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    The Setup - Stand Up Comedy

    4.5 (89 reviews)
    ModerateComedy Clubs
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    Great seating
    Karen G.

    Fantastic venue in the heart of the Tenderloin. Wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly blown away. Saw Jamie Kennedy and crew and had a delightful night filled with much laughter and perhaps too much good beer. Intimate and classy best describes the venue. Everyone was nice and friendly. Jamie is hilarious! So was JR Cruz. Will definitely go back when they're back in town next month.

    Katie N.

    My boyfriend were in town and decided we wanted to go to a comedy show (we've been to one in Chicago and it was a great experience). We were originally supposed to go to Cheaper Than Therapy but he booked the wrong tickets and we ended up at The Setup instead. And I have no regrets going to The Setup!!! I love the intimacy that you're able to get with the comedian. The ambiance in the bar is super friendly and everyone is only there to have a good time. There is a required one drink minimum purchase before you head down (I see why it's called The Setup) now! Location is in Tenderloin so you know how that goes, but I definitely felt it was worth going out of my way to see the comedians there. Would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a cheap date night, or anyone who is looking to laugh.

    Sissy T.

    Kick ass place right smack in the center of the tenderloin! Bring cash or buy your tickets online. The line up was nearly making me piss my pants! Place fills up fast, get there ten minutes or so early and try to sneak up to the front of the line... Then you will get better seating... Sat on the couch, super comfy!

    Vicky B.

    Came to The Setup for the first time and loved it! The venue is a small room in the back of the bar and it's super cozy and intimate. There were 5 or so comedians and for the most part they were all great! I just wish the show was longer, it lasted about an hour and 15 min. The tickets are super reasonably priced for live comedy, at $15 and I had a discount code for half off. I'll definitely be back!

    Kayla H.

    I've been here twice. Once this year and once around this same time last year. Both times the show was suppose to start at 7:45pm and did not end up starting until 8:15ish. Both times we we still came around 7:15ish because the place is TINY! Some say tiny is intimate, but I would also say it's cramped as hell and there's always a big group that has to end up standing! So get there early and get good seats! Last year the bar sold cocktails. This year, the new bar, Beer Selection, only sells beer and wine. The bartender tried to tell us that the last bar didn't sell cocktails either, which was a lie because we bought several cocktails during the show. Kinda disappointing that I can't enjoy any hard liquor during a show. You would think that the bar would want people to laugh more. The comedians for the most part are pretty funny. They all have different styles which is nice because it appeals to various people in the audience. It goes from racist jokes, to sexist, political, theatrical, etc. However, some of them are regulars. Which means don't get your hopes up if you want some different material. One of the comedians was an Indian guy that was one of the same comedians that we saw A YEAR AGO and he STILL ended with the same material! It's been a year, work on your bit more. I bought tickets online for this past Saturday night. They were $10 each plus a $1.90 convenience fee. It ended up selling out online, so I was like "great thing I bought ahead of time!" Come to find out that my friends EASILY bought tickets at the door without any hassle, plus they didn't have to pay a convenience fee. So it was cheaper than what I paid. Granted, it wasn't too much cheaper so I can't complain about that.

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    10 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Five great comedians and a solid beer selection, including a good Belgian. Comfortable, intimate seating, I'll definitely be back.

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    8 years ago

    So boring we couldn't wait to get home. It's a cheap risk though if you feel like taking it.

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    9 years ago

    Great beer selection, incredible stand up. Great place for a weeknight with some friends

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    11 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Intimate gathering, 4 out of six comedians were actually OK funny. Hot with little air circulation. Be prepared to stand.

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    12 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Nice venue and comics. As is usual for this places, the comics are hit-n-miss, but at least 1/3 of a lineup is usually worth the visit.

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    8 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Hilarious, best value in the city, great date spot, and fun venue.

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    10 years ago

    Good times! The comics were great, the beer was good, and the setting was intimate and fun. Definitely recommended!

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    11 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Cozy setting- really intimate. The comics were great, I cried laughing. Also, really good drinks - there were a lot of local options on tap.

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    9 years ago

    All the local comics featured were talented and funny. I had good time.

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    Page 2 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Setup - Stand Up Comedy

    This has a one-drink minimum and I understand that; however my boyfriend doesn't drink and I'm pregnant, can we opt out?

    I believe there is a one drink/$10.00 minimum per person. I was the designated driver so I opted for diet cokes. It is a small business. They must survive to provide this essential venue for up and coming comics. You will enjoy the show no matter… 

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    Review Highlights - The Setup - Stand Up Comedy

    My boyfriend were in town and decided we wanted to go to a comedy show (we've been to one in Chicago and it was a great experience).

