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    Asylum NYC

    4.7 (43 reviews)
    Open 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    Asylum NYC Photos

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    Stage area and floor seating
    Cheri G.

    It's a nice speak easy feel and vibe in here. As you enter in the bar is to your right, it has an old school nyc feel to it. the showtime area is located through a small hallway towards the back.it is larger than you would think. It's set up like a theatre, which is nice. No heads to block you. It's roomy in there but yet still intimate while viewing the comedians. I had a good time. The bathroom was spacious and clean. I appreciated that.

    Montage of images from Asylum NYC (Titanique)
    Ed U.

    Jamie W. and I came here to see "Titanique" plain and simple because we saw an entertaining snippet of it on TV. This Chelsea venue has been around only since 2018, but it evokes the feeling of those mid-century cabaret basement nightclubs in Greenwich Village, the kind where Phyllis Diller or Rodney Dangerfield would headline and Barbra Streisand would show up on some random amateur night. It wasn't smoky like the old-time clubs because like, who does that anymore, but there were a couple of mini-bars where you could order cocktails. Chairs were set up on risers like a pep rally in a high school gym. We were in the front row where the stage was mere inches from our faces. Now regarding the show itself, it was a stitch. It was a musical parody of "Titanic" as reimagined by Celine Dion. Not the real Celine but a hilarious impersonation by actress Marla Mindelle who also co-wrote the piece which sends up the singer's self-absorption and provides an excuse for the cast of twelve to perform her most familiar hits. Happily, each cast member sang with booming clarity and comic zest, and the movie's plot was played for easy laughs down to the gigantic Heart of the Ocean diamond. And of course, Rose was carrying on her back the papier-mâché crate door that apparently couldn't accommodate Jack's frozen body as well as hers. I believe it's running through the middle of November, so hurry if you can, but regardless, I'd also be interested in coming back for their rotation of comedy shows if "Titanique" is an indication of the quality here. It was a fun spot. Near. Far. Wherever you are. RELATED - Looking for things to see and do in NYC? Here's a collection of things that I've experienced and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2ZvQA2F

    My heart will go on! View is from the middle section, slightly towards the left.
    Maria L.

    This a venue that's completely underground, apparently the basement of an old Gristedes according to "Celine Dion" from the show Titanique! (If you loved Titanic, you'll get a kick out of this show!!) There are few different seating sections and booze is available for sale. We were seated in the middle section, directly looking at the stage. It was a good spot! During our show the actors were in the audience during various parts! For the show, we tried a Titanic themed mojito. (I don't recommend it.) Go for something safe, in a can. You could get a bucket with a lot of canned drinks. I think I overheard you could keep the bucket! There really isn't much ventilation, so if you're nervous about that, probably not the place for you. They recommend or enforce you wear your mask if you are not taking a sip of your drink. Ps. There are two stalls in the women's bathroom. Yep, you'll most likely wait in a line. They do comedy shows here too!

    a poster for the movie titanic
    Salvatore V.

    Rather small venue. Now that I think of it it reminds me of a dive bar that they transformed into a off broadway / comedy club venue. Came here to see TITANTIQUE. This parody show was amazing hands down. Basically it's a funny retelling of the story based on the movie of TITANTIC. It's the funny retelling told by Celine Dion . Although the venue was very tight, benches uncomfortable and the atmosphere on the clammy side . It's important to support these small local business

    Where you check in
    Iris H.

    Asylum is great and true to it's name will have you laughing like crazy. I came here over the summer for a characters show and was amazed. Their check-in is right by the door which also hosts a rotating lineup of all their shows. Once you've shown your vaccination card and paid, you head down the stairs where drinks and the stage are situated. The bar offers a really nice variety of beer/wine/cocktails and a 4 for $20 beer bucket where you can mix and match. The theater is intimate and has 3 sides and allowing the audience to see the stage from different angles. If you sit in the front row center you're bound to feel a part of the performance. If you need a good laugh and some fun, then I highly recommend Asylum. Any day, any night, Asylum will treat you right.

    Entrance
    Ava S.

    Great way to laugh for $20...there were 3 troupes performing and it's original and very funny.

    a man on stage with a microphone

    Soooo.. I went to see a show last night & paid for a VIP ticket. I loved Pauly Shore and encourage everyone to see his one man show . Alan was also great to work with and I will be back at a later date. Thanks for your help .

    Isabel V.

    Have been to the main stage show here twice and I can't wait to come back! The overall vibe of the place is chill and waaay bigger than I thought it'd be. The bartender was super friendly and the cast was on POINT! A blend of sketch and improv that I can honestly say I've never seen before. Will make for a fun night no matter who you bring!

    comfy seats

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    Photo of Michael D.
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    2 months ago

    Enjoyed seeing Spirit of the Game there. Fun musical about Ultimate frisbee. Good staff and a well-designed venue.

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    4 years ago

    I've been here three times and each time the show was funnier than the last! Recommend for both New Yorkers and out of towners!

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    7 years ago

    The show was hilarious! I loved the interaction with the audience. Also there was singing! And all of the performers were good singers!

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    Business owner information

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    Asylu M.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Asylum NYC

    Is the theatre BYOB?

    Hey John! We have a bar at the venue, so no BYOB! Thanks!

    So my 13yo son is a HUGE comedy fan. His sense of humor is very well developed (political humor, etc) and I would love to take him to a comedy show when we are in NYC next weekend. How raunchy does the 8pm show get? Is there an age requirement?

    Hi Beth! Thanks for your question. We are so glad your son is so into comedy. Seems like Improv… Read more

    Do they have coffee, drinks, and/or snacks for sale before the show starts?

