Westside Comedy Theater

Best stand up comedy and improv venue in Santa Monica, CA! I’ve seen Ali Wong, Dana Carvey, Neil Brennan and took a class taught by Andy Dick at Westside Comedy! I love the relaxed Chicago bar vibe so much, I’ve put on three shows there!

Had a blast here on Friday. The comics were great and the setting was intimate and friendly.

Had a blast seeing 2 moms last night great theater

Great place to see comedy. Inside was clean. A good variety of drinks at the bar and easy to order from your seat. Saw a stand-up show and an improv show and both were solid. Great night out.

Good little spot. The comedians, the host, and the bartender were all cool and welcoming. I would definitely go back especially bc the entry wasn’t too bad of a price

It's a very affordable place to see comedians and they also have classes

It was my first time being there. It was much smaller than I thought but i had a great time.

Westside Comedy Theatre is one of the most impressive, entertaining comedy clubs in LA! Conveniently located just off the Third Street Promenade, the venue attracts a strong pool of talented performers and their ticket fees are extremely reasonable. Recent performers include Howie Mandel and Preacher Lawson! One of the best parts about Westside Comedy? Their excellent staff, including management, A/V leads, class instructors and bartenders. There is no drink or food minimum, which is extremely rare for the comedy club scene, however, they have a great selection of beers on tap. I highly recommend renting the space for a special event. We rented the theatre for 2 hours for my husband's birthday and had a fantastic time. We did an open-bar and brought in food for our guests. Pro Tip: - Rent the space for a special event - Eat before, because they only sell light fare like chips/candy - Sit up front so you get the full experience!

Pause for Laughter Show! Best Line Up of Stand Up Comedians all on one stage. Every comedian is hilarious and has credits! Westside Comedy is chill! Go with your hair pulled back with jeans on and enjoy the show! No drink min. Buy your tickets and enjoy the show! Great for singles! Take yourself out!

This place is nice. great comedy club to get out on a Saturday evening. The show "the big D" was hilariously funny. Bartender was very accommodating.

I spent my Monday watching an improv jam. It was so much fun to see all the improvisers do their thing. I had a stomach ache from laughing so much. I'm looking forward to watching them again!

I recently took the Stand Up 101 and 201 classes and had a great time. The class sizes are small, so you get lots of individual attention. It's not overly structured so it's easy to just jump in and give it a try. The teachers are fantastic. Chris is a passionate, encouraging, and friendly instructor who really takes the time to break down your material and give you opportunities to improve it. Just remember: You gotta put in the work, and you'll be asked to check out open mics and shows (which are free to watch at Westside with your student ID). I needed a creative challenge and got it, but I also had a lot of fun. If you're thinking of being a comedian or if you're just someone who likes to make other people laugh, this could be a perfect place for you to explore the possibilities.

Fun, intimate venue! I stumbled on a comedian I liked on Instagram and saw he was part of a show here so I went with some friends. Tickets were cheap too like 15$! It's easy to miss (entrance is like down an alleyway lol) but inside is clean and welcoming. Surrounding area has tons of food and drink spots to grab beforehand. There's a bar too with beers and wines with reasonable prices.

Laughed until my stomach hurt such a great fun night highly recommend this place definitely going back

If you want a cozy clean comedy club with an 8 tap bar you have to check this spot out! It was my first time going , saw an up and coming comedy troupe called @tnecomedy (the new experiment), and they were great! My cheeks hurt from laughing. I will be back! Thanks for a fun night!

I have so much fun at every show here! They are so funny, it attracts a good crowd & the seating is comfortable :)

Super fun night of comedy! Enjoyed basically every comedian, and the atmosphere was good! They had an 8 keg tap, and select bottles and wines to chose from. The service was fantastic, between each act she would grab finished drinks and take orders for new drinks. They also had a QR code where you can order drinks. Great service and we'll ran! I would happily come back in the future.

