Karaoke in Waco: The Best Spots for Baylor Students to Sing the Night Away
Waco's karaoke scene is more active than most students realize — and if you're planning a birthday night out, a Greek social event, or just a low-key Thursday with your apartment crew, you have more options than the one venue that shows up on every Google search. The real trick is knowing which venues run karaoke on which nights, which are 21+ only, and how far each is from S 8th Street.
Here's the full guide to karaoke in Waco, organized so you can actually plan around it.
TrueLove Bar: Waco's Best Karaoke Venue (21+ Only)
If you're over 21, TrueLove Bar at 414 Franklin Ave is the place to go. It's consistently rated the best karaoke experience in Waco, with karaoke running Wednesday through Sunday starting as early as 6pm — you don't have to wait until midnight to get a turn at the mic.
The space divides into three distinct areas: an inside karaoke room where the main action happens, a chill lounge in the middle, and an outdoor patio. The atmosphere is relaxed and inclusive — nobody expects you to be a great singer, and the crowd genuinely gets into everyone's performance. Craft beers, arcade games, and the occasional live music event round out the experience on non-karaoke nights.
Details:
- Address: 414 Franklin Ave, Waco TX 76701 (~2 miles from 19Eleven)
- Hours: Wed 8pm–2am, Thu–Sun 6pm–2am; closed Mon–Tue
- Age requirement: 21+ strictly enforced — valid physical photo ID required, no exceptions
- Google rating: 4.2★ (754 reviews)
- Website: truelovebar.com
For students at 19Eleven on S 8th Street, TrueLove is about a 10-minute Uber. Split a ride with two or three friends and you're looking at $5–7 each way. For a Friday or Saturday night that revolves around singing, it's the definitive Waco karaoke experience.
Twisted Sisters Patio Bar: Highest-Rated and Under-21-Friendly
Twisted Sisters at 115 Mary Ave holds a 4.7★ rating from 348 Google reviews — the highest-rated karaoke bar in Waco by rating. They run karaoke on Thursdays, and the patio bar plus boutique concept gives it a more relaxed vibe than a typical dive bar. Themed nights cycle through regularly, so the Thursday crowd is usually in the mood for something fun.
For groups that mix 21+ and under-21 students, Twisted Sisters is the better call for Thursday nights — you're not losing half your friend group at the door.
- Address: 115 Mary Ave, Waco TX 76701 (~2 miles from 19Eleven)
- Hours: Opens 2pm daily
- Karaoke: Thursdays
- Website: twistedsisterspatiobar.com
Scruffy Murphy's: Closest Option to 19Eleven
For students living at 19Eleven on S 8th Street, Scruffy Murphy's at 1226 Speight Ave is your closest karaoke spot — roughly 1 mile away on a street that connects directly to Baylor's south campus. It's a late-night dive bar that draws a Baylor-area crowd and opens at 9pm, so it's better for a night that starts late.
Karaoke nights at Scruffy's rotate, so check their Facebook page for the current schedule. When the timing lines up, it's the most convenient option if you want to avoid a Uber entirely.
- Address: 1226 Speight Ave, Waco TX 76706 (~1 mile from 19Eleven)
- Hours: Opens 9pm
- Karaoke: Check Facebook for current nights; verify current age policy
Chapter 11: Weekend Option for Late-Night Karaoke
Chapter 11 at 819 Esther Street runs karaoke on Fridays and Saturdays from 9pm to 2am. If TrueLove Bar is packed on a weekend or you want to try a different venue without committing to a long wait, Chapter 11 is worth adding to your rotation.
The Waco Karaoke Junkies: The Weeknight Secret
Most students overlook this entirely, but Waco has a dedicated karaoke DJ circuit called Waco Karaoke Junkies — a Facebook group with 1,600+ followers that runs a weekly rotating schedule across multiple bars, mostly on weeknights when covers and crowds are lower.
The typical weekly lineup:
- Monday: Granny's, 8–11pm
- Tuesday: Don Carlos
- Wednesday: Fuzzy Taco (or TrueLove Bar from 8pm if you're 21+)
- Thursday: Hooters, 8:30pm
- Check the group for updates — venues rotate seasonally, and the schedule gets posted weekly
This circuit is how locals find cheap weeknight karaoke without paying a cover at the same venue every week. If you're on a tighter budget or just want something spontaneous on a Tuesday, the Karaoke Junkies schedule is worth bookmarking.
Karaoke by Night of the Week
Planning a night out from 19Eleven? Here's your reference:
| Night | Best Pick | Notes | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Granny's via Karaoke Junkies | Low-key start | Check venue |
| Tuesday | Don Carlos via Karaoke Junkies | Casual weeknight | Check venue |
| Wednesday | TrueLove Bar, 8pm | Best dedicated room | 21+ |
| Thursday | Twisted Sisters | Highest-rated; mixed ages | All ages |
| Friday | TrueLove Bar, 6pm | Full karaoke experience | 21+ |
| Saturday | TrueLove Bar, 6pm | Busiest night; arrive early | 21+ |
| Sunday | TrueLove Bar, 6pm | Quieter; shorter song queues | 21+ |
For students under 21: Twisted Sisters on Thursday, Scruffy Murphy's on karaoke nights, Chapter 11 on weekends, and the Karaoke Junkies weeknight circuit are your best bets any night of the week.
Tips for Planning a Karaoke Night
Arrive early at TrueLove on weekends. Friday and Saturday fill up quickly, especially during Baylor game days or homecoming week. Getting there right when karaoke starts at 6pm means first access to the song queue and your choice of seats.
For large groups, call ahead. Groups of 8 or more should check whether the main karaoke room at TrueLove or the karaoke section at Twisted Sisters can accommodate everyone. For 2–4 people, walking in is almost always fine.
Pick crowd-pleasers. Classic songs — Whitney Houston, Journey, anything from the early 2000s — get the room involved. If part of your group isn't planning to sing, choosing something with a recognizable chorus means they can still participate.
Know your transportation. From 19Eleven, Scruffy Murphy's is 1 mile — rideshare runs $5–7. TrueLove Bar and Twisted Sisters are ~2 miles downtown — a $10–12 Uber split between two or three people. Make sure your ride home is figured out before the last call rush.
Baylor student discounts: Some venues offer specials on slower weeknights — it's worth asking when you arrive, especially at Scruffy Murphy's and Twisted Sisters.
Other Waco Nightlife Worth Knowing
Karaoke is one option — Waco's bar and entertainment scene has more going on than most students expect. Check out the Waco nightlife guide for a full breakdown of what's downtown, or the happy hour guide if you're working with a tighter budget. For game nights out, the sports bars guide covers the best game day spots near campus.
If you're living at 19Eleven, the neighborhood page shows what's within a short ride of S 8th Street — most of these venues fall within a standard Uber radius from the complex.
Make Your Next Night Out Easy
Living at 19Eleven Apartments on S 8th Street puts you within 1–2 miles of most of Waco's social scene — close enough that a spontaneous Thursday karaoke run at Twisted Sisters or a Saturday night at TrueLove Bar doesn't require planning more than an hour in advance.
If you haven't toured yet, schedule a visit to see the loft-style units, indoor pool, and study rooms that make 19Eleven a good base for everything else Waco has to offer. Or browse floor plans and pricing — 1BR from $1,035, 4BR from $1,750 split among four people.
