My partner dragged me to a Dublin comedy club in Dublin on our second night in the city. I wasn’t enthusiastic. Comedy clubs back home felt hit-or-miss, with overpriced drinks, mediocre acts, and awkward silences when jokes bombed.
Then we walked into a basement venue off Dame Street and everything changed. The host roasted the front row mercilessly but lovingly. Three comedians delivered sets that had the entire room gasping for air between laughs. We stayed until closing, bought another round of drinks, and left with sore cheeks from smiling.
That night taught me something crucial about Dublin comedy. The city doesn’t just have comedy clubs. It has a genuine stand-up culture built over decades where comedians actually sharpen their craft instead of just performing tired material for tourists.
Five trips later, I experienced Dublin’s comedy properly. And this blog is for readers similar to me who are searching for the best comedy events in Dublin.
This guide covers everything you need to know about comedy clubs in Dublin from the legendary venues and rising stars to practical booking advice and what actually makes a great comedy night in Ireland’s capital.
If you’re planning a night out or just want reliable laughs during your Dublin visit, this guide delivers exactly what you need. Doing a Dublin weekend? Pair Herbert Park Market in Dublin on Saturday afternoon with comedy on Saturday night. One gives you fresh air, the other gives you questionable opinions delivered confidently by strangers.
My Top 3 Dublin Comedy Club Picks
| Comedy Club | Best For | Ticket Price | Show Nights | Why Go |
| The International Comedy Club | Intimate atmosphere, quality acts | €15 | Thu-Sat | Longest-running venue, consistently excellent lineups |
| The Laughter Lounge | Premium experience | €31 (includes drink) | Thu-Sat | Purpose-built venue, food available, professional production |
| Comedy Cellar | Budget-friendly laughs | €10-€15 | Wednesday | Ireland’s first comedy club, authentic crowd, affordable |
Best Dublin Comedy Clubs: The Legendary Venues
The International Comedy Club: Original and Iconic
The International Comedy Club has operated from the International Bar on Wicklow Street since 1998, making it one of Dublin’s longest-running stand-up venues. Thursday through Saturday nights deliver four top acts plus an award-winning host in shows that consistently earn five-star reviews across platforms.
The venue holds an intimate size perfectly. Around 100 people pack the upstairs room, creating energy without feeling cramped. Shows start at 8:30 PM on Thursdays and Fridays, with two Saturday shows at 8 PM and 10 PM. Tickets run approximately €15 for this Dublin comedy club.
If you’re staying outside the city center, check out fun things near Dublin during the day, then head into town for comedy at night. Glendalough in the morning, dick jokes at The International in the evening. Balance.
Book at least a week ahead for weekend shows because this comedy venue sells out consistently. Thursday nights offer slightly better availability if your schedule stays flexible.
The Laughter Lounge: Dublin’s Dedicated Comedy Venue
The Laughter Lounge holds the distinction of being Dublin’s only purpose-built comedy venue. Located on Eden Quay, the space accommodates larger crowds than basement clubs while maintaining intimate energy through smart room design.
Shows run Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Doors open at 7 PM with performances starting at 8:30 PM. Ticket prices hover around €31, including a complimentary bottle of beer or wine. The venue serves food, making this a full entertainment package rather than just stand-up comedy in Dublin.
Top Irish and international comedians perform here regularly. The production values exceed typical comedy club standards with professional sound, lighting, and staging that enhance every punchline.
My friend celebrated her birthday here last summer. She’d been nervous about bringing non-comedy fans to a show. The headliner that night adapted his material brilliantly for the mixed crowd, reading the room and adjusting jokes to land with everyone present. She still mentions it as one of her best Dublin nights out.
Comedy Cellar: Ireland’s First Comedy Club
The Comedy Cellar holds historical significance as Ireland’s first-ever comedy club, established in 1988 by the comedy collective Mr Trellis that included Ardal O’Hanlon. Wednesday night shows at 8 PM maintain the tradition of mixing established comedians with emerging talent.
The venue itself stays small and slightly cramped, which actually works in its favour. That intimate setup forces comedians and audiences together in ways that create spontaneous magic when sets catch fire.
Tickets cost approximately €10 to €15, making this one of the most affordable comedy options in Dublin. The Cellar attracts genuine comedy fans rather than casual tourists, creating audiences that appreciate craft and timing alongside simple laughs.
Where to Find Comedy Shows in Dublin Every Night
In Stitches Comedy: Seven Nights Weekly
In Stitches Comedy Club delivers the remarkable feat of hosting live stand-up seven nights weekly. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday shows happen at Peadar Kearney’s Pub basement on Dame Street. Tuesday nights move to the International Bar upstairs.
This Dublin comedy venue books Irish comedians and international acts consistently. The pay-what-you-like Wednesday new material shows at Peadar Kearney’s give audiences chances to see established comedians testing fresh jokes in low-pressure settings.
Show times vary by night but typically start at 7:30 PM or 8:30 PM, depending on the schedule. Ticket prices run €15 to €25 for regular shows. The basement setting creates proper comedy club energy with low ceilings and intimate seating that puts everyone close to performers.