I go to 3rd street promenade all the time and didn't even realize this place was hidden there down an alleyway! We went on a Saturday night and every seat was full. We had a good time and enjoyed the beers. Enjoyed the crowd and the comedians were hilarious, but one spent almost the entirety of their time judging the crowd's lack of laughter, which just made it awkward lol. ALAS seems they have a lot of new comedians cycling through there and the venue was great, so would go back! [ Seating ] If you want to choose your seat and avoid waiting in line at the bar, based on our Saturday night experience, would recommend getting there ~15 min early [ Parking ] There are a few paid public parking lots around the block. Since 3rd street promenade is easily walkable and it's a high-traffic area, I'd just go in whichever parking lot you can get to the easiest and walk from there

I used to love this place but it's changed SO MUCH and is now atrocious in every way - do not go!!! There was a female heckler in the crowd and instead of the venue asking the person to leave, 3 out of 5 of the comics literally bullied the woman and her friends from the stage, NOT making jokes but cruel bullying. It included making fun of their bodies and clothes, which was particularly sad because one of them had done nothing wrong and she was called out for her weight. It was so wildly unprofessional and mean and a total waste of the audience's time. Heckling is NEVER okay but to stoop to even lower levels than the hecklers is unacceptable. The venue is also filthy - the toilets were SO foul even tho it was the first show of the night. Also, I paid $5.41 (including a $1 tip I regret) for a bottle of Coke that had expired. The last comic of the night was very obviously high and unprepared to be on stage, it was super awkward. It was just a depressing night - this place is OVER. So sad. This was all at the 8pm Friday night show on 7/19. I paid $27 for my ticket, $5 to park nearby, and $5.41 for an expired coke I took one sip of, and I srsly regret all of it.

A cute comedy club that's nestled right behind the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica! It's fairly small capacity-wise, but absolutely loved it here. Note that the entrance is in the alley behind, so make sure not to wander into the main street with shops. They have a fun bar menu and no minimum order, which is appreciated. I came to watch a USC comedy show for the Sketch Comedy class and loved how easy the online ticketing process was and also how the space was set up. Even if I was sitting at the back on the taller tables, I had a clear and unobstructed view of the performer. I'd love to come back soon to watch some other shows!

Intimate, clean venue. Cheap beer/wine drink options. Friendly staff. Hilarious comedians. Went on a Friday at 8pm and was a full house. They let us stay for the late show for free! My cheeks hurt from laughing all night! Highly recommend if you want a good laugh in Santa Monica!

Such a cute venue! My friends did an improv class and it was such a fun event! Tickets were $10 and was the perfect sized venue. The staff was super nice and they have a full bar!

Great comedy spot!! I went to the first sketch comedy show here since COVID and it was so much fun! There were three groups and the show went slightly over two hours but you could come and go between groups if you wanted. Such a fun thing to do on a weeknight! I can't wait to see what their weekend shows are like!

Love this place and come here weekly, but I will say they need to do better about kicking hecklers out quicker. Nearly every time I'm here there are heckler's and the bartender just tells them to keep it down with nothing coming from it. Tonight the comedian got so mad he actually kicked down his mic stand and yelled at the hecklers but STILL nothing happened and we had to endure them shouting and yelling the whole show.

I will tell you right now....this place is no joke! I have seen some incredible comedy acts here from newcomers and sometimes pros like to stop in and get away from their family like Adam Sandler and tell a few stories. Last weekend they had a group of talented comedians of all ages, races, backgrounds. Some were better than what you see on Netflix comedy. There was no drink Minimum and a modest entry fee. It's a small room with 5 rows in like a semi-circle. They have a no heckling policy that they let you know before the show starts so I am letting you know that if you can't control yourself with comedy--don't come here. The reason for this policy is that mixed in with experienced comedians are ones performing for the first time, plus no one like heckling it demonstrates your immaturity. Parking is free for the first 1.5 hours in the SM garage next door. But I would take a car service, drink, and just have a good time. This place is a real asset to the community.

