Great dive bar! Clean, cold beer, golden tee, juke box and the friendliest bar tender! Mayra was awesome. She remembered our names, was engaging and was on the spot when our beers were low. U could tell the regulars loved her, too! There are pool tables and on January 10th they're having a groovy band. Try it! read more

Definitely your local karaoke bar, a few strangers here and there, but an amazing environment with amazing people working there!

This is a dive bar and I'm sure they arent trying to be anything but that. WE came in here on a Saturday afternoon/early night and the place was so quiet felt kinda like a library. However once you went toward the West side of the bar (you could hear the 70s/80s music which I really love that old school rock. This was the plus to the night. We played a few games of pool on the one table that worked, you know how that goes. Every bar has one table that just doenst work and you know odds are it probably never will again. WE ordered one drink each and were out. It was due to the shift change over. one girl was leaving *(the normal one) and the 2nd girl showed up in her pj/s and was cussing out so many people in the bar and cussing whilst retelling a story about how she cussed out someone during a previous encounter there in the bar and how she threatened to fight her etc. OHHH ok. so its that kinda bar. or maybe she was trying to look hard? who knows. Either way I felt uncomfortable because we were obviously not regulars and were never asked if we needed a new drink.. we were out . We went to Specs and got some supplies there and made it a Ghost Adventures kinda night...without being cussed at. read more

Great crowd. Very friendly and welcoming. Bartenders were on the ball and serving tasty drinks. Highly recommend coming here even if you don't want to sing karaoke. read more

I always end up having a great time at Canary Roost! Myra, Tia, and April are THE bartenders! The atomsphere is just comfortable-- nobody cares what you are wearing as long as you've come to sing, laugh, and have a good time! Don't walk in with any snooty attititude or the regulars will make fun of you. =) Seriously folks, it's a local non-downtown karoke bar. You wanna get treated crummy and be pushed and shoved for a drink, then go downtown. Since it's located near ACC, there is a great mixture of students and locals. It's bring your own food, which is so awesome that Double Daves is next door! The bathrooms can run out of paper towels, but just give one of the AWESOME bartenders a heads up and they'll take care of it. Love Canary!! read more

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The Bartender was rude and there was a weird smell. We came in for karaoke and it smelled bad like throw up. Then the bartender ignored us when we tried to order. read more

Started visiting canary on my lunch breaks when working on Metric. I absolutely love this place. Very quiet....Great service. I recently found out about Karaoke night....loved that as well. Cheap beer, nice drinks. Highly Recommended!!!! read more

Cute local place! Friendly staff and awesome at home feel. Will be coming back to check out the karaoke nights!

Maybe I came on a bad night... The husband and I decided to check this place out last night. We live in the neighborhood and were excited to try the neighborhood bar. Unfortunately, that excitement was short lived once we began our order. Popular drinks that I mentioned were unknown to the bartender and she did not look happy to have to take the time to wait on us. There was a look of disdain on her face as we ordered and she made us feel as if we were bothering her. I finally ordered a drink she knew how to make, a vodka martini, dirty. My husband ordered a bottled beer - you cannot go wrong with that. When we got our drinks, I took a sip and was immediately disappointed. The olive juice was rancid! That is the most accurate word I could use to describe this drink - absolutely rancid! Between the unwelcoming customer service and the rancid drink, we will not be returning here. read more

This place reminds me of my old comfy shoes. Old looking, a little worn, familiar and goes great with my "I don't care" pants. Friendly bartenders. Colorful patrons. The occasional terrible karaoke. Good prices. Across from ACC so plenty of sociable students interested in talking about an array of random topics. For a calm night away from the meat market bars this is the place. Oh and parking? Plenty. read more

