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What are the funniest Greenwich Village comedy clubs? New York City is known as a hub for stand up comedy, but for some of the best places you have to go downtown.
One neighborhood in particular has produced some of the biggest comedy legends: Greenwich Village, or the Village for short. From Joan Rivers to Woody Allen to Dave Chapelle, the Greenwich Village comedy scene shaped the careers of NYC’s best comedic talent and continues to do so today. If you’re looking for a laugh while visiting the city, all you have to do is head downtown.
To help you find the funny, we’ve put together a list of the best spots to try. (I also threw in a couple places that have roots in the Village, though they’re not here anymore, and might be worth a visit.)
So without further ado, here are the top five funniest Greenwich Village comedy clubs!
Saturday night is the funniest night of the week
We can’t talk about comedy in NYC without talking about the night (and TV show) that changed it forever. The city isn’t comedy’s birthplace, but it did give us this: “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!”
“Saturday Night Live” or “SNL” is the iconic sketch comedy show, created by Lorne Michaels, that has been on the air for 49 years this October. Today, the late-night show is popular for its celebrity guest hosts, irreverent brand of humor, and, of course, talented comedians who perform each week. But on Oct. 11, 1975, when the show first aired, this success seemed unlikely.
That’s what Jason Reitman’s latest film “Saturday Night” is all about — the chaos that happened 90 minutes before the show first aired. “Saturday Night” will be released on Oct. 11, in honor of SNL’s anniversary, if you’re interested in more NYC comedy history.
Don’t miss: Our new walking tour of Rockefeller Center, where many iconic shows like “Saturday Night Live” have been filmed.
1. The Comedy Cellar
Our first stop is The Comedy Cellar on MacDougal Street (a highlight of our Greenwich Village Walking Tour for its mix of comedy clubs and coffee shops), which is one of the most famous comedy clubs in Greenwich Village.
Not only is it a great place to see up-and-coming comics before they hit it big, it’s also a regular stomping ground for some of the world’s best. Everyone from former Saturday Night Live star Colin Quinn to Chris Rock often stop by to perform new material. You can even reserve a table at The Comedy Cellar’s restaurant the Olive Tree Cafe, where you might find your favorite comedians cracking jokes over hummus and kebabs.
Fun fact: The Comedy Cellar also has a venue at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, if you’re planning a trip to Sin City. (Yep, we’ve got Las Vegas tours too.)
Whether visiting NYC for a week or only a day, The Comedy Cellar is a piece of NYC stand-up comedy history that should not be missed. And who knows. You might discover the next big comedy star before they become rich and famous.
The club has two entrances: one on 117 MacDougal Street to access The Comedy Cellar and Olive Tree Cafe and one on 130 West 3rd Street to access The Village Underground and Fat Black Pussy Cat Bar and Lounge.
2. The Grisly Pear
The Grisly Pear is not only a great comedy club, but also a great bar. Watch a lineup of comedy veterans and newcomers while enjoying a great (and reasonably priced) food and drink menu.
Want to get on stage yourself? Head to The Grisly Pear for karaoke and open mic nights, but don’t expect the crowd to go easy on you if you choose to stand under the spotlight.
Local tip: The Grisly Pear has a Midtown (243 West 54th Street) and Greenwich Village (107 MacDougal Street) location, so you can head to whichever venue is closest to where you’re staying.
3. The Greenwich Village Comedy Club
Back where we started on Macdougal Street, we couldn’t leave The Greenwich Village Comedy Club off this list. Any night of the week, you can watch live performances from comedians featured on TV networks like NBC, Comedy Central, and Netflix. The club is also known for its LGBTQ+, Spanish-language, Asian, and South Asian shows. No matter who or what show you’re seeing, it’s always a party.
Part of a string of famous Village comedy spots, The Greenwich Village Comedy Club is located at 99 Macdougal Street. Keep in mind that the club offers comedy in an intimate setting, where comics tend to interact with the audience.
4. The Duplex
The Duplex on 61 Christopher Street is more than a comedy club — it’s a gay bar, it’s a piano bar, it’s a cabaret. But if you’re reading this, you’re looking to laugh, so let’s go upstairs for some stand-up comedy and some of NYC’s best drag shows.
Since it opened on Grove Street in 1951 (it only moved to Christopher Street in 1989), The Duplex has been a hotspot for fresh comic talent and other stars. Joan Rivers’ picture still hangs on the wall there — she’s rotated through all the Greenwich Village clubs — and Marlon Brando reportedly stopped by after the film premiere of “Guys and Dolls” in 1955.
No matter what’s on at The Duplex, you’re always in for a laugh. And if you come on a Friday or Saturday, be prepared to show off your moves because the space turns into a dance party complete with a DJ.
5. The Comedy Shop
Formerly known as the Lantern Comedy Club, The Comedy Shop is located inside the Ways & Means small plates restaurant and bar on 167 Bleecker Street. This intimate stage is the perfect place to watch comics test out their new and raw material.
They have two shows almost every night — one at 8 p.m. and one at 10 p.m. — performed by one of their regular comics, and you can sign up for their open mic slots if you’ve got an act you’d like to try out in front of an audience.
Bonus comedy club near Greenwich Village: UCB New York Theatre
We love Greenwich Village, but if you care to venture just a bit outside its boundaries, there are more laughs to be had.
Wander just a mile east from Greenwich Village and you’re in East Village, home of The Upright Citizens Brigade. UCB is one of the best improv companies in the U.S. The group got their start in a small theater in the city but has since grown into a national organization and training school.
Fun fact: The Upright Citizens Brigade also has venues in Los Angeles if the West Coast is your next stop and are looking for some hilarious improv. (Check out our LA tours if you’re headed there!)
With veteran and new talent always performing, UCB New York is the place to see everything from one-man and one-woman shoes, sketch comedy, and traditional yes-and improv.
Catch a completely improvised show seven nights a week at 242 East 14th Street.
And in Brooklyn: Eastville Comedy Club and Bar
All right, Brooklyn isn’t near Greenwich Village. It isn’t even in Manhattan. But I had to give a shoutout for Brooklyn’s oldest comedy club. Plus, the Eastville Comedy Club and Bar used to call the East Village home, so it was really close by back in the day. It moved near Barclays Center in 2018, but it continues to be a great spot for famous comics to drop by for improv.
Eastville Comedy Club prides itself on being one of the only comedy clubs in the city with no drink minimum. So you can feel free to drop in to just enjoy the laughs.
In addition to the club’s regular lineup, you can watch the best up-and-coming stand-ups test out their material at its popular open mic nights.
Travel tip: Eastville Comedy Club and Bar is located at 487 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. Staying in Manhattan? The A and D subway lines are the most direct ways to get there.
More fun on your NYC trip
After you visit these comedy clubs, we hope you’ll still have time to experience more of Greenwich Village and the rest of the city — there’s so much more to see!
Want to really get to know the Village? Our Greenwich Village Walking Tour is your inside ticket, led by a local New Yorker who can tell you the neighborhood legends and where to get the best grub.
Keen to see more in the city, like the Statue of Liberty or the Bronx or maybe Rockefeller Center? Our top-rated New York tours cover it all.
However you choose to experience the city, we can’t wait to show it to you.
Feature photo credit: Gus Taf / CC BY 2.0
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