I stumbled into a Monday show here during my third Dublin visit. The lineup featured three comedians I’d never heard of and one hosting duties. Two of those unknowns delivered sets that rivalled anything I’d seen at bigger venues. That’s when I realised Dublin’s comedy depth extends far beyond headline acts.
Craic Den Comedy Club: Rising Fast
Craic Den Comedy Club represents Dublin’s newer generation of comedy venues, running shows six nights weekly at The Workers Club. Despite being relatively recent, the club earned enough recognition to secure a Virgin Media television series showcasing Ireland’s emerging comedy talent.
Shows typically feature multiple comedians with varied styles, creating variety that keeps energy high throughout the night. The venue handles stag parties, hen nights, and tourist groups well while maintaining quality that satisfies local comedy fans.
Tickets cost approximately €15 to €20. The Workmans Club location in Temple Bar makes this exceptionally convenient for visitors staying centrally in Dublin. Shows run late with doors opening around 7 PM and performances stretching past 10 PM.
Cherry Comedy at Whelan’s: Monday Tradition
Cherry Comedy has operated at Whelan’s on Wexford Street for eight years, building a Monday night tradition that attracts dedicated audiences. Comedy legends including Ardal O’Hanlon and Dylan Moran have performed here over the years.
The Monday slot works brilliantly. It gives Dubliners something to look forward to when starting their week and provides comedians with a regular stage for developing material. TripAdvisor consistently rates this as Dublin’s number one comedy club based on customer reviews.
Tickets remain affordable, around €10 to €15. Whelan’s itself holds iconic status in Dublin’s music and entertainment history, adding cultural weight to the comedy experience. The venue includes a full bar and comfortable seating that makes three-hour shows feel effortless.
How to Book Comedy Club Tickets in Dublin
Booking Strategy That Works
Most Dublin comedy clubs offer online booking through their websites or ticket platforms. Booking ahead saves money compared to door prices and guarantees entry for sold-out shows that happen regularly on weekends.
Thursday nights typically offer better availability than Friday or Saturday while still delivering top-quality lineups. Sunday shows tend toward experimental or new material nights that can surprise with brilliant moments or occasionally fall flat.
I learned the hard way about booking ahead. Showed up at The International on a Saturday night, assuming I could buy tickets at the door. Completely sold out. We ended up at a mediocre pub with a TV showing football instead of experiencing live comedy in Dublin as we’d planned.
What Comedy Tickets Actually Cost
Budget €10 to €31 per person, depending on venue and night. Smaller basement clubs charge less, purpose-built venues charge more. Friday and Saturday nights cost more than midweek shows at the same venue.
Many clubs include drinks with ticket prices. The Laughter Lounge includes a beer or a wine. Some venues offer drink deals specific to comedy nights that make the overall cost more reasonable.
Door prices typically run €5 to €10 more than advance online purchases. That difference adds up quickly for groups, making online booking financially smarter beyond just guaranteeing entry.
Timing Your Arrival
Doors usually open 30 to 60 minutes before show start times. Arriving when doors open secures better seating in venues without assigned seats. Most Dublin comedy clubs operate first-come first-served basis except for specifically reserved tables.
Shows start promptly at stated times. Latecomers get seated between acts rather than during performances, meaning you might miss the opening comedian entirely if you arrive late.
Plan transport ahead because Dublin’s public transport reduces frequency after 11 PM. Most comedy shows run two to three hours, ending between 10:30 PM and midnight, depending on start time and lineup length.
What Makes Dublin Comedy Special
The Comedians Actually Care
Dublin’s comedy clubs serve as testing grounds where Irish comedians develop material before larger tours. This means audiences frequently see polished performers working at their absolute best or catching future stars before they hit bigger stages.
The comedy community stays relatively tight. Comedians support each other’s shows, guest host at multiple venues, and maintain quality standards that protect the reputation. That collaborative energy translates into better shows across the board.
Audiences Know How to Listen
Dublin comedy audiences understand the unspoken rules. They laugh at good jokes, stay quiet during setups, and give comedians room to recover when bits don’t land perfectly. That audience intelligence creates environments where comedians take risks rather than playing it safe with tested material.
My partner noticed this immediately during our first show. The audience participated when invited but never derailed performances with drunk heckling or attention-seeking behaviour. That balance makes Dublin stand-up comedy consistently enjoyable compared to clubs in cities where audiences treat shows as background noise.
The Venues Have History
Many Dublin comedy clubs operate in buildings with decades of entertainment history. The International Bar has hosted musicians and comedians since before most current performers were born. Whelan’s reputation extends far beyond comedy into the Irish music legacy.
That history creates a tangible feeling you experience walking into these spaces. The walls have absorbed countless performances, laugh tracks, and shared moments between strangers who connect through humour. New venues try replicating this energy, but it requires years of consistent shows, building cultural weight.
