Caffé Brass Monkey Karaoke Bar

Caffé Brass Monkey Possibly the wildest karaoke bar in LA, Caffé Brass Monkey is a magnet for rambunctious spotlight hoggers who love to get wasted and belt out 80s power ballads. Los Angeles United States 34.0613415 -118.2987243

3.63 12

Caffé Brass Monkey - Karaoke Bar in Los Angeles.

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8 User Reviews

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User Reviews (8)

Ratings:

Lucas

Adriana

Jonah

Emma

Party Earth Review Possibly the wildest karaoke bar in LA, Caffé Brass Monkey is a magnet for rambunctious spotlight hoggers who love to get wasted and belt out 80s power ballads. Packed with scruffy artsy types and yuppies, this dimly-lit... ... read full review

Neighborhood:

Koreatown
Address:

3440 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90005

Get Directions

Metro:

Purple Line: Wilshire/Normandie
Phone:

213-381-7047
Links:
Official Website

Hours:

M–F 11am–2am, Sa–Su 4pm–2am
Recommended as:
- Night Spot

First to review Ian C.

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Party Earth Caffé Brass Monkey Review

The Scene

Possibly the wildest karaoke bar in LA, Caffé Brass Monkey is a magnet for rambunctious spotlight hoggers who love to get wasted and belt out 80s power ballads.

Koreatown, Los Angeles –

Possibly the wildest karaoke bar in LA, Caffé Brass Monkey is a magnet for rambunctious spotlight hoggers who love to get wasted and belt out 80s power ballads.

Packed with scruffy artsy types and yuppies, this dimly-lit den with its low slanted ceiling, which evokes a cozy ski lodge atmosphere, features a layout that ensures all eyes will be on the makeshift dance floor and stage in the back.

Groups of work colleagues and birthday parties crowd in early to prime themselves for the coming late-night frenzy with cheeky drinks like the Horny Monkey Martini, and to take up their posts in the big leather chairs or at the scattered tables.

In the lull before the karaoke storm, the t-shirt-and-jean-clad patrons might notice the celebrity photos or Family Guy paraphernalia tacked along the wood-paneled walls, but once the tipsy singing starts, the only things distinctly visible are the lyrics on the TVs and the neon beer signs.

After two or three collective rounds, the place inevitably turns into a drunken, flirty mess, where even the most buttoned-down middle-management types find time between swigs and tired pick-up lines to loosen their ties and bumble through “Don’t Stop Believing.”

Anyone venturing a night at Caffé Brass Monkey will want to bring a camera along – otherwise, the hours of screaming into a mic, dancing on stage with strangers, and flirting with anything that moves will be nothing more than a fuzzy memory.

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Tip from Emma:

Make sure you get your song requests to the DJ by 11pm, or you probably won’t make it to the stage.

Crowd

After-work young professionals, struggling creative types, birthday groups, and blue-collar locals, 20s and 30s.
Entertainment / Music

Karaoke begins at 9pm on Mondays and Tuesdays, 4pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, 7pm on Thursdays, and 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays. TVs for song lyrics.
Food / Miscellaneous

Bar food including appetizers and burgers. Two-drink minimum during karaoke.
Prices

Appetizers $6–$8.50, burgers $6.50+, entrées $8–$12. Beer $5–$6, mixed drinks and cocktails $6–$12.

What to Wear / Dress Code

T-shirts and jeans for both guys and girls.
Hot Nights / When to Go

Friday and Saturday nights around 9:30 or 10pm for karaoke.
Close By

Palmtree LA (3240 Wilshire Boulevard) provides private rooms for karaoke singing with friends.

Tags:: ActorsAfter WorkArtsyBar FoodBirthday PartiesBlue CollarBoisterousBudget-friendlyBurgersButton-downsDance FloorDancingFlirtyGood for GroupsGroupsJeans and T-ShirtKaraokeMusiciansOccasional CelebrityRowdySpecialty CocktailsTVsYoung Professionals

Caffé Brass Monkey User Reviews

silent471 Jun 3, 2013 3.0 stars Decent place! I had a lot of fun at this place! It is not your typical karaoke joint. Meaning, it's not awkward and emberassing! The whole bar joins in with you when you sing, and people actually get up and dance! So, it's a fun and cool vibe. When my roommate said we were going to karaoke, i rreaally didn't want to go because all the other karaoke places i had been to were just uncomfortable, and you're forced to sing. Here, you WANT to sing because of the great energy and awesome people. I'll definitley be going back to there Friday night Karaoke. The only complaint I have is that there mixed drinks don't taste that great (too syrupy tasting).

Sarah Lenkowski May 13, 2013 4.0 stars Brass Monkey, that Funky Monkey The next singing sensation will be discovered at this karaoke bar! It was insane. I stopped at this bar because a friend and I had appointments at a salon nearby, so we figured we'd stop in for a drink. We had no idea what to expect. We have never heard of this place; it's a hidden gem. It's such a cute, cozy place to hang out. Karaoke was popping. Every person that got on that stage was talented, confident, and having a blast. The bartenders were cute and everyone we met was just so friendly. While we were watching the superstars on stage, a guy sitting down the bar from us told the bartender that he was buying our shots for us, for no reason. I still can't get over how nice everyone was in there. I will be going back to the Brass Monkey. This place just made a new friend.

