Manhattan Valley5.0 out of 5Price level $$
216 W 104th St, New York, NY 10025
- Fun
- Social
NYC category guide
Best Live Entertainment in NYC
Shows, performances, comedy, music, and ticketed nights out across NYC.
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Highly rated
Highly rated Live Entertainment
A few of the best-rated live entertainment places in Manhattan right now, by rating.
- Hell's Kitchen4.9 out of 5Price level $
Comedy Village is a entertainment in Hell's Kitchen described by visitors as an entertainment venue, cozy interior, known for excellent service. Based on 10 reviews.
- Lively
- Fun
- Social
- Midtown4.9 out of 5Price level $$$
Pottery Studio 1 Midtown is a entertainment in Midtown described by visitors as known for excellent service. Based on 10 reviews.
- Lively
- Exciting
- Koreatown5.0 out of 5, 217 reviewsPrice level $$
Breckenridge Gold Hemp Cannabis is a restaurant in Koreatown described by visitors as an entertainment venue, known for excellent service. Based on 10 reviews.
- Cozy
- Social
- Chinatown5.0 out of 5, 215 reviewsPrice level $$$
G-Gallery is an art and event space, that features worldwide artists and makes your events work. It is located in Soho, one of the most famous and attractive New York City areas.
- Lively
- Exciting
- Meatpacking District4.9 out of 5Price level $$
Stand Up Comedy & Mini-Golf. We keep the putts and laughs rolling
- Lively
- Fun
- Social
Best Live Entertainment and Shows in NYC
The city where every night is opening night.
New York City is the live entertainment capital of the world. Forget Broadway for a second — Manhattan has comedy cellars, jazz clubs, underground music venues, spoken word nights, karaoke bars, improv theaters, drag shows, and cabaret performances happening every single night of the week. You can see a Grammy winner in a basement club and a future star at an open mic on the same evening.
Best for
Comedy shows, jazz clubs, live music, karaoke nights, improv, open mics, and seeing performances you'll brag about for months.
Insider tip
Most comedy clubs charge a two-drink minimum, so factor that into the budget. And for live music, the smaller the venue, the better the experience. The 200-cap rooms in the Village and LES are where the magic happens.
Types of Live Entertainment in NYC
Pick what you're in the mood for and search it.
Best neighborhoods for Live Entertainment
Where to go first, depending on what you're looking for.
- 1East VillageOne of the most diverse and active neighborhoods for live entertainment in Manhattan.
- 2West VillageCharming streets and a strong scene for live entertainment at every price point.
- 3Lower East SideAlways evolving, always worth exploring for live entertainment.
- 4Hell's KitchenGreat value and variety for live entertainment without the downtown crowds.
- 5SoHoUpscale options and trendy spots for live entertainment in a walkable setting.
Live Entertainment by neighborhood
Browse all 45 Manhattan neighborhoods.
- Hell's Kitchen
- Alphabet City
- Battery Park City
- Carnegie Hill
- Central Park
- Chelsea
- Chinatown
- East Harlem
- East Village
- Financial District
- Flatiron
- Governors Island
- Gramercy
- Greenwich Village
- Hamilton Heights
- Harlem
- Hudson Yards
- Inwood
- Kips Bay
- Koreatown
- Lenox Hill
- Lincoln Square
- Little Italy
- Lower East Side
- Manhattan Valley
- Meatpacking District
- Midtown
- Morningside Heights
- Murray Hill
- NoHo
- Nolita
- NoMad
- Randalls Island
- Roosevelt Island
- SoHo
- Stuyvesant Town
- Sugar Hill
- Times Square
- Tribeca
- Two Bridges
- Upper East Side
- Upper West Side
- Washington Heights
- West Village
- Yorkville
Frequently asked questions
What visitors and locals ask about live entertainment in NYC.
What are the best live entertainment venues in Manhattan?
Ranked by rating and number of reviews, the top live entertainment venues on Moodap are Pottery studio 1 UWS - Pottery classes in Manhattan Valley (5.0 stars), Comedy Village in Hell's Kitchen (4.9 stars) and Pottery Studio 1 Midtown in Midtown (4.9 stars).
Which Manhattan neighborhood has the most live entertainment venues?
Midtown has the most, with 136, followed by Times Square (121) and Hell's Kitchen (118).
What kinds of live entertainment venues does Moodap list?
The most common are theater (542), event venue (412), live music (114), nightclub (93) and comedy (61), plus 4 other kinds.
How many live entertainment venues are there on Moodap?
1,294 rated live entertainment venues across 40 Manhattan neighborhoods, each with hours, photos and what reviewers say.
Are there budget-friendly live entertainment venues in Manhattan?
Yes: 35 of the 1,294 live entertainment venues with a known price level are budget-friendly ($).
How does Moodap rank live entertainment venues?
By star rating, weighted by how many reviews back it: a place with hundreds of strong reviews ranks above a perfect score from a handful. Places with few or no reviews come after well-reviewed ones. Not sure which fits your plans? The Mood Match quiz picks one for your mood in about 25 seconds.
Find your live entertainment spot
Answer a few quick questions and Moodap narrows the city down to places that fit your mood.
Take the mood quiz