SOf course, big-name comedians will come to the bigger theaters (The Wilbur, The Chevalier) or the laugh factories of the suburbs (Giggles Comedy Club, The Comedy Scene, Off Cabot Comedy & Events). But there’s no equal to the intimacy of a comedy club in the city—the lights are dim, the jokes don’t all have to be repeated, and you can watch an aspiring comedian sweat it out. Here are our picks for small and mid-sized improv and stand-up clubs that, well, stand out.
The explosion of black comedy
The explosion of black comedy Nathan Klima for the Boston Globe
Jonathon Gates has been building a community for black comedians in Boston since the ’90s, officially with The Black Comedy Explosion in 2000. The Wednesday night stand-up show has had several venues over the years, moving to the 165-seat Carver Den at the Dorchester Center in 2024. What hasn’t changed is Gates, who books national headliners for the shows and gives local up-and-coming talent a chance to see how it’s done. And he’s a consummate host, making sure everyone in the venue is having a good time.
Address:
Carver Den, 80 Talbot Avenue, Dorchester
Improv Asylum
Improv Asylum
Address:
216 Hanover Street, North End
Laughing, Boston
Laughing, Boston Sean Goss
With 300 seats, Laugh Boston is the largest comedy club in Boston. It books a variety of touring and local acts, mostly stand-up but also some improv and podcast recordings, and is well attended throughout the week, but especially on weekends. You can see some of the best local headliners like Will Noonan and bigger names from further afield like former Saturday Night Live Actor Tim Meadows and Cash taxi Presenter Ben Bailey. It opened in 2013 at The Westin Boston Seaport District hotel.
Address:
425 Summer Street, Seaport
The Mendoza Line
The Mendoza Line
This Saturday night show – in a basement of the Dugout Cafe on the Boston University campus – is as intimate as it gets. The room holds about 35 people, and the comedians walk through the crowd to get to the stage area. It feels like a secret clubhouse in the back room of an Allston bar. Boston comedians Sean Rosa, Rob Creen, Ben Keefe and Zach Stewart take turns hosting and often perform on their off nights, along with other talented locals and out-of-town visitors.
Address:
The Dugout Cafe, 722 Commonwealth Avenue, Fenway
The Rockwell
The Rockwell
The nearly 200-seat black box space in the basement of the Rockwell in Somerville has been the site of several comedy-friendly venues over the years, including Jimmy Tingle’s Off Broadway Theater. New artistic director Deby Xiadani continues that tradition with her philosophy of “Funny. Dark. Clever. Awesome.” She books unconventional comedy, theater and music acts in the space, with an emphasis on the funny. You’ll find one-person shows, theme nights and indie musicians.
Address:
255 Elm Street, Somerville
Rozzie Square Theater
Rozzie Square Theater
This 49-seat theater offers a varied comedy program that leans slightly toward improv and sketches. There are regular shows, such as the weekly ComedySportz competition on Saturday nights, Queer Comedy Night (third Friday of the month) and Riot Improv (first and third Saturdays), as well as classes and workshops. Find a cozy, friendly space that prioritizes promoting diverse voices.
Address:
5 Basile Street, Roslindale
The 2024 Boston Globe Best of the Best winners were selected by Globe newsroom staff and correspondents and limited to Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and Brookline. We want to hear from you: Did your favorites make it onto the list??
