What a nice venue that they flipped from an underutilized parking lot in between buildings during Covid 2021 summer time into a glowing outdoor patio lounge area! Half of the comedians were legit funny. The other half was probably impromptu winging it while on stage. They serve up drinks at the front before seating. I had an enjoyable outing, glad it was outdoors and laughs were much needed during this pandemic! read more

See all

It was alright. I like that there was no minimum drink required and the drinks were good (at least, those that we had). Comedians were ok, not horrible, not exactly laugh out load. I didn't care for the fact that no where online could I find any comedian names beforehand - therefore, I wasn't expecting much. Bought tickets online ($53 for 2 with svc fee) a few weeks in advance. For entry, a woman checked our names off a list then we walked down the flight of stairs that had prohibition era decor. The venue is intimate. Seating is extremely tight (definitely seats less than 100 people). I would suggest that if you go, do NOT sit up front for obvious reasons (like being the subject matter and/or ridiculed), but also because those in front rows were literally spit on (unintentionally of course) by the headliner that raised his voice/yelled as part of his skit - from the side view where we sat and because of the spotlights, we seriously saw the spit travel through the air, land on people who then retracted a bit in shock - we were disgusted, especially in this post-COVID pandemic climate. One of the other comedians stopped his skit and reprimanded those in the audience that were talking - he was so annoyed and wasn't shy about it. We parked in the parking garage across the street, $20 for less than 2 hours wasn't exactly worth it. I wouldn't be against returning as long as there are funny, well known comedians scheduled and marketed - but we won't sit up front :) read more

This was a fun outing. It's under a Chinese restaurant that smelled awesome! It feels like a secret spot 3 flights of stairs under the ground! The drinks were reasonable funny. If you're clostrophobic, it's tight. But definitely worth it! read more

This is in an iffy neighborhood but if you can get past that, good times are to be had. They have a drink minimum and have beer, cider or wine. It is a small intimate location. I ended up sitting in the first row and was a little nervous about being picked on. Luckily that did not happen and we had a lot of belly laughs. Super fun evening and we plan to do it again. Request to owners - the bathrooms need a deep cleaning. read more

Pretty sure this place is a scam. I bought tickets for my boyfriend and I the day before the show we wanted to attend and from a glance everything checked out. Website seemed legit, Yelp reviews we're good, and the payment cleared without issues. We get there at the time the doors were supposed to open annnnnd there's literally no one there. The gates to the place was closed, all lights were turned off, and there were abandoned trash cans in front of the entrance. We stood and waited for about 10 minutes before someone who worked next door told us that the place hasn't been opened for a few months and that he sees people come every Friday & Saturday with the same idea as us. Don't waste your time/ money. There much better things to do in SF that are legit and in a somewhat safer part of town. read more

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. read more

See all

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. read more

The Setup - Stand Up Comedy - Comedy Clubs Near Me - San Francisco, California

The good... "The basement" truly is a great little setup. It's a smaller place so you feel engaged with the comedians which beats some huge venue where you may as well be watching on TV because you're far away. The bad... One drink minimum... I'm the DD and don't drink at all when I go out... So I had to buy a $7+ tip sparkling water. Seriously, the event is not free, why?? Oh, and be prepared to wade through piles of trash, puddles of piss, and avoid the needles on the ground if you walk in this area, because this is in the Tenderloin. I'm so glad I got parking literally in front of the door because otherwise I wouldn't wanna park around here... Gotta love SF! read more

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! read more

The Setup - Stand Up Comedy - Comedy Clubs Near Me - San Francisco, California

I cried. Lineup was great. Different comedians with different styles. There was something for everyone. Cool intimate venue with good drinks. read more

I recently came here on date night to check out the stand up comedy (duh). The comedians, who mostly were Indian, were pretty damn funny. I got hooked up for the show, but honestly a $10 entrance fee would be worth it. I like the simplicity of the joint--straight up narrow bar area and a lounge-like place in the back where a small/intimate show could take place. I like the TV bar menu since it was very clear what was available for consumption. This is pretty a much a nice/clean bar that hosts comedy shows, in the heart of the Tenderloin. read more

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! read more

The Setup - Stand Up Comedy - Comedy Clubs Near Me - San Francisco, California

Good place for a date...place is cozy. The night I went they had a good lineup. The bar has a really nice selection of beers from local breweries. Staff is friendly and professional. They do have a one drink minimum, I'm not a fan of drink minimums and that's the only reason I gave 4stars. What if your date doesn't drink...or you already had a drink elsewhere. I would still attend again.. :) read more

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. read more

The Setup - Stand Up Comedy - Comedy Clubs Near Me - San Francisco, California

We were debating from the Set up and Punchline when we were in town. We decided to go to the Set Up since it was a little cheaper than the Punchline. It's in the basement of a small bar. It was comfortable and got packed the night we went. They only serve beer and small wine selection. No liquor. Overall, it was a nice night out to the comedy club bc they had about 5 comedians throughout the night. Although, if I would've known where this bar was located before arriving, I probably wouldn't have picked the SetUp. Just be cautious and know the area before coming... read more

