As you know, New York City is a hub for many cultural elements. With Broadway shows, iconic museums, timeless concert venues, and legendary parks, the Big Apple offers the best of the best when it comes to cultural exposure. Another incredible cultural staple to New York City is its wide array of comedy clubs. Some of the country’s best comedians got their start at comedy in small clubs in the city before graduating to the biggest venues in the city. Comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Robin Williams, and Tina Fey all got their start in New York City then eventually made it big as top comedic talent.
I’ve always loved comedy; as a kid, I had to beg my parents to let me stay up late to watch MadTV and Saturday Night Live. My favorite movies are the ones that make me laugh until I cry. My favorite books to read are memoirs by my favorite comedians, so I can read their stories about how they made it in this business and the steps they took in order to get there. So when I moved to New York City, I made sure that one of the first things I did was go to an authentic New York City stand-up comedy club. Within two months of being there, I discovered one of my favorite comedians was coming to an iconic location just outside of Times Square. And just like that, I literally made one of my life-long dreams come true.
Here are some of the best comedy clubs in New York City that will not only give you something unique to do, but this is a great chance for you to listen to some comical English—you’ll be laughing so hard, you won’t even realize you’re practicing your translation skills!
- Caroline’s on Broadway, Times Square
This is the location where I saw my first comedy show after moving to New York City. I felt like such a giddy kid standing in line, waiting for the usher to scan my ticket. Once I was in my seat, I could hardly contain myself! It’s a very intimate space, so you won’t need to bring your binoculars. They serve food and beverages here, so make sure you bring your appetite! The great part about this venue’s size is that you can hear incredibly well in this space—with this, you’ll be able to understand every word the comedian is saying, so you won’t have to struggle with your mental translation.
- Upright Citizens Brigade, West 22nd Street and East Village
I also had to include this one because when I was in middle school, I used to stay up late and watch the sketch comedy television show version of this comedy group. The brigade then moved their act to New York City, and now it’s become known as the comedy club that aspiring funny people go to hopefully get noticed. With its huge success, it branched out into three additional locations. Tremendous talent has come out of this club, like Aziz Ansari and Amy Poehler. This is another great place to put your English translation skills to use, as many comedy “students” practice in this club to get used to the sensation of performing live, so you can be sure that they deliver their lines clearly, making it easier on you!
- Gotham Comedy Club, West 23rd Street
This is another one of my favorites, as this location is also very intimate, making it easy for you to truly feel “a part” of the show. With names like Jim Gaffigan, Judd Apatow, and Craig Robinson, you can be sure that this venue will surely deliver in endless laughs. Also, keep in mind that comedians will often engage the audience, especially if you’re sitting within the first two front rows. So depending on if this is something that you think would be cool, keep that in mind when choosing your seat! This is also the perfect opportunity to understand English jokes and slang, as these comedians will often reference current lingo and phrases, so pay attention to their lines so you can reuse them yourself the next time you’re putting your English to use!