Castlebay Irish Pub in Baltimore: Karaoke Seven Nights a Week
Castlebay is a full-service Irish pub in Fells Point with a standing karaoke program that runs nightly, making it one of the few Baltimore venues where you can count on finding a stage open any day of the week rather than just weekends.
What Castlebay actually is
Located on Thames Street in Fells Point, Castlebay operates as a traditional Irish bar with a restaurant menu, full liquor service, and an in-house karaoke setup. The space accommodates both casual drinkers at the bar and groups gathered for food and singing. Unlike Baltimore karaoke venues that treat singing as a weekend sideline, Castlebay has embedded the program into its daily operation, which shapes both the regular crowd and song availability.
Karaoke schedule and pricing
Karaoke runs seven nights a week, typically starting in the evening and continuing late into the night. Song selections lean toward classic rock, Irish standards, pop, and country. There is no cover charge to enter or to sing. A house DJ manages the rotation, and the setup uses a standard system with a main stage area visible from most of the room. Pricing to sing is free; you pay only for food and drinks ordered at the bar.
How it compares to other Baltimore karaoke venues
Castlebay's seven-day-a-week schedule distinguishes it from venues like Howl at the Moon (Power Plant Live), which operates karaoke on select nights, typically Thursday through Saturday. Howl at the Moon charges a cover ($15 to $25 depending on the night) but draws larger crowds and offers a higher-energy dance atmosphere alongside singing. For singers seeking a no-cover, neighborhood-level experience with consistent availability, Castlebay favors accessibility over spectacle. Other Fells Point bars like Max's Tapas Bar occasionally host karaoke, but not on a nightly basis; Castlebay's daily program makes it the reliable choice for repeat singers in that neighborhood.
Who suits Castlebay and who does not
Castlebay works best for regulars, casual singers, and groups that want to eat and drink while maintaining flexibility about whether to sing. The atmosphere is conversational rather than performance-focused, so singers expecting a large, cheering audience or state-of-the-art sound equipment should look elsewhere. The Irish pub aesthetic and menu appeal to people seeking traditional pub food alongside karaoke, but not to those prioritizing a nightclub-style environment. The crowd on weeknights is smaller than weekends, making it ideal for less-confident singers; weekend crowds are larger but still neighborhood-scaled.
What the first visit involves
Arrive at Thames Street, find the bar, and order a drink or food from the menu. The DJ or bar staff will provide a song catalog (typically a physical book or tablet-based system) or take requests. Sign-up is informal; you add your name to a queue, and the DJ calls singers in order. Wait times depend on how many singers are ahead of you. On slower nights, you might sing within 15 minutes; on busier nights, 30 to 45 minutes is typical. The stage is small but well-lit, and the sound system is adequate for a pub setting.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Castlebay is located on Thames Street in Fells Point, a neighborhood with street parking and several paid lots within a few blocks. The bar's hours and karaoke start times vary seasonally and by day of the week; confirm current times before visiting. Street parking in Fells Point can be competitive, especially on weekends and evenings; the Canton Parking Garage is a paid alternative one block away on Fleet Street.
Castlebay earns its place in Baltimore's karaoke landscape by offering the one thing most other venues do not: a standing invitation to sing any night of the week without a cover charge or high barrier to entry.
