Comedy Clubs in San Francisco Bay Area - an objective comparison
admin on Jan 8, 2018
Looking for a Comedy Club in San Francisco Bay Area? Here’s an objective look at all 8 comedy clubs spread across the San Francisco Bay Area.
But first, a quick note to acknowledge that comedy is very highly subjective. So often I have seen one person laugh uncontrollably while their companion wonders why. So when someone publishes a list of best comedians or best comedy clubs, I take it with a boulder of salt. There are lots of websites publishing lists of Top 10 Comedy Clubs in the Bay Area, counting them down from 10 to 1, on subjective descriptions and details. Since I haven’t seen any objective comparison, I decided to provide one myself. Let me know in the comments below what you think of this attempt to objectively compare all the Comedy Clubs in San Francisco Bay Area.
Another quick note, here’s the criteria used to determine which club gets listed - club has multiple shows every week and has been in business for multiple years. So, some performance venues with guest comedy producers, or non-regular shows, don't get a mention. Did I miss a club? Please let me know in the comments below.
All information gathered from publicly available details on the comedy club website
Listed in alphabetical order
1. CHEAPER THAN THERAPY
Website: www.cttcomedy.com
Photo credit: Cheaper Than Therapy
Venue Info: Have the best Bay Area comedians fill your prescription for comedy at Cheaper Than Therapy. You'll get a healthy dose of laughs every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at San Francisco's historic Shelton Theater. In the heart of Union Square, Cheaper Than Therapy is convenient to get to, whether you live in the Bay Area or are just visiting. Each show features comedians Eloisa Bravo, Scott Simpson, and Jon Allen. A rotating selection of Bay Area comedians and visiting comics also grace the stage.
# of shows every week: 6 (1 Thu, 2 Fri, 2 Sat, 1 Sun)
Ticket prices: $20 plus $2.03 ticket fees
Food & drinks: No drink minimum. Full bar available.
Age policy: Ages 18+
Parking: Street parking is free but hard to find. Find paid parking here.
Public Transport: 1/2 mile from Powell St BART
Address: 533 Sutter St, San Francisco CA 94102
2. COBB's COMEDY CLUB
Website: www.cobbscomedy.com/
Photo credit: Cobb's Comedy Club
Venue Info: Cobb's Comedy Club has presented the finest comedy talent in the industry since its founding in 1982. Located in San Francisco's famous North Beach, Cobb's offers a taste of old San Francisco and the city's ever-changing nightlife. Cobb's Comedy Club's 400 seat venue offers a full dinner menu and full-service bar. Headliners who perform at Cobb's Comedy Club are regular guests on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show with David Letterman. Many have their own comedy specials on Comedy Central and HBO and can be seen starring in movies and on television. Acts we've featured at the club include: Dana Carvey, Dave Chappelle, Dave Attell, Russell Peters, Jo Koy, Anjelah Johnson, Bill Burr, Louis CK and more...
# of shows every week: 7 (1 Wed, 1 Thu, 2 Fri, 2 Sat, 1 Sun)
Ticket prices: $17 - $22 plus $5 - $7 ticket fees
Food & drinks: 2 drink minimum per person, Food & Drinks Menu
Age policy: All shows are 18 & over with valid photo ID.
Parking: Street parking is free but hard to find. Find paid parking here.
Public Transport: Just take an Uber
Public Transport: 1/2 mile from Powell St BART
Address: 915 Columbus Ave, San Francisco CA 94133
3. COMEDY OAKLAND
Website: www.comedyoakland.com
Photo credit: pixelchazer.com
Venue Info: COMEDY OAKLAND, winner of 2016 & 2018 "Best Place for Comedy" - East Bay Express Reader's Poll, features up-and-coming comedians alongside industry pros. Our comedians have featured on TV, radio, comedy festivals, late night talk shows, won competitions, and have performed on every habitable continent! Comedy Oakland is located inside Spice Monkey Restaurant and Bar, upstairs in the loft. Spice Monkey features casual dining with globally inspired comfort food, local craft beer and uniquely designed cocktails. We have no drink minimums, no ticket transaction fees, no tolls, and no parking headaches. Just great food and comedy!
# of shows every week: 5 (1 Thu, 2 Fri, 2 Sat)
Ticket prices: $15 - $25. No ticket transaction fees.
