Spleen has been hosting its regular weekly comedy nights for more than a decade, becoming renowned as one of the top spots in the city to see a gig in Melbourne. The bar (found at the top of Bourke Street) runs shows every Monday evening starting at just $10 – for that price, you might be expecting a lot of rookies and newcomers, but rest assured you might catch some of Australia's leading comics testing out new material.
Back in the olden days (that is, pre-2020) Spleen was known to pack out its Monday comedy gigs, with standing space only right to the door. It was a popularity achieved partly due to the great line-ups... and partly because entry was by gold coin donation. These days, of course, there's a set number of tickets and they'll cost you (a still very affordable)$10, but you'll still want to nab your spot early to avoid missing out. FYI ticket sales can usually be found online via the TryBooking page.
Shows typically kick off from 8.30pm, but every now and again there will be a 7pm early show. Before and after the show, you may want to acquaint yourself with Spleen's food and drink menu; think all-night jaffles, Tex-Mex wishes and juicy cheeseburgers. Plus the bar stays open till 5am most nights (and till late on Mondays), so there's plenty of time to get a Spleena Colada after the show.
