One of the best parts about living in a city like Memphis is the architecture.
They're so many cool little bars and restaurants with history in each building that it's amazing how each location has it's own story.
Having grown up in Los Angeles and New York, I can tell you hands down that the locations in Downtown Memphis and beyond give all the quirky Speakeasy type venues of those cities a run for their money.
From off the wall bars, pubs and clubs to larger theaters, Memphis is a a comedy performers dream.
So what are some of the best stand up comedy venues in Memphis? The best comedy venues in Memphis are:
Local Bar and Grill Down Town
Memphis Made Brewery Cooper Young
Minglewood Hall
High Cotton Brewery
The HiTone Cafe (Upstairs and Downstairs)
Chuckles Comedy House
Lamplighter Lounge
Growlers
TJ Mulligans
Lafayette's Music Room
B Side
Factors That Make a Good Comedy Venue
Not all venues are ideal for comedy, but luckily we have visited each of the venues on this list and can confirm if a show is well marketed and produced these venues hold up quite well. The major things you should look for when attending or planning a comedy show are:
Full Bar
Food/Kitchen if needed
Parking
Sound System
Lighting
Seating
Acoustics
Best Live Venues for Stand Up Comedy shows in Memphis, Tennessee
In this post we'll discuss each venue with pros and cons and if you need help in booking or organizing a show, please do contact us!
They're two different locals, one on Main Street and one closer to Overton Square. For this post we're talking about the one on Main.
They have a great room downstairs that is perfect for comedy shows, as long as tickets are pre-sold as most walk in customers won't be aware of the venue downstairs unless they were promoted to before hand.
Capacity is around 40 downstairs but it will look crowded beyond 25.
They already host a free Bring Your Own Food comedy show on the second Saturday of every month.
The space is great to fit anywhere between 50 and 100 people and is great if you can draw a crowd.
If you're looking to plan or attend a comedy show for between 300 and 1000 people than Minglewood Hall in midtown is probably your best bet.
The parking situation can be a bit limited during larger events so it helps to Uber or park on the streets in nearby residential areas if you can swing it, just don't leave any valuables in the car and/or exercise common sense.
Easy parking, quirky venue and a nice room in the back makes for attending a comedy show a pleasant experience at this downtown Brewery.
The room in the back has a projector also if needed and can easily seat between 10 and 100.
A grungy yet hip rock bar that hosts plenty of comedy shows and has a bar and a kitchen, this is a great place to catch a live comedy show.
Their pizzas and chicken tenders are delicious and sound system is fantastic for a live show, even if you want to have music accompany it. They also have a smaller room downstairs.
Bigger room can hold around 150 but usually between 50 and 100, while smaller room can pack in 50 for a great comedy gig.
One of the only dedicated comedy clubs in Memphis is in Cordova around 30 minutes from downtown Memphis.
They have great chicken wings and can easily fit around 300-400 people.
This place hosts a weekly comedy open mic that is hosted in the performance room. It can fit anywhere between 20 and 50 and feel pretty full for a comedy event.
It's a great space to host an event with a hip atmosphere, dim mood lighting and a full bar.
A favorite with local artists in the city located directly on Madison Avenue just past the Marcos Pizza.
Make sure to check out their calendar to see who is coming into town that you might be interested to watch.
I've attended many comedy shows here from out of town guests. They have alumni from Saturday Night Live and comedians who have been on comedy central, Conan O Brien and other major credits.
Their food including the Turkey Rib Sandwich (I know it sounds wierd but it's delicious) and full bar makes this one of the cities ideal spots for comedy.
It's a great space that can seat around 100 if you really sell out the show or have a good act with a following on the bill.
Parking can be a bit of a challenge if the show is full so plan ahead to figure that out on nearby streets.
Another great spot with delicious spicy chicken tenders and a dedicated stage and performance space.
Lafayettes in Overtoon square is another fantastic place that has a well curated lineup of musicians and the occasional comedians.
Usually for crowds of larger than 100 this place is great as it can sit up to 200 or more, with a full bar and kitchen and plenty of parking.
Their pizzas are also delicious and you should check their calendar to see who might be coming that you want to see.
They don't always host comedy shows here but if they do it usually makes for a fun evening.
Located in the same complex as Minglewood Hall, this smaller venue has a dedicated stage, bar and and professional sound and lighting setup.
There is no kitchen however for a one hour comedy show it's a great choice with plenty of food options near by.
Capacity can be anywhere between 30 and 150 for a comfortable stand up comedy show and the stage is quite big.
Conclusion
Whether you're seeking belly laughs with seasoned pros at Hi-Tone, discovering raw talent at the Lamplighter, or joining the late-night revelry at Growlers, Memphis comedy offers a potent elixir for any mood.
Beyond the side-splitting chuckles, it's a vibrant tapestry of local stories, diverse voices, and unexpected perspectives, reminding us that even in the heart of the blues, laughter holds the power to unite and uplift.
So ditch the drama, grab your crew, and dive into Memphis' thriving comedy scene – it's an experience you won't soon forget.
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