    Hi Kathleen! Thanks for your question. We currently have a full service bar open before, during, and after the show. Our friendly bartender Brian will have you feeling right… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Asylum NYC

    Their mix of improv and sketch is unique and waaaaaaay better than an improv-only or sketch-only show.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Comedy Cellar

    Comedy Cellar

    4.0
    (1.4k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Holy shit - easiest 5 star ever. We went last month during our NYC trip and the show was amazing,…read moreevery comedian was on point, I cried laughing. It was a last minute decision to go so originally we got in the 9pm standby line for Fat Black Pussycat. Unfortunately we didn't make standby twice when we waited at 9pm and 11pm. Luckily, we were offered to go to the 11:45pm comedy cellar show instead. Yes please! So happy it worked out, especially on a busy Saturday night. It was the 2 of us & we shared a table with 2 other couples who were such a vibe to chat with. 2 drink minimum. The show started around midnight and ended around 1:30am. Definitely recommend to catch yourself a comedy show here! I'll be back next time I'm in NYC

    Easy 5 stars. Been wanting to do this for a while, planned to come based on a few comedians that I…read morewanted to see. After watching the show, I recognized almost every comic (I watch a lot of stand up comedy on youtube). Every comic was solid, every comic was funny. Anyone I hadn't seen before, I looked up and watched on youtube after. Fun experience. Try to buy tickets in advance if you can, unless you are super flexible and are okay with being on the waiting list and maybe not getting in. We ended up in the standby line and luckily got in. Prices are reasonable. If you like standup comedy definitely come. You can look up the lineups on their website ahead of time. They do not guarantee that everyone listed will appear, but I guess they also sometimes have drop ins of special guest and really famous comics. Brennan was the big name of our show. Schultz was also supposed to be there, but was a no show. Everything is pretty organized and orderly. 2 drink min. but the drinks are reasonably priced as well. Highly recommended. I wanted to see Aaron Chen, but the timing didn't end up working out, but he was there the days I was in town.

    Photos
    Comedy Cellar
    Inside
    Inside
    Front row

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    Front row
    The Grisly Pear

    The Grisly Pear

    4.0
    (41 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    I came here solo and Sarah made my experience the absolute best. The bar is nice and reminds me of…read morea few dive bars back home in CA that I love. The Grisly, however, is like the most elevated dive bar but you still get the friendly "we've known you forever even if we've just met" kind of energy from the staff. Or at least Sarah. Damn did she make me feel welcome. Recommended great burger (the Smash with pepperjack) and was just so friendly that I didn't want to run out immediately after eating and having one drink. Oh, the fries....criminally good. The Happy Hour drink menu is pretty solid, and this is s place you could go to on a date, with friends, or by yourself. Music isn't too loud, sports are on the TVs, food is good, and drink options are plenty.

    The Grizzly Pear is such a gem in NYC. The ambiance is laid-back, cozy, and effortlessly cool. It…read morereally feels like an upscale dive bar in the best way possible. Warm lighting, good energy, and a chill crowd make it an easy place to hang whether you're starting your night or winding it down. One of the best parts is the menu. It's super affordable for NYC, but still delivers on quality. Everything feels simple, satisfying, and done right. We ordered the burger and fries, wings and fries, plus a margarita and a mojito. The burger was juicy and filling, the wings were flavorful, and the fries were hot and crispy. The drinks were solid, refreshing, and exactly what you want at a spot like this. Location-wise, it's perfect. The Grizzly Pear is close to so many things, making it a great stop before or after exploring the neighborhood, catching up with friends, or heading to another spot nearby. The service really stood out too. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and welcoming without being overbearing, which added to the relaxed vibe of the place. Overall, The Grizzly Pear is a great go-to if you want good food, decent drinks, a cool atmosphere, and fair prices all in one spot. Definitely a place I'd come back to again.

    Photos
    The Grisly Pear
    Fried Chicken Sandwich
    Fried Chicken Sandwich
    Pear cider

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    Pear cider
    National Comedy Theatre

    National Comedy Theatre

    4.4
    (38 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $

    My friend and I had a blast here on a recent trip to NYC. All the comedians were hysterical. It did…read morefeel very cramped (7 of us piled into a tiny booth) but other than that- it was an excellent experience. Would definitely go back!!

    I had been to NCT a couple of times a few years ago but I decided to take an out-of-town cousin for…read morea night. I felt like it was a waste of my $12 and I wish I had taken her to another improv place. The tickets- $12 with student ID, $15 regular. Can purchase beforehand on the site. The humor - extremely amateur. We didn't find the majority of the show funny. The show is two teams competing for "points" in a series of games, much like "Who's Line." There's a referee who reminded me of Joel McHale from The Soup but he wasn't funny at all. He was trying too hard and spent a lot of time wasting our time by repeating things that did not need repeating. The games they play have potential but the performers just failed. They weren't funny at all. Repetitive jokes and childish humor. Not impressed. The atmosphere- place was half empty so lacked energy. The style- lame and childish. No profanity, nothing that's not rated G allowed, from performers or audience members. They remind you several times from beginning to end. Actually they threaten to put a paper bag over your head for the remainder of the show if anyone says or does anything slightly indecent. I feel like this is extremely unnecessary and boring. I felt like I was at a child's birthday party. The venue- simple. too simple. They have a small bar with drinks. Small amount of seats, maybe 40 max? One-room bathroom. Service- they say they open at 7pm but they opened at 7:10pm which was annoying. Verdict- save your money and go to UCB. Sorry NCT.

    Photos
    National Comedy Theatre
    Outside
    Outside
    Amara and I are having a blast and we are ready for the show!

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    Amara and I are having a blast and we are ready for the show!

    Asylum NYC - theater - Updated July 2026

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