Why Comedy Oakland is one of the Best Comedy Clubs in San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco has a rich history of comedy. The early years saw comedians like Robin Williams & Dana Carvey performing regularly at Holy City Zoo. Lenny Bruce dished out his edgy stuff at The Purple Onion. Over the decades comedy clubs started springing (and disappearing) from the city and its surrounding areas. Some simply shut down (The Green Room at Fisherman’s Wharf), while some couldn’t find their footing in the city (Hollys Comedy Club on Van Ness).

(From top-left to bottom-right) Punch Line & Cobb's in San Francisco, San Jose Improv, Tommy Ts in Pleasanton, & Rooster T Feathers in Sunnyvale.

​Today there are five regular full-time comedy clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area – Punch Line & Cobb’s in San Francisco, Improv in San Jose, Tommy T’s in Pleasanton, and  Rooster T Feathers in Sunnyvale. They have the traditional opener-feature-headliner format occupying the weekend runs (Thu-Sun) and local comics showcased on week nights (Tue / Wed).The Bay Area also has venues that host comedy nights along with other arts and entertainment, and the usual bars and cafes that host a weekly or monthly comedy show / open mic.

Comedy Oakland hosts 5 shows every week – 1 on Thursdays, 2 on Fridays & 2 on Saturdays. The shows feature a mix of working comics that perform regularly at comedy clubs and theaters around the United States and internationally, accompanied by up-and-comers. 

Comedian Jeff Applebaum (Late Late Show with Craig Fergusson) at Comedy Oakland

What differentiates Comedy Oakland from other comedy clubs is our high-quality food and drinks. Spice Monkey Restaurant & Bar, which houses Comedy Oakland upstairs, serves mouthwatering globally inspired cuisine with fresh ingredients cooked daily in our kitchen. The delicious food is complemented with a full bar serving cocktails and craft beer. Check out the menu here. We believe in serving quality food, drinks, and comedy which is why we don't enforce the 2 item minimums like other big clubs. But you’ll be missing out if you don’t try it all!  ​

Comedy Oakland is a comedian owned, comedian run, comedy business. When you arrive at our club, instead of security or staff you will interact with comedians who will check you in and seat you at your tables. After the show, the comedians are accessible to talk and snap selfies.

Additionally, unlike other venues, there are  no ticket transaction fees. What you see is what you pay. Check out why people think we are one of the best comedy shows on Yelp, Google, & Facebook.

If no ticket fees isn’t reason enough, there’s also free parking around the block. The street meters go off at 6pm and free parking is easily available within a block or two. If you like to avoid the hassles of parking, bridge tolls and traffic jams, we are also 2 blocks away from 19th St BART station. 

​So, the next time you Google for the best comedy clubs in SF, remember to check out Comedy Oakland. 

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Comedy Clubs in San Francisco Bay Area - an objective comparison