Great show and a great value! For the price of a movie and snacks we got a good beer, a great laugh and supported local live performance. It doesn't get much better than that! Special thanks to Ian Levy, Travis Thielen, Jules Posner and "Irish" Dave Nihill for especially killing it tonight! We'll definitely be back for more. read more

Tip: check online for the line-ups of the night and also purchase tickets cheaper ($5/person instead of $10 at the door). Make sure you buy the correct time! They have 2 shows: 7:45 & 9:45 PM. Also, you are required to buy a drink ranging from $7 - $10? This is the first stand up comedy show I've gone to and I definitely enjoyed the experience! I would definitely go again. While all the comedians didn't make me break out in laughter (2 out of the 5 did), i still smiled a lot and didn't feel like time dragged on. Location: Not much seating so get cozy with your neighbors. This place is also located on the edge of the Tenderloin district so bring a friend or two to walk/run out of there. read more

Comedians are great but the experience lacks. The two hour comedy show was only an hour long and the Valencia Club kicked everyone out (rather rudely) at 9:30 (show was scheduled until 10:00). There were 7 comics billed and 5 performed. Not quite worth the price of admission. read more

Nice surprise in SF. My husband and I went on St. Patrick's weekend and had a blast! Highly recommend it! read more

The Setup - Stand Up Comedy - Comedy Clubs Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is one of the best places to catch a good show in SF. We came here twice and have enjoyed the show both times. You have to buy the tickets and buy a drink. I think it's cheaper than other comedy places in the city AND the lineup is usually better than other places. read more

Fun comedy show for $5! The comedy show is held in the basement of a bar. They started letting people into the basement around 7:45 and show started at about 8:15. It included 6 comics and lasted until about 9:30. It's a very intimate space and seating is first come first serve. Most of the comics were pretty entertaining and they were interactive with the crowd. This place is in the tenderloin so the area is a little sketchy, but we found parking right in front of the bar so it was fine. read more

A real fun place! Even though the place is shady, it's actually worth it. There is a one drink policy for getting into setup. *They have non alcoholic drinks as well read more

There was about 5 comedians. Most of them were pretty good. We really enjoyed the show. The crowd was mostly 20 something, we are not. It didn't bother us that we were the oldest in the crowd. We enjoyed the show. I that bartender up stairs has an attitude problem but other then that we enjoyed our evening. read more

Went here for the Storytelling event last night. It happens every Thurs. Funcheap and Goldstar have tix for $5 instead of $10..plus service fees. It was not that stimulating and somewhat funny, but I'm not sure I'd come back weekly. read more

Bought these tickets on a whim, not knowing anything about the setup or any of the comedians in their Friday night lineup (1/27). I had an amazing time. The best part of the evening was watching a belligerently drunk gentleman start something with Steve Gillespie, who subsequently destroyed him with a few casual remarks. Steve went from "comedian" to "hero" in the span of around 3 mins in my book. I'd never heard of most of the comedians on the lineup, but they all absolutely killed it! (Lookin at you petite siracha) I had a great time, so did my date and I'm pretty sure everyone else that was packed into the little basement that night... Except that one dude who took his ball and went home. Thanks for an unexpectedly fun and awesome evening! read more

I attended the early Saturday night show on October 29th and was not overly impressed with two of the four performances of the comedians in the line up. The two acts I enjoyed were short, but were entertaining. The other two performances were very hard to sit through. They seemed unprepared and just rambled on and seemed lost in their set. It's too bad for one of these performers because he was being recorded for his album and he bombed terribly. Maybe he couldn't take the pressure of being taped, but I hurt for him. He was up there on stage sweating like a whore in church and couldn't stay focused on his routine. I really felt for him because he did have moments of brilliance during his set but couldn't keep it together. I like the venue and the staff were all real nice, plus they have a great selection of beers. read more

The comedy show was so funny and so intimate! What a gem this place is! I've never seen a comedy show where I was in such close proximity to the comic! The person who did the introductions interacted with the crowd and asked us questions during his act. It was intimidating and yet the perfect ice breaker! The beer was also on point. My friend said that he got something that was super rare and not commonly something he finds on menus and he's what I consider a beer connoisseur! I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone. Thank you to our friends for introducing us to this place and letting us tag along on Walt's birthday! read more

The Setup - Stand Up Comedy - Comedy Clubs Near Me - San Francisco, California

Debated writing this review because I don't want the rest of SF to find out about this gem! Came here for the first time this Saturday and it exceeded all expectations! The comedians (about 6 in the lineup) were funny, the ambience was cozy, and the drinks at the Basement are awesome (extensive drink menu with beer, wine, beer cocktails, and cocktails with sake and soju!). Get there at 7, grab a drink at the bar (Happy Hour $2 off drinks until 8pm) and be sure to grab a seat well before the show starts bc seats definitely ran out by the time the show started. read more

