Planet Rose
219 Avenue A
(between 13th St & 14th St)
New York, NY 10009 (212) 353-9500
- Nearest Transit:
1st Ave-14th St (L)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
23 Reviews for Planet Rose
THERE'S NO STAGE. But it's OK because the main floor acted as my stage and I did all my same moves. The bartenders and patrons were nice, the zebra patterned couches were CHIC baby.
And my girl Audrey and I tore it up. Patsy Cline, Journey, Madonna, RENT, All That Jazz, you name it, we've sang it.
The bartender told me it gets way too packed on the weekends, I recommend going on a weeknight and earlier rather than later (so that you don't have to pay for songs).
No karaoke bar will ever replace THE MINT.
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When you walk in Planet Rose, don't be put off but the odd layout, leopard print carpet, or zebra couches. That's just the charm of Stuy-town, right?
WRONG. The carpet makes the whole front of the bar smell like wet feet or as one friend put it, "The bathroom at a public pool." It also makes you not want to ever touch the couches.
The layout is perplexing and getting a drink is much more difficult than it should be. Because the clientele is after-work suits and ties who drunkenly scream "All By Myself" into the microphone, you really have to get a lot closer to them than you probably should or would normally want to, just to get a drink.
Finally, the karaoke DJ, whatever his name is, does not manage songs well, and is rude to boot! We put songs in at 915 and by 1130 they hadn't played. He offered minimal excuse-- it was frustrating when you know that your song was bumped down for his friends or some inside event. Bright spot- Sophia was a great bartender.
If you go, get a seat at the bar, go early, and find some way to get in with the karaoke guy. Oh, and bring some noseplugs and Purel.
You are either someone who sings or someone who watches people sing. At some point in your life you have to determine which you are. Each one comes with a pretty huge price.
If you sing, well you're a freak show. You will be cursed by life of wanting to be the life of the party and wanting nothing more than to do anything to get there. Let's get serious here, you are the party and everybody knows it. The unfortunate part is you are never going to have stable relationships because, seriously, this is your spotlight.
If you are a watcher, well chances are there is a reason you're not up there and the biggest one is you're afraid. Perhaps it was the 37 month on your mothers breast, or that pool incident when you were 13 with your neighbors cousin, or that pierced eardrum from your gray tabby - regardless, you are never going to be happy either. Sorry. While you are not going to be a freak show like group A, but you have a whole 'nother problem, you came with group A, so that makes you... a freak show by association.
Sucks right?
So at the end of the day all I'm saying is sing. Screw what you sound like and just sound like you want to. It's not about if you can or can't it's about having fun with whatever you do. If you are afraid you sound horrible, well listen to the girl up there right now? yeah, she's sounds horrible, but at least she's having fun. The only person not having fun is her boyfriend. don't be that dude.
sing baby, sing.
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I paid $2 to publicly humiliate myself- dance moves (sheba shimmy shake) and all.
"First I was afraid, I was petrified."
Just kidding! I hit up Planet Rose with the Karaoke Kings for a night of inner rock star and good times. It was everyone's first time at Planet Rose and we dug the comfy zebra couches. They were clean and there was plenty of space. We got there early enough and claimed our little corner right by the bar. There are two rooms at Planet Rose- one large one in the back perfect for big parties and the main bar room.
There are plenty of song books scattered around Planet Rose and everyone is really polite. No one hoards the books and if you need one sharing is all around here. It may take awhile to get your song played but when they do call your name, go up and grab the mic fast!
"A moment like this. Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this."
Ugh my stomach was churning, my palms were sweaty, and I had anxiety for an hour just waiting for my song. Then it came up and I was ready to go. Woooooo~! I won't tell you which song I sang but it wasn't one of those ballads that put you in sleepytime. All I'll say is that I have a whole list devoted to it.
"5-6-7-8!"
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Hey it's not The Mint in San Francisco, but what is?
My karaoke diva friend Shan and I were on a mission to find some decent karaoke in Manhattan. We are spoiled, because we are used to all kinds of lights, a stage, rockin KJs, and an adoring fan base. Well, definitely the lights and stage but the fan base might be the figment of my imagination. But who cares! This is karaoke damnit. I'm the star!
Planet Rose is a dive, especially the worn out zebra couches. We had a good time, but give me a mic and I'll find a good time anywhere. Bartenders were super cool, and it was a nice easy going crowd who were not afraid to sing along and get up and dance. The seating is kinda cool, but i gotta say....I need that stage!
Shan..I will expect a full report on karaoke bars before my next visit! Until then, Planet Rose will do.
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I fully dig this divey little karaoke joint on Avenue A...
Why?
1. 2-for-1 drinks every weeknight during happy hour (till 8pm!)
2. Free songs during happy hour as well
3. The zebra-skin couches in the back remind me of Namibia...
4. The bartender is friendly and has a pretty smile
Lastly, when I sang "London Calling" here recently, nobody laughed at me despite the fact I was horrible.