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

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    Cobb's Comedy Club - The seating of the club room

    Cobb's Comedy Club

    3.3(1.3k reviews)
    1.4 miRussian Hill
    $$$

    Attended a hand full of times now and sat both up and downstairs. What I like about Cobb's is the…read moreprofessionalism and efficiency. The stage can been seen pretty good at every seat. The staff are nice enough and it's clean. They have a decent amount of NA drinks and some bites that come quick. The only dislike I can think of is the bathroom situation for women it's a tiny one, seems odd to me. But it could be worse I suppose. I will be returning to Cobb's as I believe it is one of the only good comedy clubs in SF.

    I won't be coming back to Cobb's after this experience…read more Before the show, I was told I couldn't stand on the public sidewalk outside while waiting for my date. Because I had to move, my date had trouble finding me. Once inside, we were told we could be kicked out if we didn't comply with the two-drink minimum. I asked for table water. Instead, the server brought three overpriced bottles of sparkling water. We didn't order sparkling water, didn't drink them, and were still charged for them. What made the experience even worse was how aggressively the drink minimum was enforced during the actual show. Servers repeatedly came back to our table demanding that we order more drinks while the comedians were performing. Rather than being able to focus on the show we had paid to see, we kept having to stop watching, interact with the servers, and deal with pressure to order additional beverages. It was incredibly distracting and took away from the entire point of being there. I understand that a venue can have a two-drink minimum. What I don't understand is why enforcing that policy needs to interfere with the performance or involve repeatedly bothering customers in the middle of the show. The staff and servers we interacted with were also unnecessarily rude and made us feel more like a problem to be managed than paying customers trying to enjoy a night out. I've been to Punch Line many times and have never had an experience like this. Whatever the policies at Cobb's may be, there's a professional and respectful way to communicate and enforce them. This wasn't it. Between the treatment outside, the threat of being removed over the drink minimum, being charged for sparkling water we didn't ask for or drink, the rude treatment, and servers repeatedly interrupting us during the performance to demand more drink orders, this was an incredibly unpleasant experience.

    Photos
    Cobb's Comedy Club - Interior. Our view.

    Interior. Our view.

    Cobb's Comedy Club
    Cobb's Comedy Club

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    The Function - Free comedy

    The Function

    4.5(185 reviews)
    0.5 miCivic Center

    Went to a comedy show here last Friday. Conveniently located by the Muni/Bart!…read moreThe owner, Tony, is hilarious and welcoming. The mix of talent was a range of up-and-coming comics. My partner and I had a great time during each set. Lots of jokes about tech, dating, AI, and homeless folks. You know, the SF standard. With that said, the bar is intimate. Every seat is a good seat so you will likely be part of the show in some way (no hiding here!). If you are easily offended, maybe stop by the bar first to loosen up before you settle in for the show. Our drinks were creative and there is something for everyone. My favorite was the Tropic Thunder (pina colada vibes) and espresso martini. I would definitely recommend to catch a show, bring your sense of humor, and support this club.

    They were giving away free labor day weekend comedy fest tickets on eventbrite, so I took this…read moreopportunity to check the place out. To drink I had a lemon drop and pomegranate cosmo. Both cocktails were made well, with great flavor. Service was a bit slow. And the comedians hanging out in the back near the entrance were chatting away during other comics' performances so it was hard to hear while sitting at the bar. It's a small bar and lounge, with an upstairs level, the venue crowded as expected on a holiday weekend. The place could use some improvement, but I appreciated the friendly folks, free entertainment, and decent drinks. UPDATE 9/8/26: I checked the charges on my credit card two days later, and it turns out the bar staff added an extra tip on my card without me signing for this. Charging my card without my approval or knowledge is NOT okay. So, I had to drop my rating. This says a lot about what kind of establishment they are.

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    The Function
    The Function
    The Function

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    San Francisco Magic Theater At The Marrakech - Laughter and Magic

    San Francisco Magic Theater At The Marrakech

    5.0(1.7k reviews)
    0.3 miTenderloin
    $$

    Jay Alexander's show at the Marrakech theater was amazing from the moment we walked in. Even before…read morewe walked in, when we were greeted by the kindest man welcoming us to the experience. Then we were greeted again once we were inside, this time by Jay Alexander himself! He welcomed us, and found us a seat himself for us to get comfortable and order some drinks before the show started. He did this with everyone who came in, took the time to learn our names, and even performed magic while we were waiting for the stage show. That was amazing enough already, then the stage show started. Not only was the magic and mentalism great, his demeanor and excitement for what he was doing was palpable. My wife and I could tell he loves doing this, and that makes it even more fun than it would have been otherwise. My wife and I were also brought 'on-stage' and that was also a lot of fun. I have been to other shows where the magician does not make the spectator feel comfortable, and this couldn't be further from that. He made us feel like the most important thing was that we had a good time, and we certainly did. I cant wait to see Jay again. Next time we are definitely taking the kids too, then I'll have to bring all the other members of my family as well. I cannot recommend Jay's show enough. Please do yourself the favor of going!