Food & drinks: No minimums. Full dinner and drinks menu with table service available. Food & Drinks Menu
Age policy: Ages 18+ recommended
Parking: Free street parking
Public Transport: 2 blocks from 19th St BART
Address 1628 Webster St, Oakland CA 94612
4. IMPROV COMEDY CLUB
Website: sanjose.improv.com
Photo credit: Improv Comedy Club
Venue Info: The World Famous Improv is where many of today's stars were born and continue to shine.
# of shows every week: 5-7 (1 Wed, 1 Thu, 2 Fri, 2 Sat, 1 Sun)
Ticket prices: $15 - $25 plus $4 - $5 ticket fees
Food & drinks: 2 item minimum. Food & Drinks Menu
Age policy: Ages 18+ with Photo ID
Parking: There are several parking lots located in the vicinity of our club. You can also find street parking. Please note that the San Jose Improv does not validate any parking.
Public Transport: Just take an Uber
Address: 62 S 2nd St, San Jose CA 95113
5. PUNCH LINE COMEDY CLUB
Website: www.punchlinecomedyclub.com
Photo credit: Punch Line Comedy Club
Venue Info: Jokes can be told anywhere, but the Punch Line's dedication to the craft of comedy and the intimate setting it creates for performers and audiences, helped us become the San Francisco Examiner and San Francisco Chronicle's readers' choices for Best Comedy Club.
# of shows every week: 8 (1 Tue, 1 Wed, 1 Thu, 2 Fri, 2 Sat, 1 Sun)
Ticket prices: $13.50 - $35 plus $5 - $9 ticket fees
Food & drinks: 2 drink minimum per person, Food & Drinks Menu
Age policy: All shows are 18 & over with valid photo ID.
Parking: We are located in an area with ample street parking.
Public Transport: 1/2 mile from Embarcadero BART
Address: 444 Battery St, San Francisco CA 94111
6. ROOSTER T FEATHERS COMEDY CLUB
Website: www.roostertfeathers.com
Photo credit: Rooster T Featherss
Venue Info: For over 30 years Rooster T. Feathers has brought the nation‘s best comics to the Sunnyvale stage. Stars of today such as Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, Ellen DeGeneres, and Drew Carey have entertained thousands of Rooster‘s crowds. Today, Roosters is the host to national comics as seen on The Tonight Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, HBO, Showtime and Comedy Central. Not a cavernous hall or stuffy theater, Roosters offers an intimate setting where you can enjoy the funniest entertainers, live and up close, the way stand-up comedy was intended.
# of shows every week: 6 (1 Wed, 1 Thu, 1 Fri, 2 Sat, 1 Sun)
Ticket prices: $15 - $23 plus $1.50 - $2.50 ticket fees
Food & drinks: 2 item minimum. Food & Drinks Menu
Age policy: Ages 21+ with Photo ID
Parking: Parking lot
Public Transport: 1 mile from Sunnyvale Caltrain Station
Address: 157 W El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, CA 94087
7. THE SETUP
Website: www.setupcomedy.com
Photo credit: The Setup
Venue Info: The Setup is a unique brand of entertainment. We run speakeasy style shows in venues with rich histories. In San Francisco we have storytelling and stand up comedy nights in the Ales Unlimited Beer Basement. It used to be the green room for the famed Black Hawk jazz club. Miles Davis snorted coke here. Storytelling is every Thursday and stand-up is every Friday and Saturday.
# of shows every week: 4 (1 Thu, 1 Fri, 2 Sat)
Ticket prices: $15 plus $2 ticket fees
Food & drinks: 1 drink minimum. Draft & Bottle List
Age policy: Ages 21+ with Photo ID
Parking: There is no parking at the venue, but there are many public parking garages close by. The closest one is Golden Gate Parking.
Public Transport: 3 blocks from Civic Center BART
Address: 222 Hyde St, San Francisco CA 94102
8. TOMMY T'S COMEDY CLUB
Website: www.tommyts.com/pleasanton/
Pasom
Venue Info: Tommy T's features nationally know comedians from around the United States, along with the fastest rising stars bringing great entertainment to northern California.
# of shows every week: 8 (1 Tue, 1 Wed, 1 Thu, 2 Fri, 2 Sat, 1 Sun)
Ticket prices: $10 - $65 plus $4 - $5 ticket fees
Food & drinks: 2 item minimum. Food & Drinks Menu
Age policy: Ages 21+ with Photo ID
Parking: Parking lot
Public Transport: 1/2 mile from Pleasanton BART
Address: 5104 Hopyard Rd, Pleasanton CA 94588