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Laughing Skull Lounge

3.7 (143 reviews)
ModerateComedy Clubs
Closed • 7:30 pm - 10:00 PM

Laughing Skull Lounge Photos

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Luba K.

Was traveling for work and decided to check this place out solo. I had a blast and my only regret was not also coming for the Saturday night show.

Stage!
Katie G.

Had a great time at a recent "best of Atlanta" comedy show at the Laughing Skull. There were 8 comedians and each had 10 min to do their best and they were each pretty good. I really enjoyed myself and laughed many times. I paid for "vip" tickets toward the front which are 2 seats and a table, and recommend this unless you are cool with sitting in the back w/ stadium seating.

Entrance by bathrooms Inside the vortex
Christian E.

Very small place so any seat is a good seat; however, most are just rows of chairs with no tables so you have to hold your drink. There is no server so you go to the bar to get your drink. The 2 drink minimum isn't really unforced since there is no server and most don't want to get up in the middle of the show or hold 2 drinks. The entrance is inside the vortex. The comedians were good. It was a little warm in there for my liking and someone was video taping the entire time from the door which was distracting since we were in the row where he was doing it so we felt like there was a constant camera on us. Fast response time via social media with code. Intimate small environment is definitely go again.

Toni G.

Ventured into midtown before the sundown. Walked past the big ass burly security into the Vortex and was met with a huge phallic statue! It's going to be a great night! Guys at the ticket table were so cool and helpful. Found our table, grabbed our drinks, and waited for the show. It did not disappoint. We saw about 10 comics in an hour and a half. Each one funnier than the last. Great venue, we will definitely be back.

Open Mic night.
Daniel B.

The Laughing Skull Lounge is a tiny comedy club located inside the Vortex Midtown. To get inside the lounge, you have to enter the Vortex, walk through the dining area and back into the restroom hallway. At the end of that narrow hallway is where the entrance to the lounge is. Strange, but that's how it works. I went to the Laughing Skull Lounge twice to watch a friend perform some of his first ever stand-up comedy routines. Tuesday and Wednesday nights are "Open Mic" nights at the lounge. Doors open at 7:45pm and shows start at 8pm or shortly thereafter. Tickets are $10 each and the show lasts 2 to 2.5 hours. Open Mic nights are nights when a bunch of comedians sign up and perform roughly 5-minute acts on stage. Most of the comics are amateurs and are getting into stand-up for their first time. If you attend an Open Mic night, more than likely you will see several comics' performing for their first time on stage. Because of this, you may witness some poor souls bomb. The nights I went, there were 13 to 15 comics plus the host. The host was pretty good and interjected humor between each act. Our crowds were lucky as almost all of the acts were funny, though there were definitely a few bombs and WTF acts. Be prepared because anything goes. There were plenty of vulgar and highly offensive jokes to go around. As mentioned previously, the lounge is tiny. The room seats only 74 and everyone is nestled closely together. The front row, which I think may be reserved for "VIPs" only, has a few small tables to set your drinks on. The other rows consist of small, neatly arranged wooden chairs. The back of the room is where the bar is, as well as a few staggered benches. There is a two drink minimum (loosely enforced) and the drinks are strong. No food is served, so if you plan to eat, plan to grab your meal before or after the show. The Vortex next door being the most obvious choice for pre or post-gaming. Street parking and various pay lots and parking decks are located close to the club. Laughing Skull recommends parking in the AmeriPark lot across the street, which costs $5. It's the most convenient lot.

Cash bar list at the Laughing Skull Lounge
Pam D.

Great location in the heart of Midtown! They bring in some good comedians, but they also have their lot of stinkers too. I wouldn't just go for a random show on a Friday night- I would definitely do my research beforehand! I think the best seats in the house are in the back, where there are booths that make it easy to cuddle with your significant other. They also have small ledges where you can place your drink. We try to get in line early to secure these booths! There's a two drink minimum inside, which isn't too bad as long as you know before you go in. Prices are a little higher than average but not terrible. I usually enjoy myself when I am here, and it makes for a fun and different night out. Plus, when the show's over, you've got a lot of great options for your after-party!

Cool lighting and atmosphere
Jeff T.

Updated review. The best place in town to go for stand up comedy. Celebrities drop by all the time unannounced too. I saw Dave Chappelle and Jeff Foxworthy here recently. The stage and seating arrangement were updated a while back making the place more comfortable.

The funniest part of our show.
W T.