The Canary Roost - Karaoke Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great little karaoke spot but unfortunately the most rude and mean bartender I've ever encountered anywhere (the blonde one). Vegas bartenders are nicer... and also 10x as busy. Group of friends and I were there for one's birthday and he's a regular. Once the bar cleared out I went to order my second beer and said "when you have a sec can I please get another Dos Equis?" She responded "I don't have a sec and I'm not going to" . This is when I asked to close out with my one beer and she didn't even acknowledge me just yelled across the bar to another bartender (who was very nice) and told him to close me out. He ended up quickly serving me another beer because it was not at all busy but then we all began to cash out and leave due to her horrible, unprovoked attitude. Won't be back, sadly and have told everyone we know how bizarre that whole experience was. Y'all would sell a lot more drinks and in turn, make a lot more tips if this woman could even just act like she gave a sh**. Unfortunately, she drives a lot of business away though. Lot of others around said "she's always like that." Which sucks because she completely destroys the cool atmosphere there with her terrible energy. read more

Cool place to sing. Enjoyed and would definitely return. Not too long of a wait which is good especially if you have a song on your heart to get out. read more

Such a fun dive bar! We love going here and highly recommend it to people who live in the area!

Dirty, dingy and smelly. The wait for karaoke was 1 1/2 hours at 9 pm. The crowd was very much my junior, but I stayed anyways for a couple songs. No, I repeat, no non-alcohol beer selection. The bartenders wasn't particularly friendly or prompt. I may have tipped. I probably shouldn't have. read more

Every h time I have been here the staff have great however I do feel they have a rigged Karoake system where the regulars come and chat up the DJ and get bumped up the line. Not worth it. read more

I live in walking distance and I love kareoke so I thought I'd walk on over and have a fun time. Unfortunately the bartender refused to serve me anything but water, but I happily drank the water anyway and continued the conversation I was having with other patrons there. Nobody was having any issue with my presence there and we were having a delightful conversation until the bartender decided that she didn't like it and told me I had to leave for no reason that I could surmise. I asked her for her name and she refused to tell me her name. If I were rightfully asking someone to leave I'd have no problem telling them my name as I would stand for what I believe is right. She couldn't do that apparently and absolutely refused to even identify herself but insisted that I leave regardless of the fact that I was doing nothing to warrant such an attitude. I was just chatting with people and probably would have spent at least $50 at your establishment and had a great time if not for the snooty bartender. I have no idea why she had such a negative attitude. Maybe she prefers that the establishment stay quiet. No talking allowed. Lame. That's too bad. Hopefully in the future y'all will hire bartenders who decide who not to serve based on actual reason instead of some personal preference having nothing to do with the actual situation at hand. read more

Honestly I recently discovered this place and I've been there 4 times. I love it. There are so many different types of ppl here and everyone is so friendly and cheerful especially when anyone sings. It's awesome. And it's not too crazy crowded but I have made friends every time I have gone. Keep up the good work. I'll def be a new regular. read more

Ooooo lawd. If questionable characters are your thing, you need to head to Canary Roost in a hurry. Not Canary Hut Pub, the dueling bar a few streets over. Oh, you might walk into CHP and think hey, I'm at the right place with the sketchy kids Dej was talking about. No my dear hearts, it becomes markedly more... rustic at Canary Roost. I don't remember the last total eclipse of the heart I had before stopping in at this joint, but this time it was heartbreaking as ever. The chick running the karaoke equipment can belt a few out herself when things slow down, and even when things aren't slow I think the woman has a right to the tunes she sneaks in. With the staff giving you cheap stiff ones and hardened crooners giving you the blues, you'll want to give a little bit. Give a little bit of your time to them. But then get in your car and get home quick. read more

