The best comedy clubs in Los Angeles for stand-up shows, improv and more

Dynasty Typewriter’s revitalization of the the Hayworth Theatre in 2018 couldn’t have come at a better time: The 200-seat performance space absorbed many of the top-notch shows and talent that frequented the then-just-shuttered NerdMelt Showroom and Steve Allen Theater. Now, it’s simply the alt comedy space to hit up in L.A. (even though there’s not much else of note in the area), bringing a steady mix of up-and-comers and shockingly huge stars. Adam Sandler and Hannah Gadsby have mounted residencies here in the past, and names like Reggie Watts, Tig Notaro and Joel Kim Booster frequently pop up on the calendar. Podcast recordings and stand-up showcases occupy your typical weekly lineup.

Time Out tip: The concessions stand at Dynasty Typewriter rivals any movie theater’s—think Compartés chocolate bars and a fun popcorn bar where you can pick a candy to mix in for the perfect combo of salty and sweet.

Of all the old-school stand-up rooms, the Comedy Store is the only one that’s managed to keep its lineups consistently fresh and funny while staying true to its seedy Sunset Strip roots (it dates back to 1972, when it took over a space that was once the notorious club Ciro’s). Three separate stages host a monstrous array of stand-ups more or less every night of the week, and it counts Marc Maron, Neal Brennan, Iliza Shlesinger and Ron Funches among its regulars.

Time Out tip: Overwhelmed by the schedule? The uproarious Roast Battle on Tuesday nights is always a winner. Otherwise, the club’s long showcases are known for headline-worthy drop-ins (just maybe cash out your two-drink-minimum tab before the doldrums of the last hour of the show).

This intimate 1940s-era theater is one of the best places to see A-list comedians and storytellers. When comics like John Mulaney, Kate Berlant, Pete Holmes or Patton Oswalt aren’t doing stand-up, you might see live podcast tapings by Paul Scheer or long-form improv from Ben Schwartz. Some nights, the comics turn the stage over to (or share it with!) singer-songwriter performances. 

Time Out tip: Your advance purchase buys you an unassigned seat; if you want to be in the front row, you’ll need to check in at the venue about two hours in advance to claim your spot. Grab a beer or glass of wine at the adjoining cash-only bar, the Little Room, to fill the time.

On the border of Echo Park and Frogtown, this century-old small theater was reinvented as a comedy club in 2021. Since then, it’s quickly become the Eastside’s go-to spot for one-man shows and outside-the-box comedy, from clowning to plays to variety shows. There’s an emphasis on helping comedians develop their material—from inclusive open-mic nights to work-in-progress shows to sneak peeks of Edinburgh Fringe shows.

Time Out tip: Though the theater itself is on a bit of an otherwise-bland stretch of Riverside, you’re only a three-minute drive from Frogtown’s dining scene. Pair a comedy show with dinner at Salazar, Lingua Franca or Loreto.

The flagship of the Improv chain is one of the most legendary clubs in Los Angeles—maybe the country. It’s not just a club, it’s a scene. On any given night, you can walk in to see one of your favorite comics sitting at the bar, and the main room acts are never a letdown. Come early, as seats do fill up fast, and order some food or drinks to meet the two-item minimum. The shows are an eclectic mix of experimental and independently produced, often boasting appearances by well-known and respected comedians (think Craig Robinson, Whitney Cummings, Anthony Jeselnik and Bobby Lee). 

Time Out tip: Next door, at the more intimate Lab, you can catch some of the finest up-and-coming talent in the industry. 

The holy hall of improvisational and character-based sketch comedy has served as a comedic incubator for the likes of Lisa Kudrow, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig and innumerable other Saturday Night Live actors—who have all shot to stardom from here. Fun fact: Paul Reubens’s The Pee-wee Herman Show and Elvira: Mistress of the Dark both originated as Groundlings stage shows. Today, the troupe operates a popular theater on Melrose with a calendar packed with programming.

Time Out tip: Harking back to its origins as a workshop, today the Groundlings School offers an extensive program of comedy classes to thousands of students each year, from a one-day beginners improv class to a sketch-comedy writing series. 

On any given night at the L.A. location of Upright Citizens Brigade—which Amy Poehler originally cofounded in New York in 1999—you’ll find three or four shows across a variety of disciplines: There’s stand-up, improv, sketch and off-kilter comedy. UCB’s flagship improv show, ASSSSCAT, where improvisers turn an often-recognizable guest monologist’s suggestions into a sketch, is a popular draw each weekend over two decades later. Once the city’s improv darling, UCB’s L.A. presence had contracted a bit a few years ago—a second location on Sunset Boulevard had to close in 2020—but it’s begun to rebound more recently.

Time Out tip: Just around the corner from the intimate theater, you’ll find a second, even more intimate space: the UCB Annex (1925 N Bronson Ave), where up-and-comers work out new material at informal shows.

This Sunset Strip staple is where Dave Chappelle and Dane Cook once had a competition to see who could perform the longest. It’s also where an audience member captured Michael Richards’s racist rant on video. In a nutshell, the Laugh Factory is where to go if you want to see comedy celebrities—albeit sometimes ones who might be a bit past their prime. The round, glowing orange sign has become an iconic emblem of L.A. comedy. (There’s also a second L.A. location in Long Beach.) To guarantee a prime seat, you’ll need to spring for VIP tickets—and there’s still a two-item minimum to factor in.

Time Out tip: Yes, lots of comedy clubs host open mic nights, but taking the same stage as so much comedy royalty comes with automatic bragging rights. Get there early to snag a spot onstage Tuesday evenings.

You can stop in at about any time of night, any day of the week and see comics at all levels—including Jay Leno most weeks—at this Burbank club. Parking is simple and free in a complex right next door. There are typically multiple shows going on in the different rooms, and the waitstaff is friendly and efficient as they bring drinks and a full food menu (which both count toward the two-item minimum). Flappers is spacious, and the 1920s ambience brings its own special vibe conducive to watching comedy. 

Time Out tip: Flappers is the rare comedy club that offers programming for kids: On select Saturdays at 4:30pm, the family-friendly “Two Milk Minimum” shows feature a rotating lineup of magicians, jugglers, musicians, improv artists, puppeteers and more. 

Watching comedy at the HaHa Cafe Club in North Hollywood is like sitting back and relaxing in your own living room—it's one of the most comfortable comedy venues in town. Stop by to see a diverse range of fresh faces trying out new material. There’s a no-pressure vibe (though there is the standard two-item minimum). But, while they do drop by on the odd occasion, don’t show up expecting to see any celebrities here.

Time Out tip: If you’re in the mood for even more comedy in the Valley, head down the street to the Comedy Chateau (4615 Lankershim Blvd), in a Tudor-style building that used to house French restaurant Le Petit Chateau.

This Pasadena establishment has been a mainstay in the comedy scene since 1960—and it’s pretty much the only game in town. Surreptitiously located in an alley off of a one-way street (look for the sign that looks calls to mind an Icee advertisement) the spot has welcomed everyone from George Carlin to George Lopez over the years and continues to draw big names—think Margaret Cho, DL Hughley and Tiffany Haddish. A two-drink minimum is enforced, plus dinner is on offer in the just-refreshed venue; if you eat before the show you’ll get saved preferred seats in the intimate theater.

Time Out tip: If you want to see a show in style, there’s a private VIP lounge you can rent out for 30 people—like a stadium suite but for comedy (which is fitting, since the club is now owned by Johnny Buss, part-owner of the Lakers).