Here’s our list of the best comedy clubs in Melbourne, from bars with open mic-nights to stages 100% dedicated to comedic acts.
The best comedy clubs in Melbourne feature top-notch stand-up comics, sketch comedians and comedic actors all year round, so there’s no need to save your funny bone for the annual Melbourne International Comedy Festival, which runs from the end of March 30 until the last week of April. These places definitely run all year-round, proving that Melbourne is hilarious even outside of our month-long festival dedicated to a good LOL.
If the Comedy Festival brought you here though, this is when Melbourne’s comedy scene really explodes – it’s the third largest comedy festival in the world, by most accounts – and it happens at the beginning of autumn there is no better time to take a look at some of the best comedy venues in town.
Melbourne has always been a breeding ground of great comedians with Anne Edmonds, Dave Hughes and Colin Lowe all coming from our great city, not to mention comedic legends Shaun Micallef and Graham Kennedy. Most of these talents got there starts in the small bars, clubs and pubs like those listed below and still frequent them to this day.
So, with laughter being the best medicine and scientifically proven to help relieve stress, take care of yourself and check out these venues when you get the chance for everything ranging from a chortle to that full blooded belly laugh. You’re sure to find somewhere on this list for a great night out and a laugh.
Check out Melbourne’s most comprehensive comedy guide here.
The Comic’s Lounge
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ADDRESS: 1/26 Errol St, North Melbourne
OPEN: Tues – Sat: 6:30pm-11pm
Located just 10 minutes outside of the Melbourne CBD is one of the city’s premier comic venues, The Comic Lounge.
The Comic’s Lounge is a massive venue with hundreds of seats meaning that you will nearly always be able to come along and have a laugh even if it is a spur of the moment decision to head out. With a bar located next to the stage you’ll never miss out on a laugh, and the venue is known for its great food and decent drink prices.
A great place for a feed, a drink and a LOL the Comic’s Lounge is open 5 nights of the week with up to as many as 10 comedians a night and 3 plus hours of action, you really can’t go wrong.
Comedy at the Coopers Inn
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ADDRESS: 282 Exhibition St, Melbourne
OPEN: Fri – 8pm
One of the newest comedy venues in town is locates at the Coopers Inn in the city. Though the pub itself is a staple of the Melbourne CBD the comedy lounge itself is a relatively new edition.
Every Friday night from 8pm some of the best comedic talent from Melbourne, interstate and abroad hit the Coopers Inn stage, in what many describe as a super intimate experience due to the small venue. Big names, plus small venue, means booking is essential, but its well worth getting in when you can. Just recently two of Australia’s best comedians, the Toms, in Ballard and Gleeson have graced the Coopers Inn stage.
With the pub itself downstairs why not make a night of it with a meal and a couple of drinks before the shows kick off.
The Butterfly Club
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ADDRESS: 5 Carson Pl, Melbourne
OPEN: Mon – Sat: 5:30pm-Till late
Cabaret, comedy and cocktails, The Butterfly Club is like few other on this list. The small and intimate theatre, that is located in the heart of the Melbourne CBD just of Collins St, is one of the most unique and diverse places you could ever want to visit.
Open every night bar Sunday, if you are up for a laugh as well as a unique experience you have to check out The Butterfly Club. On any given night you will come across sing along sessions, vignette’s, stand-up, or burlesque shows. Plus, every month they host a comedy mystery night where you have to put your detectives hat on for their mystery radio theatre, there is nothing else like it in Melbourne.
Chapel Off Chapel
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ADDRESS: 12 Little Chapel St, Prahran
OPEN: Check online for events
Chapel Off Chapel is not necessarily a straight comedy venue, being a beautiful and intimate two theatre house in Prahan, but it deserves a spot on this list none the less for the quality comedy shows that it often house.
With 2 sparsely seated theatres each with their own bar, Chapel Off Chapel is perfect for that special night out when you also want to have a good laugh, the place is surrounded buy amazing bars and restaurants for pre or post show drinks or eats.
You will often find a stand-up comic on the up coming shows list, with Nath Valvo taking to the stage just a few weeks ago, but its more the comedy theatre you won’t want to miss. Dr Ahmed Gets Hitched: My Big Fat Gay Greek Pakistani Wedding and drag cabaret show As Seen on TV all get underway at Chapel Off Chapel in the coming months.
Spleen Bar
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ADDRESS: 41 Bourke St, Melbourne
OPEN: Mon – Sat: 4pm-5am
Another one of Melbourne’s more popular comedy venues that is located in the CBD is Spleen Bar. This snug venue with beautiful vintage décor has a feature stand-up comedy act every Monday night. Booking tickets for the Monday night gig is a good idea as they will sell out, with big names like Wil Anderson, Adam Hills and Jimeoin having graced the stage over the years.
To top it all off the bar has a wide range of affordable beers and food available, including Spleens famous Jaffels served all the way to 5am. That’s right 5am! So, Spleen is the perfect option for a comedy gig if you also want to turn one on till the wee hours of the morning.
Crab Lab
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ADDRESS: 16 Corrs Ln, Melbourne
OPEN: Wednesday: 7:30pm-3am
Crab Lab is one of the CBD’s most popular comedy venues and one all comedy night enthusiasts have to check out. It’s only open once a week, but that one night is a guaranteed banger. The joint is often packed so it’s always a good idea to get there early, and you best be prepared to stand.