What little boy DIDN'T stand in front of the mirror with hairbrush in hand, fantasizing about being on stage belting out show tunes at the top of his lungs?! Not me! I remember practicing for hours on end. I sang hits by all the masters...Bette Midler, Cher, Madonna, Whitney... Aaaahhh, fond memories. Well, if you are anything like me, you too can relive your childhood. Cruise on over to the Canary for nightly karaoke. they have all the classics from the Spice Girls to Heart. Need liquid courage? Fear not! Cheap drinks served in old school stemware. Draft and bottle beers. All these beverages will help lubricate your vocal cords and prepare you to belt out some tunes. Singing isn't your thing? That's OK. Feel free to watch the other performers or throw some darts or shoot some pool. One little tip...arriving before karaoke actually starts is not advisable. Before the melodies begin, the place can be a little...um...depressing... PS...they have karaoke leagues! Yes...leagues!!!! How awesome is that? read more

I came here with some friends in search of Karaoke. That part at least was pretty good. Unfortunately the place was filled up with smoke so thick you could see it hanging in the air, assmuppets who were so drunk they couldn't stand upright and kept banging into me and my table, and worst of all...they ripped me off. See, here's the thing. When I go out drinking with one of my friends, I can write it off on my taxes (don't ask). He was there. I save all my receipts by practice anyway and file the ones that I can write off with notations. When I looked at my statement, there was a second credit card charge for twenty bucks. I assumed it was a mistake or something so I contacted them and waited to hear back. and waited and waited Finally I had to go in (after two more messages left for the mysterious manager) and wait for her to show up. I talked to her about it, yada yada, friendly, yada, I'll get right back to you... and waited and waited To make this long-ass story a little shorter, she refused to do anything about it. REFUSED! Flat out. Told me it was my fault and they had a receipt for it. I said...With my signature on it? No reply. She got mad at me because she said I was calling her bartenders who were her friends liars. This lady was more like a teenager than a manager, So, in summation: screw this place, the owner (who apparently is a little old greedy bastard from what I've been told), and their other canary place. They'll never get anymore business from me and I've made a point of telling anyone who'll listen not to go either. read more

Date Night: Part III - The Wrath of Karaoke! Just Got Paid... (just got paid) Friday night (friday!)......Roost is hopping... Im feeling fine. (thanks Johnny Kemp for the lyrics!) Second time here (actually first time I walked in out/cuz there was no singing going on/setup) Walked in at the start of the K night, KJ can really sing damn him, and the book was nice (Digging Your Scene?? Seriously??) Drinks weren't too badly priced, but the Kamikaze I had was eww (remember, I don't drink!) The rest of the party loved them tho'! The atmosphere was weird, not exactly a dive bar, but no other term would describe the place. Good people watching. I don't like the way the KJ does rotations, but I am a karaoke snob I guess. So far the best of all worlds (close to the house, great songbook, non smoking.. although I miss stealing cancer from my friends outside smoking, nice singers) I will be back - read more

Like Dej M. said, "Ooooh lawd." I have been here a lot. I only remember a few times. The drinks are cheap. The company is indeed questionable, myself and my friends included. One of the bartenders is SUPER bitchy, but it works, considering the clientele. Karaoke is serious business. If you want a chance to sing, you need to get there before 10pm fo sho. I have personally never done karaoke, ever, but if I do, it will 110% be here. The pool tables are generally occupied but if you're a good ol' boy, or at least aren't an asshole, you can always manage to sidle in. Don't leave the back door open if you're going to smoke or the bartender will kill you, just FYI. read more

Angry Blonde Bartender didn't seem all that angry the other night. In fact, she smiled! Several times! That makes ordering drinks a lot more pleasant. And they have Blue Moon on tap now. The wait to get to sing is still incredibly long on the weekends. read more

One of the best and fun dives I've been to in Austin, very chill environment and good drink prices.

