Find 26 stand-up comedy clubs in New York, New York. Browse venues, open mic nights, show schedules, and tickets.
New York has more comedy happening on any given night than most cities have in a week. The Comedy Cellar on MacDougal Street in the Village is the most famous room in American comedy — it's where drop-ins happen, where Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock show up unannounced, and where the show format (5-7 comics, 10-15 minute sets each) has been imitated everywhere. It's 21+, seats 120, and sells out most weekends. The Cellar also runs Village Underground and The Fat Black Pussycat — same booking philosophy, slightly different rooms — so there's usually availability somewhere in the complex.
Gotham Comedy Club in Chelsea is the announced-headliner alternative — 300 seats, all ages, and you know exactly who you're seeing before you buy. It's the better pick for a date night or a first-time visitor who wants a guaranteed quality show without the lottery element of the Cellar. The Stand in Gramercy pairs comedy with a full restaurant and is a step up in comfort from most clubs. Broadway Comedy Club on W 53rd is the most tourist-accessible room in the city — 225 seats, 16+, and multiple shows a night. New York Comedy Club on E 24th and their East Village location run solid showcases at a lower price point.
For improv and alternative comedy, UCB East Village is the anchor. Magnet Theater and The Pit do strong longform improv in Chelsea. Caveat on Clinton Street in the Lower East Side books the smartest, most unusual comedy in the city — science shows, storytelling, variety — and it's worth checking even if you don't know the acts. The Brooklyn spots (Bell House in Gowanus, Union Hall in Park Slope, Littlefield in Gowanus) run strong comedy shows alongside music and are worth the trip across the bridge.
The Comedy Cellar on MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village has been the informal home base of New York comedy since the 1980s, with Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, and Amy Schumer all making regular unannounced appearances over the years.
The West Village (MacDougal Street) has the highest density of comedy venues in the city. If you are coming from outside Manhattan, the A/C/E or B/D/F/M trains to West 4th Street put you within a 5-minute walk of multiple clubs.
The Comedy Cellar at 117 MacDougal St books online through their website — no walk-up reservations for the main room. Reserve early for weekend shows, which sell out regularly. The club runs three connected rooms: the original MacDougal room (120 seats), Village Underground around the corner (200 seats), and The Fat Black Pussycat (120 seats). All three are booked from the same lineup pool, so if one room is sold out, check the others. The club is 21+ and has a two-item minimum.
The Comedy Cellar uses a showcase format — you don't know exactly who you're seeing until the night of, and drop-ins from famous comedians happen regularly. Gotham Comedy Club in Chelsea (208 W 23rd St) announces its headliners in advance, so you know exactly who you're seeing when you buy tickets. Gotham is all ages, seats 300, and is the better pick for a planned date night or if you want to guarantee you're seeing a specific comic. The Cellar is the better pick if you want the authentic New York comedy experience and don't mind the surprise element.
Gotham Comedy Club and Broadway Comedy Club (318 W 53rd, Hell's Kitchen) are the most visitor-friendly rooms — clear bookings, good sightlines, and straightforward reservations. The Comedy Cellar is worth doing once for the experience. New York Comedy Club on E 24th is solid and affordable. LOL Times Square is convenient if you're already in Midtown. Avoid venues on 42nd Street that hand out flyers — the shows there charge tourist prices for below-average lineups.
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in the East Village (242 E 14th St) is NYC's flagship improv venue — shows run every night and tickets are cheap. Magnet Theater and The Pit (both in Chelsea near 29th St) run strong longform improv programs. All three are affordable and train the next generation of comedy writers and performers. UCB in particular has strong ties to Saturday Night Live and late-night TV.
Brooklyn has a genuine comedy scene. The Bell House in Gowanus (149 7th St) hosts comedy showcases alongside music events in a large converted warehouse. Union Hall in Park Slope (702 Union St) runs comedy nights in a basement space with a bocce court upstairs. Littlefield in Gowanus (635 Sackett St) books indie comedy, music, and variety. None of them are dedicated comedy clubs, but they host strong shows and are worth checking if you're already on that side of the bridge.