Alexis Roberts-Kamin Apr 3, 2013 4.0 stars Rockstar moments made here. If you have ever wanted to be that person on stage with a microphone in their hand leading a room full of people in a sing along to one of your favourite songs, a visit to the Brass Monkey will surely need to be added to your bucket list. Despite the fact that the Brass Monkey is on the ground floor of an unassuming building in Koreatown, don't let its location fool you. It gets wild in here. Make sure you arrive early to get a place to sit and to put your name in the queue. Once the crowd picks up it REALLY picks up, so an early arrival is suggested (espeically thurs-sat nights). If you're having a party, phone ahead and reserve yourself a table. The crowd at this place is warm and inviting. The booze gets flowing and every song turns into a sing along, so don't kill the vibe by choosing something obscure and run the risk of changing the tempo of the whole night. I have seen some great performances here, but it doesn't mean that you have to be a great singer to give a great performance. This is a great place to let your hair down and go for that rockstar moment that you have always imagined yourself having! No worries that anyone would fault you for hitting a sour note because that's what karaoke bars are made of! Beware that there is a two drink minimum and that the venue is not huge, so be patient with your bartender and they will reward you with a good stiff drink. Also if you are hoping to get more than one round at the mic make sure you remember to have good etiquette and tip your karaoke DJ!

Niki Christina Nov 28, 2012 3.0 stars Gem of a dive bar I came here with a friend for karaoke upon the suggestion of author and journalist Neil Strauss after meeting him at another karaoke bar in Santa Monica. This place is pretty small so it can get crowded pretty fast if you don't get there early or call ahead to make reservations for your party. Luckily, we found a couple of seats at the edge of the bar. We each only got to sing one song and a few beers each. The staff here was really friendly. The people were chill. And the male bartender was looking might fine if I do say so myself. I'd come here again just for the bartender!

princess_die Oct 5, 2012 1.0 stars I think I prefer the song... Ok, a long time ago I liked this place...but that was before I had ever been to a handful of karaoke bars. There's a few reasons why I don't like this place: 1. It's small! This place can get really crowded on a fri/sat night, and if you're coming with a group, don't expect to have a seat. 2. Parking. Yes, while they have garage parking, you still have to pay even after midnight and sometimes there is no street parking. Either get there early enough to find street parking or split the parking with friends. 3. Not enough waitresses/bartenders! This was probably my biggest problem; they are way understaffed. Personal experience: Came here for a friends bday with a large group of friends. We managed to get seats for all of us but we only had one girl attend us along with the rest of the whole damn place. I'm sure she was overworked, but the main reason I was bothered was because I ordered three drinks, each at $6...girl comes back and says the total is $25. So i tell her, "ugh, no....3 drinks at $6 comes to $18" Her response, "It's with tip, I need to make my tip somehow." Last I remember, people earn a tip. So I did a douche move, got change for a twenty and gave her eighteen even. I really want to love this place again, but I doubt I'll ever go back! So many places out there that are just way better.

jellybean Oct 5, 2012 4.0 stars Brass Monkey!!!!! Love love love this place! It's cool, it's laid back, it's fantastic and the monkey menu..priceless!!!! Karoake is fun, people go up there and sing their soul away, Everyone is friendly and not afraid to have a cheers moment with random strangers! lol I recommend the Butterscotch Monkey, for those who want memorable monkey drinks and the Angus Ground Chuck Burger! omgg, the thought makes me hungry now lol No need for hot dresses here, jeans and some cute top and you are good to go!

Luna Bee Oct 2, 2012 2.0 stars Not bad, great for groups! This place has a wide selection of songs to choose from and provides a very entertaining atmosphere. On occasion you may find a celebrity or two. It's a bit hidden away, the drink prices are not too bad, but they shouldn't do a two drink minimum and if you can't get your song in, then join in the chorus or dance along with whoever is up singing. If you are going in a group, call ahead for a reservation...beats having to stand around. It's not the biggest place in the world. Remember, get there early to get your song in, if you arrive at late 11pm, chances are you may not get one in. Parking? They validate! Food? Actually pretty good. The crowd? Ranges in variety from your yuppie types, hipsters, hip hoppers and just the average people. I recommend you go in a group of 5, well worth it!

Ian Camacho Aug 21, 2012 2.0 stars A Monkey Business It's hard to believe now when you see how PACKED this place gets on a Friday or Saturday night, but this bar was actually once struggling until Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane helped put this place on the map. That's why you will see so many of his character posters on the walls...especially the Evil Monkey, which is now the bar's unofficial logo. In fact, come during one the off nights and you might even catch a rare appearance with the rest of the cast, often singing as their characters. Since it is behind a building and off the street, it's understandable that nobody found it until then. Especially during the day, which is dead if you happen to stumble upon this place then. But if you're going at night, now you can just follow in the huge crowds of college kids pouring in, or look for the GIANT doorknob sticking out from the wall. Seriously, I'm not kidding about the crowds. If you come during Thursday, Fridays or Saturdays, be sure to arrive early so you can get street parking (or even garage parking which fills up fast), order your two drink minimum early, and put in your song requests early. For that reason, you might somewhat feel rushed and overwhelming as everyone else around you is also vying for the attention of the DJ and the waitstaff. It can be pretty hard to hear the person next to you unless you get one of the booths in the back, but the tradeoff is you miss out on seeing the karaoke or grabbing a waiter's attention. Mixed drinks are a bit on the pricier side, and if you don't know about the two drink minimum, it can be a bit of an unpleasant surprise since ordering food does not count towards this. But it's hard to forget since security monitors everyone's drinks and will kick you out if you don't reach quota. That said, they do have a great variety of mixed drinks - all of which are monkey named or themed, which ties in with the bar's theme. Speaking of, don't blow your one shot on THAT Beastie Boys song; they play it at least 20 times a night already between other songs as is their unofficial song...or Livin' on a Prayer. Be original folks!