Toronto's most prolific comedy venue — Comedy Bar runs 150+ shows a month across two stages, covering stand-up, improv, sketch, and experimental comedy. The welcoming vibe emphasizes local talent and inclusive programming, and post-show drinks with the performers are a regular occurrence. This is where Toronto comedy grows.
Neighbourhood: Bloor West / Bloorcourt · Address: 945 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON · Hours: Mon–Wed 7:00 PM – 12:00 AM | Thu 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM | Fri–Sun 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM · Phone: (416) 551-6540
Why Visit
Catch Toronto’s sharpest local comedians and up-and-comers in an intimate, zero-pretension setting where every show feels like a discovery. The post-show bar vibe keeps the laughs going long after the sets wrap up.
What Makes It Unique
Comedy Bar runs more shows than anywhere else in the city, and all genres are fair game—from wild experimental improv to tight, pro-level stand-up. Unlike bigger venues, here you can actually chat with comedians after the show over a pint or two. Their focus on inclusive programming means fresh comics, perspectives, and crowds nightly.
Comedy Bar on Bloor Street West is Toronto's most important comedy club outside of the Second City — a venue that has built its reputation as the home of the city's independent comedy scene, presenting stand-up, sketch, improv, and experimental comedy formats that the Second City's more commercial structure doesn't accommodate. If you want to see what Toronto's comedy community is actually producing rather than what is commercially packaged for tourist consumption, Comedy Bar is the address.
The club opened in 2010 with a specific mission: to provide Toronto's large and active comedy community with a professional-grade venue that could support the ecosystem of performers, producers, and audiences that had been developing without adequate infrastructure. The programming philosophy reflects this — Comedy Bar books Toronto comedians at various stages of their careers alongside national and international touring acts, creating a ladder that performers can climb within the same venue as they develop.
The two rooms at Comedy Bar — the main stage and the smaller back room — allow simultaneous programming of different comedy formats and different crowd sizes, which means the venue operates more nights per week at meaningful capacity than a single-room club could manage. The back room in particular has hosted the premieres of comedy projects that have subsequently toured nationally, been recorded for television, or launched careers that now extend well beyond the Bloor-Bathurst area.
The food and drink operation at Comedy Bar is better than the stereotype of comedy club service requires. The kitchen produces genuinely good bar food, and the drinks menu is a proper bar rather than a minimum-purchase obligation. The neighbourhood — Bloor West, adjacent to the Annex and Christie — provides natural foot traffic and a community of regular attendees that gives Comedy Bar the local character that supplements the touring show calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Comedy Bar different from Second City?
Comedy Bar presents the independent Toronto comedy scene — stand-up, improv, and sketch in formats that aren't commercially packaged for tourist audiences. It's where the working Toronto comedy community performs and develops new material, making it more raw and authentic than the Second City's polished productions.
Does Comedy Bar have food and drinks?
Yes — Comedy Bar operates a full kitchen and bar, with good bar food and a proper drinks menu. The service is significantly better than the typical comedy club minimum-purchase model.
Where is Comedy Bar?
Comedy Bar is at 945 Bloor Street West, near the Bathurst-Bloor intersection. Bathurst station on Line 2 is steps away. The 511 Bathurst bus also serves the area.
How do I buy tickets for Comedy Bar shows?
Tickets are available at comedybar.ca and at the door when available. Popular shows (particularly touring headliners and popular local performers) sell out in advance. The back room shows are often more accessible on short notice than the main stage.