Came by for the second time this past Saturday night. And after these past two visits, man I'm crazy for this place! I had gotten tickets for my girlfriend, a few friends of ours and myself. Unfortunately a few of my friends couldn't make it. So I thought I'd be screwed out of those tickets I already paid for. When I went up to check for the mid show I explained my situation to the two gentleman working the window. I had asked if I can use the left tickets towards the next show, just show I wouldn't lose out on that money. And they said of course. I really appreciated that. I did have one friend make it so I was going to pay for that single ticket. One of the two men at the window said don't worry about it. I had my debit card in hand ready to pay. I asked if he was sure and he said yes. Him doing something small like that was great. I'm a customer service first type of guy and gestures like that from employees like that just keep me coming and giving my business. My girlfriend, our buddy and I had gotten great seats right up front. Right before the show started we were asked my employee if we minded moving down so that a large party can sit together. I wasn't necessarily agitated but kind of annoyed at the request. But after we asked one another if we minded, we did. The gentleman who asked us to move was very polite and appreciative. He took care of us, making sure the rest of the night we were fine. Him and the bartender. The first show was an improv show. With an amazing group of comedians. Hands down probably the most fun I've had at an improv show. The second show was a stand up show. That was very fun and funny as well. Now, just being honest with myself I will be the first to admit, I did have a few glasses of wine in my system. And during that second show I did get a little too involved in the show. I do remember kind of going back and forth with one of the comics. Over a joke he was making comparing Mexicans and Italians. Which explains why after him, two other comedians had something to say to me about my conversation with the previous comic. Did appreciate none of them crossing the line. As well as get me to the point where I would have gotten aggressive. For that I had even more love and aspirations for the comics. Everything about this place is fantastic. You definitely can't ask for a better staff. And just overall better vibes. This place without a doubt is mine and my girlfriend's go to when we have a free night on our hands. If you took the time out of your day to read all of which I just wrote, please know that I recommend this place to you and everyone you know that loves to laugh. You will not be disappointed by anything I can guarantee you that.

Can't overstate how great this place is. I've been doing a weekly drop-in improv workshop on Saturdays between 3pm until 5pm. So much fun. A different instructor each week. The shows are a blast as well. Some of the best improv teams in the business perform there, including County Line, Hey Day, King Ten, and Pretty Pony. Prices are totally reasonable. Great atmosphere. Great beers on tap.

For $5 on any given night- but especially Tuesdays and Saturdays- you're going to see a national headliner in an environment that fosters great energy. This is the gem of the LA comedy scene. We've seen Conan, Chris Tucker, Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, and Chapelle for a $5 cover and a couple of $6 wines. I'm not looking forward to the day that this place gets so popular that you simply can't get in any more.

Love this place! The comedy is great and so is the community! Improv, stand-up and if you want to try it, jams and classes too! Such a dream, a reverie, an evolving experiment in live modern comedy.

For all you in towners and out of towners, Santa Monica is a cool place to come for an evening stroll. We people watched for a little while, checked out some street performers, listened to some random musicians playing guitars and banging on drums. I'm glad we aimed for M.I.'s comedy Theater to cap it all off. If you're a fan of comedy; local, national, sketch, improv, or standup, you've likely learned to understand that not all comedy is created equal, and even a show you loved last week can totally dive bomb this week. With that out of the way, the Friday night 'After 8' show was effective as an opening act for the Mission Improvable show - but I don't think you would want to come just for that. Comprised of mostly local 'up and coming' comics trying to smooth the rough edges of their recently discovered jokes, I gave the obligitory mercy laugh and patiently waited for the main attraction. Mission Improvable was hilarious and exactly what I was looking for. I definitely suggest popping in if you get the chance. I loved the audience participation, the cheep, no minimum bottled beers, and the all around fun time we had here. When I'm back in the LA area, this will be a sure stop for an evening of humorous release.