This was my first visit to any comedy club and I was not impressed with The Laughing Skull. I originally purchased tickets to see Gary Gulman. However, I received an email the Monday before the show that weekend that Gary cancelled. The club offered a substitute show, The Best of Atlanta, the same day or a refund if you chose. I choose to keep the tickets and go, because I already had other plans that revolved around going to the club. To make the long story shorter, there was a birthday group that was drunk when they came in, sat in the front row, continued drinking, and heckled the first 5 comics until the managers finally threw out the group that made it an interactive comedy show. Several comics cut their sets short and dealt with them more than going through their material. This group should have been removed immediately, especially after you show a video before the show detailing what will happen if you interrupt the show. The show was distracting and pathetic and no apology offered from management.

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1 year ago

I had a wonderful time. Amazing space, decent drinks, funny comics. I went 10:30, show runs around 100 minutes. Fun night out

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6 years ago

Glad to be able to see some shows again. Great venue with a small group for social distancing.

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7 years ago

We had a great time at the "Best of ATL" night - great comedians and delicious drinks!

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Ask the Community - Laughing Skull Lounge

Where would you all recommend we go eat before the show around the comedy club? trying to plan a nice date

Well, you have Ecco which is a block over with good food and walking distance. It's definitely good for dates. It is good to check to see if you need to make reservations for that night. Then you have Fadó Irish Pub which has good food also and it's… 

Is there a comedy show tonigh?

There are two! 7 and 930

Is there a cover charge for tonight?

Yes, the cover charge is $11 per person

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Review Highlights - Laughing Skull Lounge

“I went here yesterday with a group and had a great time, unlike at the Vortex (that's another review).”

Mentioned in 43 reviews

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Whole World Improv Theatre

Whole World Improv Theatre

4.5(186 reviews)
0.7 mi•Midtown
•$

It's about time for an updated review. I've come here many times over the years, bc I love the wit…read moreand random humor that comes from Improv. This place is certainly a must visit! I came here with my best friends to celebrate my birthday, my friend's birthday, my other friends newly published devotional and my other friend's promotion at work. This was probably my 4th time here. Parking is behind the building and they have a ton of spots with gravel parking and paved (directions might lead you to the front). The lobby has two rooms, with comfy seating, restrooms, bar (beer and wine), ticket area and a place to take group photos. Things have changed on seating here due to Covid but for the better. You can now buy a table for two, table for 4 and VIP seating. Cost ranges from $70-$90, but comes out to about $20-$45/person. Any table purchase you make comes with all the tickets. Most shows are about an hour and a half long, with one intermission for you to use the bathroom or grab drinks. A majority of the improv depends on participation from the audience, so be ready to give direction on what the skit will be like. One of the best portions of the show was when my friend Keni got asked about her Hot Air Balloon she did recently, and the Improv Actors did a "fortunately, unfortunately" sketch on it. One of the funniest things I've seen. It's always a great time when you go, and you're going to get something fairly new and unexpected every time. Some actors are much more entertaining too, as they can create comedy out of thin air. They also hold Improv classes for adults and work with children too (the host mentioned something Nickelodeon themed). Highly recommend! This was purely a friends outing, but this spot is perfect for dates too or any type of celebration.

Went on Thurs which is free for women and LGBTQIA+ people. Was asked a question before the show,…read moreanswers gathered by a staff member. There was also a bucket next to a question for written answers. Once the show started, saw some improv games I've never seen before, actors / actresses were pretty good. Show was pretty long, 1 hr and then a break before finishing. It was all short-form and I wanted to watch some long form, so I left during the break. Was a decent show!

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Whole World Improv Theatre
Whole World Improv Theatre - Chris, Andy, and Bryan from the Main Stage Cast

Chris, Andy, and Bryan from the Main Stage Cast

Whole World Improv Theatre - Ethan, Lauren, and Eric from the Main Stage Cast

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Ethan, Lauren, and Eric from the Main Stage Cast

Dad's Garage Theatre - Murals inside the main stage theater at the back

Dad's Garage Theatre

4.9(109 reviews)
2.0 mi•Old Fourth Ward
•$$

Second time coming here, first time was years ago for an Improv Class. Going downtown SUUUUCKS but…read morehere's one of the best parts ... FREE PARKING! And it's so close to the fun Church Bar. You will not find food here. Do not come hungry! The protein bars, chips and candy won't fill you up. Don't be like Kevin. The stage is upstairs and you enter in the bar area downstairs. They have a nice waiting room with plenty of beer, wine and drinks. They have a strict attendance policy, so make sure you arrive at least 30 min early. It's Improv so it can be hit or miss. We saw the Christmas Carol Invasion, where a random character invades scenes and the characters have to play along. It got hilariously awkward when the characters broke character bc of the invasion and didn't know what to say . I loved it when they stared at each other, laughing, unsure what to say. This is a great venue. Grab a middle row seat, as they are cushier. Seats are assigned, fyi. They do an intermission as well. Enjoy the show, Improv rocks!

