Bow Bow Cocktail Lounge
Cocktail bar · Chinatown ·
Dimly lit Chinatown karaoke lounge with potent drinks
Dimly lit Chinatown karaoke lounge with potent drinks
"There are no private rooms or elevated stages at this karaoke bar—just a TV on the back wall, a book packed with songs from “Footloose” to “Forever Young”, and a microphone that’s up for grabs (if there’s a lull, the owner will happily snag it for an impromptu solo). The moody Chinatown dive is the ideal landing spot after a night out in the neighborhood, especially if your preferred way to end a bar crawl is by belting a power ballad at the top of your lungs. Plus, the drinks are cheap. If you’re not into performing, you can just play Yahtzee while listening to drunk people try to sing." - ricky rodriguez, julia chen 1
"There are no private rooms or elevated stages at this karaoke bar—just a TV on the back wall, a book packed with songs from “Footloose” to “Forever Young,” and a microphone that’s up for grabs (if there’s a lull, the owner will happily snag it). The moody Chinatown dive is the ideal landing spot after a night out in the neighborhood, especially if your preferred way to end a bar crawl is by belting a power ballad at the top of your lungs. Plus, the drinks are cheap. If you’re not into performing publicly, you can just play Yahtzee while listening to drunk people try to sing." - Julia Chen
"A karaoke bar may seem an odd choice for a breakup spot, but the more you think about it, the more genius it becomes. There’s plenty of music to drown out any of the more heated moments in your conversation, people are too focused on the singer to notice you, and you can even sing a swan song if needed." - Dianne de Guzman
"On an unassuming Chinatown side street lies Bow Bow Lounge, the narrow, red-hued lair of proprietress Mama Candy. Here, enthusiastic karaoke-ers perform into the night, bolstered by one (or several) of the potent beverages served behind the bar." - Eater Staff
"Hsiu-Mei Wong, aka Mama Candy, has owned Chinatown karaoke dive bar Bow Bow Cocktail Lounge for 33 years; the legendary spot (1155 Grant Avenue) was once called one of the “Worst Bars In America” for exactly the same rough-around-the-edges qualities that make it beloved, and SF Gate described the bar as displaying the “distress of years of rubbed elbows.” Wong now tends the bar only on Fridays and Saturdays, but Bow Bow remains open 365 days a year." - Eve Batey
