Best Comedy Club in The Wire Area

"The Second City is a comedy improv troupe and is one of the oldest places to go for some good old fashioned Chi-Town comedy. They have all kinds of shows, from stand-up to sketch comedy, and it’s well known for having hilarious improv shows year-round. From its humble beginnings in 1959, the Second City became extremely popular and expanded to other cities."

"How long has it been since you’ve enjoyed a real, honest-to-God belly laugh?. If you can’t remember the last time that you cracked up, Second City Chicago can help. It’s more than just a comedy club."

"If you’re looking for a comedy club in Chicago with rich, long-standing history, Zanie’s Comedy Night Club is the place to go. Located on North Wells, this comedy club is for the 21 and over crowd and hosts nationally-known headliners on a weekly basis. Listen and laugh with the likes of Jeff Garlin, Doug Benson, Josh Blue and more when stopping in at Zanie’s Comedy Night Club."

"If you’re a big fan of stand-up, this just might be the club for you. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Zanies was Chicago’s first establishment dedicated to stand-up, making it a mainstay on the city’s comedy scene. It features touring headline acts every night of the week, so no matter when you’re in town, you should be able to squeeze a show into your travel plans."

"Zanies has been a Chi-Town comedy staple since 1978 and have been the stage of many famous comedians throughout the years. It has excellent service, good grub, good drinks, and of course, some of Chi-Town’s finest comedians each evening. If you’re looking to get a good laugh, Zanies is among the better bars and clubs in Chicago."

"This club has a lot going for it: no drink minimum; no age requirements; pizzas, snacks, and drinks for purchase; and tons of stand-up comedians. Open-mic nights are free, but with relatively inexpensive tickets available for other shows, you might want to consider going to a headlining act — either on the main or B stage. The shows run every night of the week, attracting some of the funniest talent in the city."

"Jim Belushi has teamed up with The Comedy Bar to make it one of Chicago’s premiere venues for laughs. With its location in the heart of downtown, it makes it a convenient stop for people seeking out a night of entertainment. The venue is modern with no drink minimum so your tipsiness can be determined at your own pace."

"A post shared by Chris and Kerry Walker (@thewalkertwiins) on Oct 3, 2018 at 8:25am PDT. Guests can enjoy good food and drinks while they watch the acts on stage. Besides comedy shows, burlesque shows are also held here, so check the schedule and plan accordingly if you wish to watch a specific performance."

"A post shared by K.Cal (@therealkatiecal) on Nov 4, 2016 at 11:10pm PDT. The name of this establishment is quite apt, as it seems to take pains in bringing its brand of service and humor to another level. A buffet is served here and features a variety of food options."

"The Annoyance Theatre is (proudly) edgier than the other comedy bars in the Windy City — think buckets of fake blood, actors stripping down to their underwear, and wacky premises for improv shows. The theater’s first big hit was its original musical, “Coed Prison Sluts,” which ran for 11 straight years, and then came back to the stage in the late 2000s. Although the musical isn’t currently being performed, you don’t need to fret — the theater has replaced it with plenty of other bawdy shows."

"The Annoyance Theatre & Bar is in the process of moving their venue, but it is well worth following their updates to see when they reopen. They focus strictly on improv shows, from all out themed shows to witty comedians doing their best one-offs. They usually enter the night with the mentality of ‘there are no rules’, but the rule of ‘no comedian can refuse a drink’ comes into play on occasion to transform an already hilarious comedian into a hot-mess that entertains like no other."

"The Laugh Factory is a small yet cozy establishment that has an intimate ambiance. The biggest highlight of this comedy bar would probably be its occasional open mic nights, which give guests the opportunity to realize their dream of being stand-up comics, even for just one night. Be aware that there’s a two drinks minimum policy here, but even non-drinkers can go around this, as non-alcoholic beverages are sold here as well."

"The Comedy Club House is a unique and popular comedy club when you want to step outside of the best suburbs of Chicago and enjoy the downtown comedy scene. They have hilarious stand-up and improv group performances, but they also offer improv training courses and comedy workshops for those looking to get into the comedy world. There’s also the Kids Comedy Company, where children from five up to eleven can have fun and learn some life long creative skills – this being one of many things to do in Chicago with kids."

