Meatpacking District4.9 out of 5
Stand Up Comedy & Mini-Golf. We keep the putts and laughs rolling
- Lively
- Fun
- Social
Best Live Entertainment in NYC
Shows, performances, comedy, music, and ticketed nights out across NYC.
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More top-rated Live Entertainment
Ranked by rating and how many reviews back it, after the three above.
- Rank 4
- Rank 5Times Square4.9 out of 5
The Murder Mystery Company is New York City's Expert in Murder Mystery Dinner Entertainment. Whether you are looking for a killer night out, or the perfect entertainment for your private event, we have the perfect plot for you.
- Cultural
- Immersive
- Exciting
- Rank 6
- Rank 7West Village5.0 out of 5
Live At The Inn is NYC's Best BYOB-friendly variety show of Music, Comedy, and Characters- run at Music Inn World Instruments, New York's oldest continually-run music and record store, in operation since 1958.
- Lively
- Exciting
- Social
- Rank 8Meatpacking District4.9 out of 5Price level $$$$
Beatbox is a night out for karaoke unlike any other. Our custom game can make anyone go platinum for a night, our food and drinks have been crafted by the best the city has to offer, and our programming makes Beatbox a space built for music lovers.
- Lively
- Social
- Rank 9Midtown5.0 out of 5
We work with NYC's top performing comedians to put on fully customized, private comedy shows that come to your home or office. You can even attend virtually from your living room couch.
- 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.
Good for comedy shows, jazz clubs, live music, karaoke nights, improv, open mics, and seeing performances you'll brag about for months.
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.
Where most Live Entertainment places are
The neighborhoods with the most live entertainment places we list.
Photo: The Cutting RoomMidtown132 places listed
Photo: New World StagesHell's Kitchen116 places listed
Photo: Lunt-Fontanne TheatreTimes Square114 places listed
Photo: Metropolitan Opera HouseUpper West Side91 places listed
Photo: SVA TheatreChelsea68 places listed
Photo: Bowery PalaceEast Village57 places listed
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 Top Secret Comedy Club in Alphabet City (5.0 stars), Comedy Village in Hell's Kitchen (4.9 stars) and The Grandest Princess Ball Ever in Times Square (5.0 stars).
Which Manhattan neighborhood has the most live entertainment venues?
Midtown has the most, with 132, followed by Hell's Kitchen (116) and Times Square (114).
What kinds of live entertainment venues does Moodap list?
The most common are theater (505), event venue (350), live music (101), nightclub (79) and comedy (60), plus 5 other kinds.
How many live entertainment venues are there on Moodap?
1,212 rated live entertainment venues across 39 Manhattan neighborhoods, each with hours, photos and what reviewers say.
Are there budget-friendly live entertainment venues in Manhattan?
Yes: 34 of the 1,212 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? Find Your Vibe™ 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.
Find Your Vibe™Also on Find Your Vibe™: Things to do in NYC tonight