    Best magic show we've ever seen. Jay Alexander is a master, and very entertaining. We saw the…read moreshow on 5/15/26. The pre-show appetizers were delicious, as was the wine. A very intimate theater setting where Jay interacts with the audience, and the audience interacts with each other. Jay's magic is mind-blowing! Truly an amazing and enjoyable show. Bob& Michelle Page

    Photos
    San Francisco Magic Theater At The Marrakech - Friends, Food and Laughs.

    Friends, Food and Laughs.

    San Francisco Magic Theater At The Marrakech
    San Francisco Magic Theater At The Marrakech

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    Secret Improv Society - Some of the Secret Improv Cast with our new T Shirts

    Secret Improv Society

    4.5(216 reviews)
    0.5 miUnion Square
    $
    Full bar
    Large group friendly

    My wife and I decided to go for a new comedy experience by checking out an improv show at Secret…read moreImprov Society, and we're sure glad that we did. Let's get into it... Ambiance - After getting your tickets from the ticket booth, you go down a sharp flight of stairs which dumps you out into a bar area with two large doors on both sides of the room. The room on the right-hand side is where they have stand-up comedy (Cheaper than Therapy), and the left hand side is where the Improv show takes place. You wait in the bar area until the doors open. Once you enter, there are a handful of rows of chairs (barstool style with backs) and it's general admission. It's a pretty cozy area, maybe fitting around 50 people or so if I had to guess. Before the show, one of the improv team members came around offering Oreos to guests. We did not partake, but if you like Oreos you're in for a treat. The show itself was great. There were four improv comedians and they took a bunch of crowd suggestions and tailor-made a show based around our suggestions. The show itself is about an hour and a half, but didn't feel like it was that long at all. When it ended, I was shocked that an hour and a half had passed already. Time truly does fly when you're having a great time! I would definitely return again as we had a blast and really enjoyed the quick wit the improv team had to offer. I would highly recommend checking them out!

    Incredibly fun and very inexpensive. Beware, outside a sign just says "better than therapy" which…read moreis a comedy club in an adjacent room at the same address. Also it was good that we got there a bit early in time to get drinks (a nice large selection). Small to moderate intimate theater with very talented keyboard player who "improvised the music" with each skit all night long. "Actors" were very personable and talented--so much fun--we will reco to all SF friends and family

    Photos
    Secret Improv Society - Stage during show

    Stage during show

    Secret Improv Society
    Secret Improv Society

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    Vinyl Room - Where the room glows and the records breathe.

    Vinyl Room

    4.0(525 reviews)
    14.7 mi
    $$

    I was at a local mixer event when we decided to come by here and continue the party. The Vinyl Room…read moreis always a solid choice because of the drinks, but especially because of the no cover charge at the door. The DJ was pretty good that night and he covered top music from 90's to today. Drinks were sooooo good!! We started off with just tequila and soda, but as the night got later I needed a little pick me up. I was initially going for an espresso martini, but I saw After Hours which consisted of Tequila Reposado, Espresso Liquor 43, Coconut and Milk Wash and ofc I had to get that... All I can say is WOW!! There were other drinks that looked really interesting too, but I wasn't trying to get too faded, so I'll have to come back and check them out. Service was very prompt and friendly despite it being pretty busy.

    I went to Vinyl Room on 4/21/26 around 10pm with my friend, her boyfriend, and my wife and it was…read moresuper fun! Not a lot of people were there, so it was a relaxing environment to talk to them in. We got so many drinks -- they're typical prices for bars, but I am very glad about my selection being drinks I thoroughly enjoyed. Jarrito Jam was my first one, it was delicious, but I honestly bought it to hold the little clay pot it came in. Nutty By Nature was my second drink. I enjoyed it, but it lacked the pistachio aspect of the flavorings. Orange Crush was my third drink and I loved it more than Nutty By Nature. My spouse got a Tiki Track and Tropicana and loved both of them a lot! I also loved my spouse's Tropicana drink and plan on getting it tonight when we go back to get my wallet I left there! Thank you to the people who picked up the phone today and helped me locate my wallet!

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    Vinyl Room - Cocktails stirred slow.
Records played all the way through.

    Cocktails stirred slow. Records played all the way through.

    Vinyl Room - Needle Drop.
Full tracks. No rush. Let it play.

    Needle Drop. Full tracks. No rush. Let it play.

    Vinyl Room - Our main bar -- where the records spin and the night begins.

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    Our main bar -- where the records spin and the night begins.

    The Setup - Stand Up Comedy - comedyclubs - Updated September 2026

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