This article appears in May 14-20, 2025.
