Comedy Cellar, Underground comedy club in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, US
The Comedy Cellar is a basement club at 117 MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village with exposed brick walls and multiple shows running nightly. Each comedian performs for about 15 minutes, with rotating artists moving between different performance slots.
This venue opened in 1982 when Bill Grundfest created it as a stage for developing comedians. Many performers who would later achieve major success got their start here, building their skills in this intimate space.
The name comes from the Olive Tree Cafe upstairs, which has served as a meeting place for performers after shows for decades. You can still see comedians mixing with visitors and each other in that same space today.
You need to book your seats ahead of time online, as the club fills up quickly for each showing. Bring the confirmation QR code from your email and show it at the door before every performance.
The club opened a sister location inside the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, adapting its basement format to a different setting. Despite this expansion, the original Manhattan location remains the heart and most active venue for the brand.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