We visited from out of town and had a really great time! There were a couple of "insider" Atlanta…read morejokes but most of the evening was accessible to anyone/everyone. Fun to just grab a drink at the little bar and enjoy. We caught the last night of "Bedside Manor" and laughed so hard at some of the jokes and bits. Iron Taint forever!

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Dad's Garage Theatre - Main stage before it filled up

Main stage before it filled up

Dad's Garage Theatre - Murals inside the main stage theater at the back

Murals inside the main stage theater at the back

Dad's Garage Theatre

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Atlanta Comedy Theater Underground - Vegetable pasta

Atlanta Comedy Theater Underground

2.0(7 reviews)
1.9 mi•Downtown

This is my first time going to the comedy theater at the underground. I thought it was pretty good…read moreoverall. The seating is a little weird but you eventually get over that I guess. It's weird because you could have people facing the other way and they have to keep turning around to see the stage. But then people on the other side of the table are looking right at the stage show it's a little more convenient for them. But that's not a deal breaker at all. The show started late, but honestly I'm not surprised LOL sometimes we don't like to start on time. It could be just because we're running behind or it could be because we are trying to get everybody a chance to get that because they know that the audience won't always be on time. The show was good, they had a host and one undercard performer and then they had the main event. It went on for about an hour and a half, which was actually pretty good. I would go back again, I definitely would. I enjoyed the experience, it was pretty decent. The server messed up the order a couple of times but I mean the person could have misunderstood us because it was so loud in there because of the show that was happening, it could have been anything. I don't hold that against anybody.

I have not been to underground in about 10 years but when one of your favorite comedians comes into…read moretown you have to just make that trip! Let's get into this review! Parking: There are some parking lots in the area and then some on street parking (but limited). We parked in a garage, smells like piss, and sewer water. AND literal bums using the floors levels as their bedrooms. It's Atlanta what can I say! If you aren't familiar with the underground - it's a section of plaza like stores 5 floors down. The elevators don't work so you'll have to walk down and walk back up! The comedy club is on the lowest level. Staff: They are good at moving people out of your seat if they are sitting in the wrong seat but that's about it. Your table server never comes back - they want payment upfront and they don't bring you everything you order. I was thirsty almost the entire time. I personally think it's crazy not to bring people out waters as a courtesy first! They pack you like sardines. It was so tight you can barely turn around. Like a literal can of sardines I felt like. The seating is much tighter than it shows for the online seating chart so just know to pick whatever seat you want. The food was okay! Nothing spectacular and I did not order a drink. One other thing to note, with that being my first time - I had no clue where the bathroom was. It just wasn't present and wasn't obvious! They also have a sign on the door that says there's a "2 item minimum purchase or a $15 surcharge". How dare you force me to buy some of your food and I don't even know if I want to? Then they say stuff like take care of your folks in the underground! I am not a fan of "supporting black business just because it's black". Please have decent customer service and a great experience! That's how you get love and support - my opinion. Of course the performer was the best part so the 1 star is for her. She even made jokes about the decor lol! Her intro comedians were extremely funny as well. May come again but I'm just not sure. I still am in shock of the overall experience. Lol

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Atlanta Comedy Theater Underground - Georgia Tea