I absolutely love this place, it's a hidden gem in Downtown Santa Monica - access is through the alleyway between 3rd street promenade and 4th St. either from Santa Monica Blvd. or Arizona. I come here a lot with my friends. My favorite show was Mission Improbable - which was a improv show. I've seen many great comedians over the years, some have gone on to have their own show (e.g. Neal Brennan). The staff are so friendly and always add to the experience, smiling, laughing and joking with customers and each other. I highly recommend the banana bread beer, a friend tried it and she loved it! They also serve other drinks at their reasonably priced bar. I first started going here in 2013 and keep coming back. One last thing! The shows are very good value and can be as inexpensive as $5. It's a great fun thing to do with friends, family from out of town or as a date.

Visiting from NY and came here to grab a Friday night show. This place is no joke - an excellent line up of comedians that could compete with the comedy cellar in NYC! Loved the cool vibe and no drink minimum. Got lucky and had a few guest starts (aka Howie Mandel) for the 8:00pm show which was a surprise!

YELP INSIDER TIP FROM DOREEN (AKA AZN PERSUASION): Cheap/free entrance, no drink minimums, and if you're going to go Saturday night, go to the award winning 10pm improv show. ***** It's in the alley between 3rd street and 4th street south of Arizona directly behind the big Santa Monica Parking structure on 4th. If on 3rd street, go into the food court that has the McDonald's, Candy Baron, Subway and walk thru to the alley in the back. This place is small, has a small bar, but if you go on a good night, like the Saturday 10pm improv show it's pretty good and worth it just for the comedy. I went to the 11pm show 12 Shiny Nickels, but caught the tail end of the 10pm show. If you pay for the 10pm show, they let you stay for free for the 11pm show hoping the lead in will have audiences stay, which should say something right there... 12 Shiny Nickels is described as, "Each show features twelve of the best standup comedians in a row doing their best five minutes of material. We have rotating lineup over 80 comics with a new lineup every week." The night I went was not great. If anything, most of the comics were unfocused, new, and got off the stage before their 5 min were up. I now question the phrase, "the best standup comedians" as what they are best of isn't qualified... My Boo said he would go back, I would not.

I've been to this comedy club twice now and it's a great little spot! It's nestled right behind 3rd street and it's a pretty cozy place. I got my tickets online and it was just $10. I recommend arriving 30min before showtime to get great seats since the club is pretty small. There's a bar with the usual, beer and wine but luckily no order minimum like some other places. The performers are fun and bring a lot of energy.

Westside Comedy Theatre is one of the most impressive, entertaining comedy clubs in LA! Conveniently located just off the Third Street Promenade, the venue attracts a strong pool of talented performers and their ticket fees are extremely reasonable. Recent performers include Howie Mandel and Preacher Lawson! One of the best parts about Westside Comedy? Their excellent staff, including management (Chris is the best!), A/V leads, class instructors and bartenders. There is no drink or food minimum, which is extremely rare for the comedy club scene, however, they have a great selection of beers on tap. I highly recommend renting the space for a special event. We rented the theatre for 2 hours for my husband's birthday and had a fantastic time. We did an open-bar and brought in food for our guests. Pro Tip: - Rent the space for a special event - My favorite show is Chris's on Saturday night at 8pm! - Eat before, because they only sell light fare like chips and candy for $1-$2 - Sit up front so you get the full experience!

I've been multiple times now for weekday and weeknight shows, both the stand up and improv shows are all great. If you can do both in one night definitely do it. There's also no bad seats in the house. If you live in the area and want something to do solo come and sit at the bar. If you're with a group of friends come and sit as far away from everyone else as possible so we don't have to hear y'all (). The bartender/host is awesome, the performers are awesome, the seats are awesome (a little uncomfy but nothing an extra jacket can't fix) and the bathroom is CLEAN.