I've been a regular at the Roost for several years. There's karaoke every night, and the drinks are cheap. It's true that high tippers (like me) get faster service, and I don't blame the bartenders for it. These girls work hard and they're great to hang out with. I meet the best weirdos Austin has to offer here, and they don't make fun of me when I drink too much or when my singing sounds like mating season at the zoo. It's the best dive in North Austin. read more

The Canary Roost is absolutely one of my favorites bars in town. Though I'm a true lover of karaoke. But even if you're not, the people are always friendly, the drinks are strong (and cheap), and always fun. It's a bit of a divey bar, but that's what gives it charm. They also host weekly tailgate parties (food provided) for UT football games as well as other events. Sunday-Thursday karaoke starts at 10pm, Friday and Saturday it starts at 9pm. And Wednesday-Sunday karaoke is provided by Diamond Karaoke who has the largest karaoke selection in town! The Canary Roost is also home the North Division of the National Karaoke League on Wednesdays 8-10pm. I'm talking competitive karaoke here, folks. And it's amazing. read more

Bar is nice enough. But the karaoke is not organized well. I sang once last night at 9:15 and never again appeared on the list. I was in the line at around 10:30. She said it would be another 38 minutes unless someone else new enters a song. That's not how the rotation should work. Seriously...one song in two hours? That's not fun. It wasn't even that busy. I'm less inclined to go back for karaoke after my experience last night. Water Tank is much better value for the time spent. You get to sing a lot more because the line is organized more efficiently. read more

Avoid this place, the mngr Janet (some of the regulars had a nickname for her but cant remember atm)the rudest person ever.. Not to mention you'll have to wait for your drinks until they feel like it, they'll go right by you and ignore you. read more

Love Mayra and April too! Miss Tia tonight! Best company ever and best bartenderdress ever!

The clientele here is alway interesting, and the karaoke is always happening. These are the two (and only two) reasons to go here. I could go on about how smoky it is, but apparently (according to another review) it is smoke free now. Instead I will give you a memorable conversation I had with a woman there several years ago. Attractive woman walks by with full sleeves. 50-60 yr old unattractive woman: "I don't understand why girls do that to themselves" Me: (grumble)"uh-huh" (lean in towards my friends) 50-60 yr old unattractive woman: "I mean she is attractive, why does she need to do that?" Me: (leans in farther towards friends who are now purposefully ignoring me because they are assholes) "uh-huh" 50-60 yr old unattractive woman: "Nobody did that to their bodies when I was growing up" Me: (heavy sigh) "I don't know, I kind of like her tats" 50-60 yr old unattractive woman: "Tits! I'll show you tits! (bends and the waist and leans into me and pushes her cleavage together) Me: (turn around, deer in headlights) (friends look at me, deer in headlights) (everybody bursts out laughing) Pictures of me taken with woman shortly thereafter. read more

Racism is alive here. Bartenders and bouncers kicked out my friend just for having a certain look on his face. He was completely calm and he got kicked out. read more

I had a good ol time here! Me and a couple of co-workers went here to let loose and sing some songs. Two of my co-workers did and excellent job of MJ's Man in the Mirror! It was truly unforgettable! The staff all seemed nice and friendly there. I had fun and I loved the divey atmosphere. read more

Just got back from a good time with my friends. Definitely fun times. Good karaoke. Acceptably strong drinks. It's a good way to pass time on a Friday night. The only real negatives about this place are that the size leads to some drunken bumping-into and subsequent aggro behavior a little now and then. There's also the blond bartender chick. I don't know if she's the owner or just a bartender or what, but she is the surliest, most unpleasant bar staff person I've ever dealt with - and I played punk music in dives in DC. I'm not sure if she really hates her job that much, but most of the time when I come to get a drink she gets that look in her eye like she would rather eat her own young than deal with me or anyone else around me. It gets kind of old. I deal with customers too, and if you're that pissed off all the time, an office job might be for you. Just sayin'. I know a lot of ignorance goes on at that place and it might make you lose your patience, but if you make me feel like I asked to perform a gynecological exam on you EVERY SINGLE TIME I have contact with you or ask for a drink, I think it might be time for me to stop going to the bar you work at. read more