Even better, a friendly mustachoied fellow (with Hustler briefs) and his girl friend (with everlasting legs and long blond hair) dry-humped each other to dust in the corner....and nobody seemed to care at all.
You just gotta love a place that offers all that.
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My first experience in this type of karaoke place and I won't do it again. I like being the star, and this place is more for the wallflowers who want to sing but don't have the cajones to get up on stage.
If you're a regular, expect to sing about every 5th song, but if you've just walked in off the street expect to wait and wait and wait.
2 stars only b/c they restarted my song when the sound initially didn't play and b/c the bar staff was very friendly and attentive.
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Went here on a Saturday night and it got packed pretty quick. We had a group of 15+ and it took TWO HOURS before we finally got our hands on a mic. Even though the decor is cool, I didn't like how we were separated by the back room. Couldn't see a damn thing going on up there by the big TV!
This is my first and last experience karaoke'ing in the city. You all need to come out to L.A. and see how it's REALLY done. (i.e. the Brass Monkey) ;P
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This place is great...the funky decor is just part of the village charm! always a packed house with a laid-back, fun-loving crowd! It's also a good spot for groups as there is a room full of couches! Not the largest place, but definitely a fun night out for anyone who likes to sing or not!!
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I have never ever in the history of all things had fun at Planet Rose unless I show up already blitzed beyond recognition.
Fine, so they've got a pretty good song selection, but if you show too late for the Senior Citizen's Discount, the queue is so long that you could wait 2 hours for your song to come up even though you were forced to pay for it. I've put in about 10 songs there in my lifetime and sung 3. What exactly am I paying for?
Especially frustrating is that the unfriendly kid in charge of the queue will switch things around so that while you're waiting around watching your beard grow in, some friend of his who walked in 20 minutes ago is rocking out.
The lounge feel is kinda neat if you can commandeer the room with all the couches, but usually some other group of 10 or 15 is taking up the whole space and clogging the song queue, and it's just not a lot of fun watching a bunch of close friends boggart the microphone, sing to each other and share their inside jokes while you're shunted into the awkwardly laid-out "rest of the place" trying to get attention from the bartender for another weak overpriced cocktail.
Eventually I found out that if you come with a group of tight-knit regulars (I made friends with a crowd recently), you get more attention, you don't have to pay for songs, the drinks are stronger, and sometimes you get a free shot.
But that's not how it should be, and I still never have fun there.
Maybe I'm just uptight.
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Now I'm not exactly a karaoke connoisseur but I really enjoyed this place. We went on Halloween around midnightish I think. I was Lily Allen but everyone kept thinking I was Amy Winehouse. Must've been the beer in my hand. Gross Halloween misjudgements aside, I had fun, sang, made first class ass out of myself. Ate candy. You might not think candy and beer can work together but you'd be surprised.
I'd go here again fo sho. But I'm sort of curious about the other karaoke places in the area also. Hmmm.
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This is an awful karaoke place. The sound system sucks and frequently goes out of sync with the lyrics on screen. The selection is pretty poor, the bar space itself is kinda gross, and well compared to places like Sing Sing or Japas, well, really it just can't even compare.
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eh - it is what it is. karaoke i believe is best in k-town but this place isn't too bad for a come as you are karaoke bar. the drinks were a little pricey for an east village dive bar and $2 every time you wanted to sing. it's a dive - no question about it. my advice - take a bunch of friends and dominate the place - then it could be worth the time.
It's always a good night at Planet Rose... This place is entertaining, both as a spectator and as a participant. No matter how much you suck, everyone will cheer for you. And those bartenders/managers are mad talented, very fun to watch (Go when Eric and Johnny are working, they're hilarious). Too bad it's closed right now for renovations. Very sad about that. Should be back up and running soon though. **As of May 4th, they're back!! The place looks great.**
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This is my favorite karaoke place I've been to in NYC. The decor is a bit cheesy (bangin' zebra print benches, guys!), but it's a fun atmosphere. Their catalog is really extensive, and you can find all sorts of random songs that you couldn't find at most places. The servers are friendly, too, which seems to be a rarity at karaoke bars in the city. It's a lot of fun to come here during the week, because each person gets two free songs and it's a LOT less crowded.
A note for those who go on Friday or Saturday - the wait can be long for a song, so come expecting that. If you've been there forever and don't feel like waiting anymore, you can get your $2 back. If you're impatient, come during the week. In addition to the free songs, you won't have to wait long at all.
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This place was so much fun...
leapard print carpet on the floor..
zebra on all the chairs and couches...