Georgia Tea

Atlanta Comedy Theater Underground - Fruit punch

Fruit punch

Atlanta Comedy Theater Underground - Sante Fe Rolls

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Sante Fe Rolls

Family Feud

Family Feud

4.3(15 reviews)
1.0 mi•Bedford Pine, Old Fourth Ward

Did you know Family Feud is filmed in Atlanta? I didn't either until one of my friend's families…read moreauditioned and got selected to be on the show. As a perk for being on the show, he was allowed to return to future tapings of the show as a "priority guest" and bring friends with him. No tickets required. So last Saturday, we went to the Atlanta Civic Center, where the show is currently being filmed, and were able to sit on the front row. It felt like being in NY or SoCal, but we were on Piedmont Ave. in downtown Atlanta. In short, the experience was awesome. Just a whole lot of fun. I've never been in a game show audience before and I didn't realize how energetic and participative one has to be to be in the audience, especially down in the "pit," the section closest to the stage (and most likely to be on TV). Family Feud is currently hosted by comedian Steve Harvey. It's my understanding that the show is filmed in Atlanta because of him. He carries a lot of clout. On the set, not a second of his time is wasted. If he's not hosting the show, he's interacting with the crowd, posing for photographs with contestants, talking to production assistants, etc. Whenever filming stops, there are always at least 1-2 people by his side, ready with a bottle of water, his next set of cards with questions, makeup, etc. He is definitely the one that runs the show. On that note, during back-and-forth banter with the crowd during one of the commercial breaks, Steve asked the audience what their favorite restaurant in Atlanta was. Someone said Marlow's Tavern. WTF? I said Bacchanalia. As soon as I said it, Steve stopped what he was saying and said, "Who said Bacchanalia?" I raised my hand and he looked at me. Then he silently walked over to me, stopped in front of me, said "My man!," and extended his hand over the stage so I could shake it. He then went on to talk about his experience meeting his wife for dinner at Bacchanalia, making fun of its odd location inside Star Provisions. He asked me what I did for a living and I said, "Engineer." Then he made some smart remark which caused the audience to laugh and then went on to describe the menu and how he didn't know what anything was on the menu. That was pretty cool, but that wasn't the end of my interactions with Mr. Harvey. In the subsequent taping, he fielded questions. I raised my hand and he picked me again. I asked him what his favorite NBA team was and he responded the Miami Heat and "Oklahoma Thunder." What fairweather answers, but safe I suppose. I snuck in another question and asked him if he's met LeBron James and he said he has, citing their mutual roots in Cleveland, Ohio. Makes sense. Before the taping, I knew who Steve Harvey was, but I didn't realize how engaging and comedic of an entertainer he was. The man can talk and he is funny. He could talk his way out of a paper bag. Four episodes were filmed that day. Before each episode, Steve changed his suit and tie. I got to see one family win five "days" in a row (the Grace family from Illinois), which meant they won a new car (a Ford Edge SUV). Before the taping of their fifth appearance on the show, they did a small rehearsal of how they would run to the car and celebrate winning it. That way, if they actually did win the car (which they did), they could plan out where everybody would sit/stand in and around the car. Pretty funny. It's stuff like that you don't think about watching on TV from home. It was interesting to see what goes on when the cameras aren't rolling. Makeup people are blotting off sweat from contestants, reapplying makeup, production assistants are reminding/instructing families of what's to come, an MC/motivator comes on stage to rile up and excite the audience, etc. The audience was specifically told to clap a lot. By "a lot," I mean at everything. We had to clap after every answer, even if it was a terrible answer. Example: Survey: Name something you associate with a camel. Contestant Answer: A spaceship! Audience: *cheerful applause* When an answer wasn't on the board and a team received a strike, we had to say, "Awwww!!" When answers that weren't guessed were revealed on the board, we had to read them out loud. One of the families that competed was the local McNulty family. They were led by brother Tommy (DJ at 99x and Atlanta Braves PA announcer) and his four sisters. At the end of their episode taping, they had to re-record Tommy saying an answer into his microphone, presumably to be dubbed over his live recording. I sat through three tapings which took I estimate 4-5 hours. By the end of the third taping, I was drained and had enough Family Feud for the day. I was Family Feuded out. If you're looking for something free and fun to do in Atlanta, I highly recommend attending a taping of Family Feud. It's free to be an audience member. Visit Family Feud's web site for details. The show is filmed in Atlanta every summer.

We had free tickets for the 3 pm taping. When you arrive, the check through process can be a bit…read moreover the top but I understand that. My major grip with them is the hospitality. We arrived around 2:30 and was there until 9:00 pm for the taping of 2 shows. Not even a cracker was provided to eat! Cheap, ghetto and classless is what I call it! There is not even a vending machine. I never saw on any correspondence that taping would be that long and nothing to snack on available. Tyler Perry, Steve Harvey and Family Feud bring in toooo much money for not even a small pack of peanut butter crackers, a granola bar or even a 25 cent bag of chips to be served!!! I was totally disgusted and turned off by this because although it was a free taping----you wouldn't be able to do it without a live audience!! A little bit of appreciation for 7-8 hours of your time would have been nice. The staff seemed mean, over worked and underpaid. No smiles other than the production manager who had a curly natural fro ponytail. There was a heavyset black guy with a black winter beanie cap on that told my daughter the Smart Pop popcorn was for people who were there all day.! Well wtf do you call 2-9pm. Then to make matters worst, the staff and family members of the contestants are hot lunches in our faces. It was so classless! Steve Harvey and the hype man were so cool though and really provide for lots of laughs. Steve even left us on a spiritual note. He is definitely a natural comedian and speaker. Now that was a 5 star experience! Just Steve, hypeman, music, and the show itself 5 stars! The production company and the professionalism and hospitality of this place is a 3 and that's being nice. Overall, moving forward I would not recommend spending your precious off day setting around starving all day to see the show. I'll just watch from home but should you happen to read my review and go------ Eat a heavy meal before hand bc these cheap ass folks will not even provide a saltine cracker. If times are that hard they should just stop taping. I went to a few live taping and they at least provide light snacks via vending machine or free lay out. Despicable and changed the way I look at Tyler Perry Studios. Production company needs to get it together. Would never return and don't recommend!

Photos
Family Feud - This guy was really fun ...

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This guy was really fun ...

Laughing Skull Lounge - comedyclubs - Updated November 2026

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