"A post shared by BJ Party (@bjpartyimprov) on Jul 25, 2019 at 6:04am PDT. This comedy club is a good option for those who want to enjoy a show in an intimate setting, as the space and the seating here are limited. If you want to watch the show while munching on or drinking something, The Comedy Clubhouse follows a BYOB (bring your own beverage) and snacks policy."

"Whilst up at Althea you’ll find a ritzy vegan dining experience, down at Handlebar in Wicker Park you’ll find a laid-back vegan retreat offering “food, booze, and good times.” Made-from-scratch vegetarian and vegan dishes have been surpassing customer expectations since 2003 and the small, casual neighborhood restaurant has become an authentic favorite with a beloved beer garden to boot. To raise the bar even higher, Handlebar has teamed up with the popular vegan bakery Pie Pie My Darling to offer the bakery’s delectable vegan cake slices. Sourcing produce from local farms, brewing fair-trade coffee, and serving all organic eggs, you can’t fault anything about Wicker Park’s Handlebar, especially not the vibe."

"As a meat lover, I was initially nervous about visiting a vegetarian restaurant…But WOW, this place is incredible.The staff was helpful and their suggest..."

"VU Rooftop Bar is quite a new addition to the Chicago rooftop scene, opening in fall of 2018. This 13,000-square-foot rooftop bar, set 22 floors above the bustling McCormick Place, comes with a stylish indoor lounge, two rooftop terraces, three bars and some amazing and panoramic views over both the city skyline and Lake Michigan. Swanky, modern and spacious, here you can enjoy a locally driven beverage program and Chef Nolan Narut dishes, served nightly and as weekend rooftop brunch."

"Rooftop brunch Chicago at VU Rooftop - Photo: www.vurooftop.com/. Opened in 2018, VU Rooftop is a spacious and modern indoor / outdoor lounge, set high above he bustling McCormick Place. Offering two rooftop terraces, here you can enjoy panoramic views over both the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan."

"Sip on a variety of refreshing beverages at Chinese bubble tea chain Tsaocaa. Customers can mix their drinks with fruits or try cheese tea, a popular food trend featuring a foamy top layer of milk, cream cheese, and salt. There are also snacks like fried chicken and egg waffles on the menu."

"You may have a hard time saying their name but the bubble tea at TSAôCAA is the real deal. Bubble tea shops have popped up all over Chicago to meet the growing demand for bubble tea. TSAôCAA Tea specializes in fruit teas, mixed teas, and milk teas."

"The Loop isn’t quite rife with French cuisine so this casual steakhouse, attached to the Hyatt Centric and run by WellDone Hospitality Group, has been a welcome addition to the area since opening two years ago. Whether guests stop in during lunch for a beef dip sandwich or treat themselves to a nice hunk of dry-aged beef at dinner, there are plenty of delicious choices that’ll evoke visions of Paris."

"Kick off the last day of your Chicago itinerary with brunch at Cochan Volant, a French bistro in the Loop that is basically a brunch-lovers paradise."

"Serving high-quality coffee, Hero Coffee Bar stands out for several reasons but its enormous ‘coffee sign situated on a balcony above its entrance is a wonderful view at all times of the day. You’ll find a lot of people come for the sign and stay for the coffee, though some may just stumble across this cute little gem hidden in downtown Chicago by accident. Either way, it is a brilliant place to meet friends, grab a drink, and take some iconic photos."

"Located in the back of the Loop’s tiniest alleyway,Hero Coffee Bar is a Loop hidden gem. Charming bistro seating, overhead string lights, and a glittering coffee sign decorate this tiny 19' wide by 19' deep alleyway perfect for any coffee-lover needing to escape the hustle and bustle of the surrounding Loop streets. While the atmosphere may draw you in, Hero’s coffee will keep you coming back."

"Hero Coffee Bar actually has 4 Chicago locations but the most iconic one is located on East Jackson Street. The coffee shop first opened its doors in 2014 at 439 S."

"If you judge an ice cream shop solely on how close it looks to a Willy Wonka-type Wonderland, then Windy City Sweets is your golden ticket. This classic Lakeview haunt is chock full of so much Americana sweets and ice cream that you practically get a cavity just by entering the front door. The candy (and fudge!) supply is great, but the ice cream is truly special."