Alex Ward

After years of Melbourne crying out for a decent Friday night gig, Comedy at the Coopers Inn answered our prayers (or agnostic demands). It's not the only excellent Friday night show in the city anymore, but with different line-ups every week showcasing the best stand-ups from Melbourne, interstate and abroad, it's still a damn good way to kick off your weekend. The pub has great food and a pool table to keep you occupied from knock off until show time. This gig is a short walk from Chinatown too. It’s worth keeping an eye on the room’s Facebook page as they often offer sneaky promo codes for those who want to book ahead. If you’re happy to pay the full bargain price (these acts are more than worth it) you can grab tickets at the door.

Located in a laneway off Errol Street, Voltaire is an intimate theatre space perfectly suited to hosting a stand-up comedy night. These weekly Sunday comedy nights in North Melbourne showcase the city's newest stand-up stars. The first level venue opens to a cosy seated space with a corner bar, usually manned by the lovely owner himself. Want a second, even cosier experience? Try the bathrooms. You access them by climbing a narrow staircase to a fourth level; make your childhood treehouse dreams come true. Sundays all booked out? Club Voltaire often offers comedy shows on other days of the week, check their website for what's coming up.

This room wins best courtyard comedy. In the colder months the Rochey's regular Thursday night gigs take place in the quaint, moodily lit room upstairs at the Rochester Hotel, but come summer the comedy is moved to the outdoor courtyard. Comedians have been known to smoke on stage… Smoking kills, but so do these sets. The upstairs room boasts its own little bar and fireplace (it’s ornamental but that means you can rest your beer on it). This is a great option for those living in the Inner North who can’t quite be bothered going into the city. In terms of food, head downstairs for pub grub or take advantage of the happy hour menu that runs from 4pm to 7pm, Wednesday to Sunday. It features $10 cocktails plus $6 wines and pints of beer. 

This comedy night takes place in the Catfish’s upper band room and hosts some of the best headliners and up-and-coming acts from Australia. It’s always a hot line-up, with about ten acts each night, and it’s seen its fair share of international drop-ins over the years. Catfish also wins best merch. Sure, they are the only comedy night with merch, but the shirts are so cool they would win anyway, and if you come to the show six times you get a free shirt. Catfish is home to Sparrows Philly Steaks Kitchen. They serve a famous beef, onion and cheese sandwich plus wings, plus fries, plus happiness. It’s Fitzroy, so they obviously have vegan alternatives too. Plus, there is an actual catfish in a TV aquarium. It’s weird, it’s wonderful and it’s worth every dollar.

George Gerswhin once said, “life is a lot like jazz. It's best when you improvise.” Lido Cinema improvised, and turned its jazz room into a comedy room. You may not have been previously aware that cinemas have jazz rooms… Turns out they don’t, except for this one and no one knows why, but it sure works for stand-up. The small soundproof room makes Lido the best intimate comedy night happening in Melbourne at the moment. Each week features two brackets featuring Melbourne’s best comedians. The cinema serves wine, beer and tapas-style food, which can be taken into the show. The room maxes out at about 60 people and bookings are essential. Coming as a group? Try to book tickets together otherwise you may be seated separately. 

Local Laughs is the best comedy room on the south side, hands down. It takes place at the Local Taphouse – a European-inspired neighbourhood tavern specialising in craft beer and great food. It almost sounds too good to host stand-up but it works perfectly. We’d argue this is the handsomest and cosiest room on the scene. Sometimes punters stay sitting around long after the show has ended. Every Monday you can catch some of the best comics from Melbourne and Australia, plus the occasional international too. With upwards of five acts every night you are sure to be entertained. Make a night of it and come in early to try one of their many delicious tap beers (it’s in the title).

This is one of the best free comedy rooms in Australia. The Facebook page states, “Crab Lab is a great comedy room which you will like. Each Wednesday you will get to see good comedians performing comedy.” That’s really all they have to say because once you hit up Crab the room speaks for itself. It’s always packed so get in before show time to grab a seat. If you can’t see a free seat straight away keep looking, there are nooks and booths built into the wall that you can always squeeze into. If not, there’s nothing wrong with standing. The night consists of two brackets of Australia’s newcomers and pro comics jumping up to try some of their newer gear. There is always a beer special, so make sure you check the board at the bar. Lastly, Crab Lab is in the heart of Chinatown, so there is no shortage of post-show, late-night food options.

Live in Brunswick and don’t want to leave your special area? Good; they’ve brought the comics to you! This is the best comedy room more than a few kilometres out of the city, offering the Brunswick neighbouring suburbs a local option. This early Sunday show is held in one of Melbourne’s coolest newest live music venues. Stay Gold Comedy takes over the front bar every week and offers $5 tinnies with the restaurant serving up modern souvas and charcoal chicken. End your week right, with even more beers and a look at the best new and experienced comedians from Melbourne.

This is one of Melbourne's most prestigious comedy nights and yes, you’ve seen them on TV. Every Thursday night, the European Bier Cafe has some of Melbourne and Australia's most experienced or best new comics. They also have an awesome headliner every week, who will be the main feature of the night. It’s an incredible night of top-shelf comedy. You’ll notice this room has an entry price; that’s because the room books acts that you would normally be paying $35 a pop to see so you better believe you are getting value for money. The other big plus for this venue is the incredible European beer range on tap. Come one and try them all!