(Photo: Carmen E. Lopez and AJ Wilhelm)

Planet Rose
219 Ave. A, nr. 14th St.; 212-353-9500
It's really small and there's no stage, meaning an all-inclusive attitude prevails here, with friends, strangers, and bartenders crowding around the microphone. To make it your own, rent the entire bar for a private party.

Karaoke One 7
29 W. 17th St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-675-3527
The flickering candles, shimmering tiles, and exposed brick walls are certainly a contrast to your average sing-along box. Also, the 80,000-plus video jukebox gives your iPod a run for its money—especially when you shuffle into the French, Italian, Hindi, and Tagalog folders.

Izakaya Izu
9 E. 13th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 646-486-7313
Japanese nationals make it authentic; NYU students keep it rowdy. And everybody sings more than one song a night. It's our official selection for Best of New York Karaoke Bar 2008.

Spotlight Live
1604 Broadway, nr. 49th St.; 212-246-2693
Karaoke meets American Idol: Would-be crooners shimmy onstage backed by professionals, knowing full well that the Times Square crowd can catch their act on the JumboTron outside.

Winnie's
104 Bayard St., nr. Baxter St.; 212-732-2384
No other karaoke bar exerts the magnetic pull on both hard-core Asian mike fiends and downtown hip kids that Winnie's does. You’ll witness a steady dose of Mandarin pop songs favored by the regulars as well as by the titular Winnie herself.