What is The Most Famous Comedy Club in the United States: A Title Fight

What is The Most Famous Comedy Club in the United States

What makes a comedy club "famous"? Is it the legendary names who have graced its stage? Is it its appearance in films and TV shows? Is it the sheer weight of its history and its influence on the art form itself? In the United States, a country with hundreds of brilliant comedy venues, crowning just one as the "most famous" is a recipe for a heated debate. It's a title fight with contenders from coast to coast, each with a legitimate claim to the throne.

However, when you sift through the history, the pop culture references, and the reverence with which comedians themselves speak about these venues, the conversation almost always boils down to two heavyweights, located in the two great capitals of American entertainment: The Comedy Cellar in New York City and The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. While many other clubs are legendary in their own right, these two institutions have achieved a level of fame that transcends the world of stand-up and enters the realm of cultural landmarks.

The Contenders: A Coast-to-Coast Battle

Before we crown a winner, it's only fair to acknowledge the other incredible clubs that are part of this conversation. In Chicago, The Second City is undeniably one of the most influential comedy theatres in the world. Since 1959, it has been the birthplace of modern improv and sketch comedy, producing a staggering list of stars including Bill Murray, Tina Fey, and Steve Carell. While not a traditional stand-up club, its fame and impact are immense.   

In New York, venues like Gotham Comedy Club and Carolines on Broadway are premier clubs that host the biggest names in the business and are famous in their own right. In Denver,    

Comedy Works has been a top destination since 1981, known for its incredible acoustics and for being a club that comedians genuinely love to play. But when it comes to pure, unadulterated fame in the world of stand-up, the final round is between LA and NYC.   

In the West Corner: The Comedy Store, Los Angeles

Located on the iconic Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, The Comedy Store is steeped in rock and roll history and seedy glamour. Founded in 1972, it took over a space that was once the notorious nightclub Ciro's, and it has retained that edgy, old-school vibe ever since. Run for decades by the formidable Mitzi Shore, "The Store" became the breeding ground for a generation of comedy superstars in the 1970s and 80s.   

Its alumni list is a who's who of comedy legends: David Letterman, Jay Leno, Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, and Jim Carrey all considered it their home club. It's a place with a palpable history, its walls famously adorned with the names of the comedians who have become "paid regulars." The club features three separate stages – the Original Room, the Main Room, and the Belly Room – hosting a huge number of comedians every night of the week. Its fame is built on this incredible legacy, its iconic black-and-white exterior, and its reputation as the gritty, demanding, and ultimately rewarding crucible where stand-up legends were forged.   

In the East Corner: The Comedy Cellar, New York City

Nestled in a cramped, unassuming basement in the heart of Greenwich Village, The Comedy Cellar may not have the Hollywood glamour of The Store, but it has an unmatched reputation for pure, uncut, high-level stand-up. Opened in 1982, it has become the definitive New York comedy club, famous for its iconic brick wall backdrop and the legendary "comic's table" upstairs at the Olive Tree Cafe, where comedians hang out before and after their sets.   

The Cellar's fame exploded in the 2000s, thanks in large part to its frequent appearances in popular culture, most notably as the main hangout in the TV series Louie. It has become the place to see the absolute best of the New York scene, with a constantly rotating lineup of top-tier comics. It’s famous for its surprise drop-ins from global superstars like Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and Jerry Seinfeld, who often pop in unannounced to work on new material. A recent Thursday night saw Steve Martin, Martin Short, John Mulaney, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Aziz Ansari all perform surprise sets on the same bill, for an audience who had paid just $18 a ticket. This kind of spontaneous, legendary night is what The Cellar is all about. Its fame comes from its reputation as the living, breathing, epicentre of modern stand-up comedy.   

The Verdict: Which Club Takes the Crown?

This is where it gets tough. If we're talking about historical legacy and the sheer number of comedy titans it produced during the 20th century, the crown might just go to The Comedy Store. It is the quintessential LA club, a place where the history of modern stand-up was written.

However, if we're talking about current cultural currency and which club is most famous right now as the ultimate place to see live stand-up, the title has to go to The Comedy Cellar. Its role in popular culture and its reputation for unbelievable surprise guests have made it a bucket-list destination for comedy fans around the world. It represents the pinnacle of the live club experience today.

While The Comedy Cellar may be the reigning champion of fame, the beauty of the US comedy scene is its depth. From Zanies in Nashville to Acme in Minneapolis, there are dozens of historic and brilliant clubs that have contributed to the art form.   

And let's not forget, fame isn't everything. Sometimes the best comedy experiences are found in smaller, more intimate rooms where the next generation of stars are honing their craft. Here in London, we have our own legendary venues, but for a truly authentic, up-close-and-personal experience, you can't beat a great pub room. Come and see the future of comedy for yourself at Comedy in Your Eye.

Catch the best comedians off the London Comedy Circuit by buying tickets to our shows on the main page