(did anyone else notice the red vaginas disguised in the zebra print!?!)
guess u gotta go to know what i mean...
anyways... really fun.... set up... and our first songs were free and $2 bucks afterwards.... drinks are usual new york... prices...
i didnt drink this night.. and it is now the morning after and im HOARSE...
because i love that people use kareoke as an excuse to sing the words to any song you ever THOUGHT you knew the words to AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS!!!!!!!!!
digg it
If you don't like karaoking in a private room, but are too shy to for a big stage, Planet Rose may be a good "in-between."
The bar/lounge is small enough that it feels intimate, but big enough that you can hide in the corner behind your friends while belting out "Sweet Child Of Mine." (I swear that wasn't me!)
Along Ave A, it's definitely one of those pit stops you should make if you're in the area for a night of bar hopping.
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I had the most fun at Planet Rose. This is the best place to go for Karaoke. Its not the biggest place, but after you pass through the bar they have an L-Shaped zebra pattern couch where the Karaoke begins. They have a huge selection of songs and you can sign from the convenience of your seat or stand in the middle of the room and read off the adjacent tvs. Even at the bar you can participate. The cost is 1.00 or 2.00 per song and you let the bartender know which song you want. It gets crowded, but its so much fun. Everyone sings with you and you don't have to feel like all eyes are on you. Which is good for the shyest of people. I can't wait to go back and sing my heart out.
Encore, Encore!!!!
If we were just talking karaoke, this would get 5 stars. The song book is huge, and has every song you could want. Plus, the atmosphere is wonderful because you're really just singing to your friends. It's a loungey type feel, with couches and everything in the back. The mics, however, are on their last legs, which makes singing a bit difficult.
The bar part though, is a different story. The bartender isn't particularly friendly. There's a one drink minimum to get in (no cover though). The drinks were too small and too expensive (good thing I don't drink). That's the part that gets only 3 stars.
I went with a big group and we took over half of the back room. Another group had the other half. The patrons are all very nice, clapping for everyone who sings, even if they're bad. In general, it's a fun place to go out. The first song is free, then after that they're $2. I guess that's how the place makes their money.
Plus, the location isn't bad, about a block away from the L train.
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planet rose is fun as long as one of two conditions applies:
1. you are completely shitfaced upon arriving OR
2. you and your group are the only people in the joint.
If you get there anytime after 11p on a Friday or Saturday, you will wait at least 1.5 hours to sing your first song. You'll want to preemptively throw a couple of other songs up there so you don't have to wait so long for your next performance, so you'll waste 2$ per song which will take another hour to come on. So you buy lots and lots of drinks while you wait.
There will be a group of 25 drunken college kids who probably got there at 8pm in order to sing every song in the book, some of them more than once. Then maybe one or two of the girls will start rolling around on the floor. I saw that once.
Fortunately, by the time your second song comes on, it's 230AM and the place is sort of clearing out. You wont have to wait so long for your songs and the audience that remains is drunk and passing out. If you like to perform, the lack of enthusiastic audience members will be disappointing to you. Of course, by that point you're so trashed from passing the time drinking overpriced Heinekens you won't be singing your best anyway. You will probably forget what song you're singing even though the words are right there on the screen.
So you sing your last song and then go to the cash machine to get more money for your cab ride back to Brooklyn.
Don't get me wrong, the above circumstances notwithstanding, I have had some fun times here, but I have to be in a jolly and fuzzy non-pmsing mood when I arrive.
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This place was hilarious. Not really crowded, but so many women on the night I went, too bad I was being an idiot and not talking. Anywho, my friends decided to embarrass themselves by singing a Less Than Jake song and having the crowd just get really annoyed at them not singing but rather laughing and mumbling the whole way through. Beyond that, the bartender did a sick rendition of Born to Run, and these two dudes, I dunno whether they were associated with the bar, just were belting out tune after tune.
This place is great for public karaoke. No privacy here, only quality fun. Oh don't stand in the little space between the bar and the lounge area; the air conditioning is right there and the nips were stiff in seconds. Aka freezing. I know I didn't have to use the first sentence to describe it. But I did.
The reason why this gets only 4 stars is the bartender. I'm not sure what was up with her, but she was SLOW. She knew there were multiple people at the bar with money ready to order a drink. And yet, she forgot mine twice (I only ordered a Bud Light) and just kept talking to this couple forever. The other bartender (the cool one singing Born to Run) eventually came over and covered her ass by trying to grab all the customers, but I was like you gotta be kidding me. Go do a day shift on a Monday somewhere, this is Friday night and you should be on top of things.
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I love to sing karaoke and if you love to sing karaoke this is the place for you. I had my birthday here and showed up at 8:30 on a friday and took it over with my friends. On the downside the drinks are a little expensive and it costs $2 per song. It's small and occasionally there's annoying people singing showtunes that nobody enjoys and everyone suffers. However, if you're with friends and want to get your sing on this is the place. Just don't sing Lisa Loeb's "Stay". That's my song.
I don't pay to sing, people pays me to sing. I'm as bad as can and I know...I'm the best!
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