The World's Best Comedy Clubs

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Second City in Chicago.

Second City in Chicago.

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Sep 17, 2012 —  Need a good laugh to go with that drink? Then head on over to one of these hilarious comedy clubs for sidesplitting jokes and unforgiving crowds expecting to have their funny bones tickled. Whether you’re looking for light-hearted laughs or feel gutsy enough to get burned from the stage, these comedy clubs are guaranteed to deliver anything but a boring night. From the comedic birthplace of London to the hallowed grounds of LA and New York, these clubs keep us laughing at everything under the sun.

Come see crowd favorites like Louis C.K. and Sarah Silverman. Or discover someone new before they explode as the next big thing. There’s no better place than a great comedy club for cracking up with friends or meeting someone over a shared chuckle. From famous comedians roasting the latest celebrity snafu to rising stars of the comedy circuit, these top comedy clubs are sure to have you laughing all the way home. 

  • 1

    UCB Theatre (Upright Citizens Brigade)

    Comedy Club

    UCB Theatre (Upright Citizens Brigade) - Comedy Club in Los Angeles.
    Packed to the gills every night with earthy hipsters and a smattering of Hollywood industry types, the UCB Theatre is one of the coolest places in LA to catch up-and-coming comedy stars. Founded in 2005 by members of The Upright Citizens Brigade, which include Amy Poehler, the theater serves as a performance and writing school by day, but by night
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    Los Angeles

    5919 Franklin Avenue
    Los Angeles, CA 90028

    323‑908‑8702

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  • 2

    Second City

    Comedy Club

    Second City - Comedy Club in Chicago.
    With a list of alums that includes everyone from Bill Murray and Jon Belushi to Steve Carell and Tina Fey, Second City is undeniably one of the most influential comedy theaters in the country. Founded in 1959 by a small group of University of Chicago students, the prolific club and its nightly menu of comics, laughs, and drinks still attract a
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    Chicago

    1616 North Wells Street
    Chicago, IL 60614

    312‑337‑3992

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  • 3

    Comedy Cellar

    Bar / Comedy Club / Restaurant

    Comedy Cellar - Bar | Comedy Club | Restaurant in New York.
    One of New York’s most hallowed halls of stand-up, the Comedy Cellar – which has hosted the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chapelle, and Jon Stewart – remains a go-to venue for tourists, groups of giggling college students, and business types in the market for a few good laughs. A hallway hung floor to ceiling with headshots of the Cellar’s past
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    New York

    117 MacDougal Street
    New York, NY 10012

    212‑254‑3480

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  • 4

    The Comedy Store

    Comedy Club

    The Comedy Store - Comedy Club in London.
    The Comedy Store, in London’s Soho neighborhood, was opened in 1979 and inspired by American comedy clubs. Performances at The Comedy Store include live stand-up comedy shows by comedians like Robin Williams, Clive Anderson, and Eddie Izzard on its stage. In 1985, The Comedy Store announced the creation of its own improv comedy group, The Comedy
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    London

    Haymarket House/1A Oxendon Street
    St James, London SW1Y 4EE

    0844 871 7699

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    The DC Improv

    Bar / Comedy Club / Restaurant

    The DC Improv - Bar | Comedy Club | Restaurant in Washington, DC.
    Ever since DC native Dave Chappelle and budding comedienne Ellen DeGeneres took the stage at The DC Improv when it first opened in 1992, the comedy club has remained the city’s premier spot to catch quality stand-up. Hosting a mix of well-known and local talent, the basement venue draws a steady stream of tourists and anyone else in need of a few
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    Washington, DC

    1140 Connecticut Avenue NW
    Washington, DC 20036

    202.296.7008

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  • 6

    Nick's Comedy Stop

    Comedy Club

    Nick's Comedy Stop - Comedy Club in Boston.
    Named by the Improper Bostonian as Boston’s best comedy club for 2012, Nick’s Comedy Stop has been serving up laughs for nearly three decades. Many young unknowns have graced the stage at Nick’s over the years, as well as some notable heavy hitters including Jerry Seinfeld, Dane Cook, Steve Allen, and Dennis Leary. Comedy shows at Nick’s Comedy
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    Boston

    100 Warrenton Street
    Boston, MA 02116

    617‑438‑1068

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  • 7

    Boom Chicago

    Comedy Club

    Boom Chicago - Comedy Club in Amsterdam.
    Boom Chicago is a comedy theater where fifty percent of the show is improvised, one hundred percent is hilarious, and patrons are guaranteed to laugh out loud for the entire two-hour performance. Giving away any part of the act would be a disservice, so spectators should just go with an open mind and prepare to be entertained – or even to
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    Amsterdam

    Rozengracht 117

    1016 LV Amsterdam

    020 4230101

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  • 8

    Improv (Los Angeles, CA)

    Bar / Comedy Club

    Improv (Los Angeles, CA) - Bar | Comedy Club in Los Angeles.
    Those who love a good, politically incorrect laugh will want to make a beeline for the Improv, one of the best comedy clubs in the country featuring an eclectic group of comics telling very edgy jokes with very little filter. Once the stomping grounds for legendary performers like Bill Cosby and Steve Martin, the venue now hosts some of the best
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    Los Angeles

    8162 Melrose Avenue
    Los Angeles, CA 90046

    323‑651‑2583

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  • 9

    Le Comedy Club

    Comedy Club

    Le Comedy Club - Comedy Club in Paris.
    Located in the old-school Parisian theater district surrounding metro stations Grand Boulevards and Bonne Nouvelle, Le Comedy Club is dedicated to comic acts as well as music. Under the direction of French actor/comic/all-around star Jamel Debbouze (remember the one-armed grocer in Amélie?), Le Comedy Club reopened in late 2009. Early evening
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    Paris

    42 Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle
    75010 Paris

    01 73 54 17 00

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    Cobb's Comedy Club

    Comedy Club

    Cobb's Comedy Club - Comedy Club in San Francisco.
    Located in the North beach neighborhood of San Francisco, Cobb’s Comedy Club is currently in its 30th year, boasting 400 seats and a rotating line-up of the best comedians in the industry Its performers are often regular guests on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show with David Letterman, have their own comedy specials on HBO or
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    San Francisco

    915 Columbus Avenue
    San Francisco, CA 94133

    415‑928‑4320

Author
Daniel Baker
Links

Comedy Clubs in LA   Comedy Clubs in NYC   Comedy Clubs in Chicago

Tags
Travel, Entertainment, Nightlife, Food & Drink, Comedy Club, Comedy Show, Stand-Up Comedy
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What are your favorite gut-busting spots?

Paul F.
Paul F. Sep 17, 2012
I'd throw the Groundlings and Largo at the Coronet on there in LA - the Coronet especially gets incredibly good comedians. Also Caroline's and Dangerfield's in New York.
Chris M.
Chris M. Sep 17, 2012
Great list, but iO in Chicago needs to be on this list. The funniest stuff I have ever seen has been at iO. Also my old living room should be on this list as well, as we hosted some great comedy there.

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