Awesome deal. We saw an hour and a half of comedy for $6! No drink minimum, but that's never a problem for us because we always get way more than 2. Haha! Speaking of drinks, their bar upstairs is really cute. A nice surprise in the middle of the TL. Their drinks are also really tasty! I would recommend getting there early so that you can score a seat. If you get there later, they will still let you in but quite a few people were standing around. I'm hoping that everyone who bought tickets ahead of time got a seat =/. We got there about an hour early, so we scored the awesome booth seats in the back. Nice and comfy with a table for our drinks. Plus, we were in the shadows enough to not get picked on. Haha. Hosts were awesome and also did some comedy skits. The ticket guy turned out to be the dj and a comedian as well. So cool. Only downside is that the women's restroom was broken and they weren't able to fix it so the whole night women were just peeing into the same, unflushable toilet. Good thing no one had to go #2... read more

First time there last night, and I had a really good time. It's a very small, intimate comedy venue with a one drink minimum. I got tickets on eventbrite with a sf.funcheap.com discount, and after fees it was only like $15 for 2 tickets. The beer choices were right up my alley, and not overpriced. You won't have to drink shitty beer! I think there's only beer and wine there (in case you are a hard liquor drinker, which I am not). The bathroom was clean even though I went to the second show of the night, so that was a pleasant surprise. Most of the comics were very funny, and best of all the crowd was not at all pretentious. All of the bad reviews I read on here sound like they are written by people who need to stay the heck away from comedy shows. This place is awesome, and I will be going back here soon. read more

My sister, who lives in the OC, somehow discovered it. Absolutely hilarious - I actually wish there was an easy way to follow the individual comedians after the show. As others have said, seating is tight, so get there early. My husband and I ended up sitting on the floor in the front row, which was totally fine. Drinks are pricey, but since tix are only $5, it's not a big deal. A great date night or night out with friends. We're going to try to come every month! read more

A friend got recommended to check this comedy out and she invited us over so the three of us went there Friday night. We landed 20-30min before to get a good seat and a drink. We tried an IPA and a light beer from the bar but nothing great so the drinks weren't that great but the comedy was really funny. There were at least 8 comedians who did stand up for 1.5 hours and my cheekbones were literally hurting throughout! Totally worth it. The area is in tenderloin so not the best location but not bad either. Close to restaurants for whomever wants to grab a bite post show. Will definitely come back and refer it to other friends :) read more

This comedy show was a pleasant surprise! I wasn't expecting too much from the venue since it was in the tenderloin. But I was happy I came when I got inside and it was a cozy bar with a really nice and intimate basement. Me and the wife got front row seats on these comfy leather couches. And with the couches and the interior brick walls, not to mention the yummy drinks, I was looking forward to seeing the show. Now I was also not expecting too much for the show - just some dudes doing an open mic type of thing. But it was actually a great lineup of 5 or 6 people and I liked almost every one of the comedians (just one person had crappy jokes). Anyways, great date with the wife, and would definitely go again. read more

Been several times and it is always a blast. Went on Jan 26 and the closer had a hilarious scooter ZIPPING joke. Need to know his name to keep track of his career. Someone please respond! read more

Visiting SF from Denmark and found the place on Yelp. Decided to give it a try and was not disappointed. Sitting in the front row in a sofa chair gave it an intimate touch and a good basis for a hilarious evening. Oh - and they have great beer too. Including Mikkeller from Copenhagen ;) read more

Best spot for affordable evening plans and laughs. They bring out a lot of fantastic comedians. Highly recommend this place over all the comedy clubs in SF! read more

Best standup comedy show in San Francisco, hands down! I have been to a lot of comedy shows, in San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, and The Setup by far is my favorite in San Francisco. I have been to this show at least a dozen times and each time it has been great and full of great comics. It is consistently a great show - with amazing, talented comedians and an awesome venue. Definitely worth checking out when you're looking a fun time on a Thursday, Friday, and/or Saturday night! read more

Great atmosphere great place to be for a good laugh! I would return but get there early if you want a good seat, small but still enjoyable. Walking there is a bit sketchy but we did it and were fine. The neighborhood is not the best but don't let that deter you from going there it was very entertaining!! They had about 5 different comedians and they were all great! Would definitely return! read more

I love love love this place! It's seriously one of the best shows in San Francisco. Plus, the beer selection is top notch. It really doesn't get better than this if you're looking for a night out with friends or even for a date. Also, the comedy is absolutely killer! read more

Cozy intimate comedy. Very easy to get into the front row, if you are into that sorta thing. No food but lots of craft beer.