More Dublin Comedy Venues Worth Visiting
Ha’Penny Comedy: Sunday Through Thursday
Ha’Penny Comedy operates multiple nights weekly, giving audiences consistent options for Dublin stand-up shows. The venue cultivates a reputation for launching careers, with many now-famous Irish comedians performing early sets here before achieving wider recognition.
The Comedy Crunch at The Stag’s Head
The Comedy Crunch runs Sunday and Monday nights at The Stag’s Head, one of Dublin’s most beautiful traditional pubs. The combination of historic setting and quality comedy creates experiences that feel distinctly Irish rather than generic comedy club evenings.
Bill Burr, Jim Jefferies, and other international names have tested material here alongside established Irish acts. That willingness from top-tier comedians to perform at this Dublin comedy venue speaks to the quality and room energy.
Anseo Wednesday Night Comedy
Anseo hosts Wednesday comedy nights that balance established acts with emerging talent. Tickets start at just €6, making this one of the most budget-friendly ways to experience live comedy in Dublin. The hosts, Richie Bree and Colm McGlinchey, bring their own comedy chops to emcee duties, warming crowds effectively before featured acts.
Tips for Enjoying Live Comedy in Dublin
What to Expect During Shows
Most Dublin comedy clubs feature three to four comedians per show plus a host. Each comedian typically performs 15 to 20 minutes, creating 90-minute to two-hour shows with natural breaks between acts. Hosts introduce performers, warm up crowds, and handle any audience management needed.
Shows sometimes include interval breaks for bathroom trips and drink refills. Use these breaks wisely because leaving during performances disrupts both comedians and audiences around you.
Where to Sit for the Best Experience
Front row seating puts you closest to comedians but also most likely to receive audience interaction. If you enjoy banter and don’t mind potential roasting, grab front seats. If you prefer watching without participation risk, aim for the middle rows.
Side seating often gets overlooked, but it provides excellent sightlines with reduced interaction probability. Back rows work fine for viewing, but can feel disconnected from performance energy in smaller venues.
Food and Drink Logistics
Most comedy clubs in Dublin operate within pubs or venues with full bars. Drinks can be ordered before shows and during intervals. Food options vary by venue, with some offering full menus and others limiting food service.
Eating during performances disrupts other audience members, and comedians notice. If you’re hungry, eat before the show or wait until the interval breaks to order food that arrives during acts.
Why Dublin Comedy Works for Everyone
Dublin’s stand-up comedy delivers consistent quality across price points and venue sizes. Whether you’re spending €6 at Anseo or €31 at The Laughter Lounge, the baseline entertainment value stays surprisingly high compared to comedy clubs in other cities.
The variety of nightly options means you can experience live comedy regardless of your Dublin visit timing. Monday through Sunday, multiple venues host shows featuring comedians at different career stages performing diverse material styles.
Book ahead when possible. Arrive early for better seats. Keep phones away during performances. Laugh genuinely at good jokes and stay patient through occasional misfires. Dublin comedians reward attentive audiences with performances that create memories extending far beyond simple entertainment.
I gathered these details through years of Dublin visits, but comedy clubs update prices and schedules regularly. Always verify current ticket costs, show times, and performance nights directly with venues before making plans. What’s accurate today might shift next month.
The Laughter Lounge is walking distance from some of Dublin’s best museums. Do EPIC or the GPO Museum afternoon, then comedy evening. Your brain gets history and punchlines in one day.
Following Dublinz Facebook and Dublinz Instagram you will get all the essentials related to entertainment, food, and lifestyle on a regular basis, so stay connected to the community.
FAQs About Comedy Clubs in Dublin
1. What are the best comedy clubs in Dublin?
The International Comedy Club, The Laughter Lounge, and Comedy Cellar rank as Dublin’s best comedy venues. The International offers intimate shows at €15, The Laughter Lounge provides premium experiences with food and drinks for €31, and Comedy Cellar delivers affordable comedy from €10-€15.
2. How much do Dublin comedy club tickets cost?
Dublin comedy tickets range from €6 to €31. Budget venues like Anseo charge €6, mid-range clubs like The International cost €10-€15, and premium venues like The Laughter Lounge charge €31 with drinks included. Booking online saves €5-€10 compared to door prices.
3. Should I book comedy tickets in advance?
Yes, book at least one week ahead for weekend shows. Popular Dublin comedy clubs like The International and Cherry Comedy sell out on Fridays and Saturdays. Midweek shows offer better walk-in availability, but booking guarantees entry and saves money.
4. What nights do Dublin comedy clubs have shows?
Dublin comedy clubs run shows every night. Stitches Comedy operates seven nights a week. The International and Laughter Lounge run Thursday-Saturday. Cherry Comedy performs on Mondays. Multiple venues ensure live comedy in Dublin on any night you visit.
5. Are Dublin comedy clubs good for tourists?
Yes, Dublin comedy clubs welcome tourists. Venues like The Laughter Lounge and Craic Den cater to visitors while maintaining quality. Irish comedy storytelling translates well internationally, making Dublin stand-up shows accessible and enjoyable for all tourists.