It’s difficult to think of a more authentically-Austin comedy venue than Cap City Comedy Club, which has been leaving Austinites in stitches since 1986. The club left its original Research Boulevard during the pandemic, but reopened in The Domain with two stages — one for major national acts like Jerrod Carmichael, David Koechner and Jon Lovitz, and another for local comics honing their craft and playing around with new material.

Rozco’s arrived in East Austin in 2023, quickly becoming a destination for themed comedy showcases that highlight the talents of local stand-ups. From Friday Night Laughs to Date Night Comedy to their Dressed To Kill fancy-dress night, these themes bring some extra quirk and personality to this industrial-chic space.

At Esther’s Follies, a venue that’s been in operation for over 40 years, audiences can enjoy sketch comedy variety shows with snappy timing, sharp writing and compelling chemistry between the performers in the troupe.

Both on East 6th Street, Esther’s Follies and The Velveeta Room are sister clubs that, when combined, offer an exceptionally well-rounded view of everything that defines Austin comedy. In the adjacent building, The Velveeta Room dedicates its stage time to stand-up sets, which fit nicely with “The Velv”’s close-knit vibes.

Comedy aficionados who like their stand-up shows stripped-down and raw will love this minimalist space on Brazos Street. With dark concrete walls and moody red neon lighting, Black Rabbit feels like an intimate speakeasy that serves up big laughs instead of stiff drinks. Speaking of drinks, Black Rabbit has a BYOB policy, so feel free to grab your favorite bottle or six-pack before taking a seat and getting ready for some wild stories and irreverent jokes.

Above all else, the Fallout Theater in downtown Austin focuses on teaching aspiring comedians how to best express themselves via live performance. Students can take classes on stand-up, improv, clowning and sketch comedy, and those who’d rather just take in a hilarious show can settle in for themed sketch nights, comedic musicals, long-form solo works and any number of other creative productions featuring a diverse blend of comic artists.

If improv is your jam, then the Hideout Theatre will give you exactly what you want. This downtown club fully embraces improvisational performance as an art form, and they’ve been providing stage space for comedy shows, on-the-spot theater and improv training classes for almost 30 years. They also offer kid-friendly shows, so the whole family can get in on the fun.

A comfortable and well-designed stand-up comedy club on the eastern edge of downtown Austin, The Creek & The Cave relocated here from NYC in 2021. Now that they’re in Austin, they’re continuing their tradition of hosting a vibrant mixture of established touring comedians, beloved local comics and newcomers looking to make a name for themselves.