You won’t always know who you are going to see on the night with mystery shows often being held, but you can be assured it will be quality. On top of that Crab Lab is known for its big-name surprise walk ins, so on any given night one of Australia’s biggest comedy stars could very well be gracing the stage. Who doesn’t love a surprise?
Comedy Republic
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ADDRESS: 231 Bourke St, Melbourne
OPEN: Thu: 7:30pm-11pm, Fri – Sat: 6pm-1am
Comedy Republic is another CBD staple and one of the biggest and best comedy venues in all of Melbourne. Comedy Republic often plays host to some of the biggest names in comedy, especially during the Melbourne Comedy Festival. All year round though you will fine some killer acts, with the likes of Claire Hooper and Nick Cody hitting the stage in the near future. You will definitely need to get online and book your tickets if you are looking to hit up the Republic main stage for a night out.
There is a brand-new bar in place to knock back a few cold ones before, during and after a live gig too which is sure to impress. Check the website for the monthly events hosted at Comedy Republic as well, they have monthly imrpov nights and even a monthly Bingo night hosted by some of Melbourne’s best comedians.
Kings of Comedy (Melbourne)
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ADDRESS: 585 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
OPEN: Fri: 7:30pm-9pm, Sat: 7pm-8:30pm (approx.)
Looking for a laugh on a Friday or Saturday night? You can’t go wrong by heading to Kings of Comedy. Kings of Comedy is a well-established comedic venue with locations in Sydney and the Gold Coast as well, all of which have a reputation of providing the best laughs.
In Melbourne they promise a handpicked line-up of tomorrows superstars and todays headliners on stage every weekend, which is no modest boast considering their stage has hosted Dave Hughes and Dilruk Jayasinha to name a just a couple in the past. Kings of Comedy can also hook you up with that perfect gift for your comedy loving friend or family member with gift vouchers available to use towards tickets. Head to their website to book your tickets now for their upcoming gigs.
Punchlines
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ADDRESS: 1st Floor/256 Moray St, South Melbourne
OPEN: Tue – Sun: 3pm-12am (Pub hours, check online for stand-up show times most Thu, Fri & Sat)
Venturing south of the Yarra we find Punchlines Comedy Club which is located upstairs at the Rubber Chicken. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night you can head upstairs to Punchlines and see some of the best professional and amateur talent that Melbourne has to offer. You can even get a feed whilst you watch at the Caribbean-Aussie fusion kitchen while you’re there. Now that’s not a combo you hear every day.
Also, if you think you’re the funniest of all your friends and you could easily make it in the world of stand up, here is your chance. Send through some of your material here and you could find yourself on stage at Punchlines, if you are good enough. If you’re not quite there yet, don’t fret, the School of Hard Knock Knocks also runs stand up comedy lessons out of Punchlines, so you can book in and get taught by some of the industry’s best and you will be wowing the crowd in no time.
European Bier Cafe
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ADDRESS: 120 Exhibition St, Melbourne
OPEN: Mon – Wed: 12pm-11pm, Thu: 12pm-12am, Fri – Sat: 12pm-2am, Sun: 12pm-10pm
Bringing us a bit of a different flavour is the European Bier Café, but this joint deserves a place on this list with its star pulling power alone. With four levels of food, booze and sports the European Bier Café also has a partnership with Melbourne Comedy which sees them host some amazing comedic talent on their stages.
You have to keep an eye on their socials for any upcoming gigs but trust me it’s worth keeping an eye on with the likes of Stephen K Amos, Fiona O’Loughlin and Wil Anderson playing there in the past. Who knows who will be delivering the LOL’s next time around, and hell if they suck you can just sneak off to one of the other levels to keep the party going.
The 86
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ADDRESS: 185 Smith St, Fitzroy
OPEN: Thu – Sat: 7pm-3am
Located in Fitzroy is the 86 bar and I promise you there will be a night full of laughter ahead if you ever find yourself within its exposed brick, red lamp holding walls. The 86 promises cocktails, pan-asian eats, cabaret and drag so you really can’t miss.
It’s not your straightforward stand-up comedy venue, but if you go to the weekly Friday night Fellas in Frocks comedy drag show and don’t find yourself in stitches you must be dead inside. If you really want to make a night of it at the 86 you can book yourself a VIP table for a fee at the usual free entry establishment and spend the night get waited on hand and foot with front row seats, well worth the money.
Speakeasy HQ
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ADDRESS: 522 Flinders St, Melbourne
OPEN: Fri – Sat: 6:30pm-7:30pm
Back to the CBD is another venue that has a bit of a different vibe and that is Speakeasy HQ. Though you will find a whole lot of stand-up comedy at Speakeasy of a Friday and Saturday night you are also likely to come across some cabaret, burlesque and even some magic. All is equally hilarious and entertaining, however.
Providing both cocktails and food to go along with the entertainment its easy to spend the whole night at Speakeasy HQ even if your initial plan was to head out to a few places, and no one would blame you.
Definitely make sure to check out Speakeasy HQ over the Melbourne Comedy Festival as you will find some of the better acts performing at this tucked away little venue, trust me you won’t want to miss them.
There it is, just a short list of some of the best comedy venue in Melbourne to check out on any given weekend and more. It also goes without saying that these places really kick off during the Melbourne Comedy Festival so make sure you check in and see some of the amazing national and international acts that will be gracing their stages.
Keep an eye on Melbourne Comedy Fest for the best comedy gigs each year.