Wow we had such a positive experience here! From contacting customer service easily to arriving and getting a great seat, it was such a seamless experience. Not to mention the comedy was so fun and entertaining! I can't wait to come back

M.I's Westside hosts some really good shows. They're big in the Santa Monica comedy scene. Also, the bartender/host has a serious stache! That counts for something, doesn't it? The entrance to the theater is on the alley, so don't get surprised if your Uber drives you into a dark alley. If you're driving, in which case no drinks for you, the theater is right across a public parking, so there's plenty of parking. And celeb comedians sometimes drop by. The two times I have been there, I was lucky to see people I had seen on TV/YouTube - Russel Peters and Howie Mandel.

Yess comedy yess drinks yess fine time yess go yess get off your arse yess enjoy life yess laugh a bit more

Great space. Good view of at the show from every angle and some basic drinks available to have before/during the show. Would definitely come back to see some more sets.

Came to check this place out for our anniversary and we loved it. The bartender was so nice and everyone was very friendly and welcoming. We highly recommend it!

Nice spot! We go to a lot of stand up and some are improv shows in SF. It was fun to see some new faces and experience a unique set up. The bartender was super hospitable and friendly, as were the people at the front. Nothing snobby, just friendly people practicing their craft and enjoying comedy. We could only stay for the early show, but enjoyed it. We got the sense it was about to get better and better. I'd recommend coming early and planning to stay if you can. If you're practicing comedy - this would be a smart place to hang out and watch. It's small enough that there's got to be a sense of community amongst their regulars. There was some interaction with the audience.

I went here for the first time after I got recommendations from tons of different friends and now I can't wait to go back. BUT HERE'S WHAT MY REVIEW IS RLY ABOUT: I know this is super random, but they have tampons in the bathrooms here and I just thought that was soooo thoughtful. What a nice touch, making sure you're comfortable and can enjoy the show. (Also acts were great and lots of drink options at really reasonable prices, but I feel like every other review says that so I'm sure you, the reader, already knows the deal)

Visiting from NY and decided to catch a show on Friday night. All funny comedians. Loved the no drink min and cool vibe

I guess I was expecting it to be a funny performance. Waste of time and $$. Not funny at all. Improv at its worst. Felt Like a kindergarten skit show. Walked out in 17 mins . Good luck. Pay more $$, have more laughs. Lesson learned lol

We saw the Mission IMPROVable improv group performance and it was a ton of fun. The cast, audience, and staff were all outstanding and we had a very enjoyable evening.

I had such a blast here tonight. They had five comedians perform and each one was hilarious in their own way. This spot actually made me realize how much I miss stand up. They don't require a 2 drink minimum here the way they do at other clubs. I'm bummed that I haven't been here in ages. I will certainly be back in the very near future!

Such a fun spot! Tickets are never more than $10 and there's no drink minimum! Depending on the night you'll either see standup or improv. I like both! I'm a local and for the past 3 years coming to Westside they have treated us like family from the beginning! Chris, the owner, is very funny. He performs in an improv troupe called The Grind. The team is good but his talent stands out. Chris also, does standup and is sometimes seen introducing the talent of the show. At this venue, many celebrities have been onstage. Too many to list but FYI great place to see famous comics! It's LA! Even though it's not located in Hollywood all the talent holds up. I love it here! I don't go anywhere else. The theatre is located in an alley by a parking garage. The only problem is they don't sell food so eat before:)

Highly recommend attending shows & classes. The Saturday show hosted by Chris is consistently strong and the different classes the club offers are well worth the investment. A gem on the west side!

Such a cute little Comedy theatre ! Came in on a Sunday night for Neal Brennan and friends and saw David Alan Grier ! Love that guy! You really cant beat a $10 comedy show and you never know what surprise guest will show up !

This place never disappoints, I've been coming here for 2 years. Always a new experience. Seen some big names come through trying new material. Cheap beer and wine. Great shows.

I had an unexpectedly amazing time here on a Saturday night! There was an improv group of 4 (3 women and 1 male) who had us laughing the whole night. They really include the crowd and it was a cozy community. On the other hand, we stayed for a few minutes of the drunk history session, and it was not funny at all - oddly enough. The female seemed to be faking she was drunk and it was not one bit laughable...

