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    Best karaoke-bars in Hillcrest, San Diego

    Best of Hillcrest

    The Best Karaoke-bars in Hillcrest

    Uptown dining, dive bars, and the Sunday farmers market.

    Last updated

    Quick answer

    The Rail is the best karaoke-bars in Hillcrest — scored 87/100 in our citywide ranking. The most enthusiastic karaoke crowd in San Diego. Also worth the trip: Hillcrest's Gossip Grill.

    At a glance

    The Best Karaoke-bars in Hillcrest — comparison
    PlaceAreaWhat to getPriceScore
    The RailHillcrestStage karaoke, weekend nightsFree entry, drinks $8–1387
    Hillcrest's Gossip GrillHillcrestKaraoke night, cocktailsFree entry, drinks $9–1586
    #3

    The Rail

    Hillcrest
    Order: Stage karaoke, weekend nightsFree entry, drinks $8–13

    The most enthusiastic karaoke crowd in San Diego.

    The Rail's karaoke nights are loud, packed, and welcoming, with a crowd that cheers regardless of ability. It's stage-only, so bring confidence.

    Local tip: The room fills by 10pm; get your name in before then.

    87
    Experience
    87
    Consistency
    86
    Value
    92
    Atmosphere
    88
    Uniqueness
    82
    Order: Karaoke night, cocktailsFree entry, drinks $9–15

    The best karaoke night in a bar that makes everyone feel welcome.

    Gossip Grill is San Diego's flagship LGBTQ+ women's bar, and its karaoke nights carry the most inclusive energy in the city. Drinks are solid and the patio helps when the room gets loud.

    Local tip: Themed nights rotate — check which one lands on karaoke that week.

    86
    Experience
    85
    Consistency
    86
    Value
    86
    Atmosphere
    90
    Uniqueness
    84

    What changed in this update

    Every revision to this ranking, newest first — additions, removals, and rank moves.

    1. Latest

      • Removed Kearny Mesa's Ocean Karaoke and Lestat's West (closed or no longer ranked).
      • Moved up: The Rail (#4 → #3), Blind Lady Ale House (#6 → #4), Hillcrest's Gossip Grill (#7 → #5), Rosie O'Grady's (#8 → #6).
      • List published with 8 scored picks.
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    Reader picks

    Our rankings are editorial. This part is yours — vote for your favorite karaoke-bars in hillcrest in San Diego. One vote per reader.

    Want the full city picture? See our complete best karaoke in san diego ranking →

    How we score

    How we scored it

    40%

    Experience

    How good the core activity or service actually is.

    20%

    Consistency

    Repeatability across visits and staff.

    20%

    Value

    Price relative to what you get.

    10%

    Atmosphere

    Setting, crowd, and comfort.

    10%

    Uniqueness

    Something you can't get elsewhere in San Diego.

    Private-room bars and stage-karaoke bars are scored on the same scale but judged against their own format.

    FAQ

    What is the best karaoke-bars in Hillcrest?

    The Rail is our top-scored pick for karaoke-bars in Hillcrest (87/100). The most enthusiastic karaoke crowd in San Diego.

    How many karaoke-bars spots in Hillcrest made the list?

    2 Hillcrest spots scored high enough to make our citywide karaoke-bars ranking. Every pick is scored with the same criteria we use across San Diego.

    What does it cost?

    Expect roughly Free entry, drinks $8–13, Free entry, drinks $9–15 across these Hillcrest picks.

    About this guide

    Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking. Last updated .

    Local, first-hand. Reported on the ground in San Diego County.
    Kept current. Prices, hours, and closures reviewed on a rolling basis.
    Independent. Affiliate links never influence rankings.

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