I've been going here infrequently for the past couple years with my friends to enjoy the drinks and Diamond Karaoke on the weekends. It's a good place for karaoke if you live up north near Metric and Braker. I prefer Saturday nights because Friday nights seem more crowded. Saturday nights start slower and get busier around 11 or 12, so if you're a hardcore karaoke fan you can get more songs in if you get there early (9 or 10). Sunday nights are good too if you're song greedy. One Sunday there was just 6 of us and we were singing and drinking shots. Sometimes there's a fantastic and very enthused crowd for karaoke and those are the best nights. For drinks they have some cute bar-specific ones named after the bar tenders. I like the Cary's Cherry. I usually get a vodka and cranberry which has worked out well the past couple times. We also enjoy the Modelos. They have some bar snacks (cheesy poofs!) and they are next door to Double Daves if you're peckish but no regular bar food. Sometimes after football games there's a food buffet. I love Diamond Karaoke, especially Brian and Kristen. Brian has worked hard on the song selection and all the KJs are awesome and nice. If you're there often they remember your name. I've been away for months at times and they still remember me. They're all great singers, too. My only complaint is the tables and chairs. They're awkward and uncomfortable. read more

My first impression upon walking in..."I guess if I was having an affair, this would be a good spot to meet up with the secret lover." I happened upon this bar in a waiting pattern. I actually had time to kill but needed to "tinkle" and pulled into this retail strip. I only guessed there was a bar because two older men were standing the allocated distance from the door smokin'. If the lights work on the sign, they weren't on yet. It was between Double Dave's next door and this unknown spot for use of their restroom...I decided to be adventurous and check out the Roost and have an adult beverage. Ultimately, I'm glad I happened in. The vibe was dive bar all the way...some clearly regular folk mixing it up and watching sports. Friendly service...I suspect I was pre-karaoke rush. Honestly, it feels/looks like a bit more polished version of some of the South Louisiana or small town Texas dives I've visited. I like that just fine. Full bar...all the shot fixins...typical beer selection...oh and Franzia box wine. Beat that! read more

Phenomenal service and friendly warm staff! If you're a karaoke person or not this is a great venue to have good time with friends! Highly recommend this venue!:) read more

The g.f. and I love the roost. All of the bartenders are always super chill towards us, the prices are great, the atmosphere is always high energy and fun even if there aren't very many people and the pool tables are only a buck!! (As opposed to all of those places in Austin that require you to pay by the hour =( I would highly suggest that everyone roost like a canary at least once while in Austin. I can assure you that the intimate atmosphere and low prices will not disappoint. read more

Canary Roost is one of the hidden gems of north Austin. Full of characters, great prices and one of the best Karaoke bars in the city!

I really had to wait several days after going to Canary Roost to decide on how to review it. You see i had a somewhat adventuresome ordeal trying to get home after meeting some friends up here. This would include being abandoned at the bar near closing time without my cell or coinage for a pay phone. Walking, walking, almost getting jumped, walking, almost getting mauled by a guard dog, more walking, realizing I'm lost, walking. Thank god for 24 hour Wal Marts. Oh...about the Canary Roost. I suppose its not fair to blame them for my drunk friend who left me alone there at a strange bar. I did have a great time while i was there. When i saw the Karaoke crowd moving in and starting to sing i thought, "Oh boy...this cant be good". But i was wrong. Those guys and gals were really pretty damn good. Actually very entertaining. The wide selections of songs were cool and funny. We played a bunch of pool while imbibing and listening. After having Rita's previously over at the Iron Cactus, i thought i was being smart to drop it down to a few beers. But last thing i remember before my trek was Jaeger Bombs...Never again...I've said that how many times now...No more Jaeger Bombs ! So I kinda dig Canary Roost's semi-dive bar vibe and cool crowd. I just have to remember to come prepared next time. But hey, dude...and you know who you are ...pay backs a bitch buddy ! read more

It is close to home. They always have strong drunks. Weeknights for pool it is fun.