One of the best improv shows I have been to! Very pleased with only a $10 cover and no drink purchase minimum. There is a small bar where you can choose from a plethora of beers and wine, which is nice to have the option. If you go for a show you are allowed to stay for the second free of charge! Mission Improvable is amazing! They are so talented and funny and have great improv games. My favorite is karaoke, it's similar to charades only the guesser has to sing their guesses...very funny!! They ask for a lot of audience suggestions so you are bound to have one suggestion in the show if you are a quick enough thinker! Great place also to just hang out for a group activity. Afterward you can peruse 3rd Street and grab a bite to eat. There are plenty of restaurants in the area. I recommend parking in garage 3 as it is literally right next to the improv location.

I love comedy so I was ecstatic to hear that an affordable comedy club exists in my hometown! A huge pro is that it Doesn't require the 2 drink minimum like you find at most places. Every show I've been to has been no more than $10 so it's a really a fun, cheap way to spend the night in Santa Monica. It's located in the alley on 4th Street in between Arizona Ave and Santa Monica Blvd. the venue is on the smaller side but I've never had trouble finding a seat. They like to make fun of the first row so if you do sit there prepare yourself :) Sunday nights have so far been my favorite time to go. "Dave Chappelle" co-creator, Neal Brennan, hosts a hilarious lineup all for $5. Cracked writers also do a funny show every first and third Tuesday of the month called "Unpopular Opinion." I love this place so much I'm having my birthday party here! I'm doing it on the Mission Improvable night which I have heard very good things and when I called ahead I was able to reserve tickets ahead of time without the online service fees.

I had no idea this gem existed on 3rd Street! The entrance is kind of hidden away in an alley, but if you are coming from the shopping area, you can find it easily by going through the food court with the McDonalds. Plenty of parking structures around that are free for the first 90 minutes, so it's not bad. The lineup for Sunday night was comedians trying out their new stand-up material. Show started at 8 and cost a mere $5...~such a steal!~ No seriously, it gets better. There's no drink minimum, so you're not forced to purchase overpriced drinks to make up for the cheap cover charge. But you'll want to drink anyway, because their prices are very reasonable. The inside is intimate, but not uncomfortably so. There are about 4 rows of seats/tables to choose from. In my opinion, a really great setup for their type of show. They tend to pick on people in the front, so keep that in mind. Note that the show I went to wasn't really a typical comedy routine. Some transitions clearly needed fine-tuning, and most of them were referring to some lists they had. Remember, they're taking the routine on a crash test! More often than not, we found ourselves in stitches anyway. Trust me, these guys aren't amateurs at an open mic. There are all sorts of shows being offered, and some are free of charge. Check out their calendar for dates. I HIGHLY recommend this place for anyone who isn't easily offended and is looking for budget friendly fun!

OK so my friend Abby's boyfriend Avram was performing standup here and we went to support. It's in the alley between 3rd street and 4th street south of Arizona directly behind the big Santa Monica Parking structure on 4th. You pay $8 for all night fun, there are Improv troups and standups, with shows starting on the hour, but you only pay once. We went on a Sunday night, and we laughed alot. OH.... they got an extra star for being BYOB and giving out free beer, because as they say, if we're drinking they're funnier. It's the perfect cheap sunday night date with someone you already don't need to impress.

+5 stars: super friendly staff, decent beer menu, intimate venue, wide variety of shows from improv to standup.... and they serve Cheetos. Aww yeah. And parking is literally 20 feet away and the first 90 minutes are free. They're no downside....only the upside of laughing your laugh off. Or, seeing something....interesting. Either way, you won't regret it, especially since the shows range in price from free to $12. Definitely check out Thursdays at 10 PM: The owners host their own improv show and it's usually awesome. I love this place! It's Santa Monica's best kept secret. P.S. I've also taken improv classes here -- which everyone should do at least ONCE! Seriously guys, it's life-changing.