Comedy Cellar
New York's definitive basement showcase club
The Comedy Cellar opened in 1982 in a Greenwich Village basement on MacDougal Street and grew into the most famous showcase club in the world. Shows run on a rotating lineup format — five to seven comics doing short sets — and the nightly bill routinely mixes working New York comics with unannounced drop-ins from the biggest names in stand-up.
The Cellar's reputation rests on those drop-ins: Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Amy Schumer, and Jerry Seinfeld have all worked out material on its tiny stage, and the club's comedian table at the Olive Tree Cafe upstairs is stand-up's most storied hangout. The room has been immortalized on screen, most famously in the opening credits of "Louie."
Demand long ago outgrew the original room, so the Cellar added shows at the Village Underground around the corner and an outpost in Las Vegas. Tickets are sold through the club's own reservation system rather than Ticketmaster, so book directly on the Comedy Cellar website — and expect weekend shows to sell out days ahead.
Upcoming Shows at Comedy Cellar
Friday, January 8, 2027
See the full schedule, past shows, and venue details on the Comedy Cellar venue page.