The Best Open Mic Nights in New York City

Every working performer in New York has a story about a weird open mic. It is a necessary, occasionally brutal, and often beautiful part of coming up in the city. This is where you test a new joke, workshop a new song, or read a poem out loud for the very first time to a room of strangers who are mostly waiting for their own turn. The point is not polish. The point is showing up and doing the thing.

We think the best open mics are the ones with a clear point of view. Some are legendary proving grounds, others are supportive neighborhood clubhouses. This list is our guide to the city's most vital stages for comedy, music, and spoken word. We've focused on places with consistent schedules and clear rules, because nothing is worse than showing up with your guitar to a place that switched to trivia last month. Here is where to go to get your five minutes.

Music

Pete's Candy Store

Williamsburg · 709 Lorimer St · Free (21+) WebsiteMap

For over twenty years, this train-car-sized room has been a vital stop for singer-songwriters. The Sunday night open mic is a New York institution, focused squarely on original material. The vibe is intimate and attentive, a listening room where people actually listen. It’s one of the best places to debut a song and see how it lands with a crowd that knows its stuff. If you're looking for a night out in the neighborhood, consult our Williamsburg guide.

Go for: A serious, supportive room for original music. Know before you go: Sign-up is in-person at 4 p.m. for the 5 p.m. show, and it fills up fast. Don't bring your cover band.

Brooklyn Music Kitchen

Clinton Hill · 177 Vanderbilt Ave · $ WebsiteMap

This spot offers a rare treat for an open mic: a live house band. On Wednesday "Legendary Locals" nights, singers and musicians can perform with a professional funk band backing them up, a huge step up from a lonely acoustic guitar. They also host a more traditional open mic for all genres on Mondays in partnership with InspiredWordNYC.

Go for: The thrill of playing with a live, professional house band. Know before you go: For the Wednesday house band night, you can and should submit song requests in advance via their website. Monday sign-ups are in-person.

Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar

Upper West Side · 254 W 72nd St · $$ WebsiteMap

Owned by the legendary songwriting duo, this place has music in its bones. The Thursday night open mic is a classy affair, attracting a high caliber of vocal talent that skews toward R&B, soul, and jazz. Icons like Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys have graced the stage here, so the standards are high. It's less a workshop and more a showcase.

Go for: A sophisticated vibe and seriously talented singers. Know before you go: This is not the place for your quiet, three-chord folk song. Dress to impress and come prepared to perform, not just practice.

Otto's Shrunken Head

East Village · 538 E 14th St · Free Map

A tiki bar might not be the first place you think of for an open mic, but the Wednesday night session at Otto's is a long-running and belovedly eclectic event. The tiki-lounge decor keeps things from getting too serious. You'll find a wild mix of genres and performers, all fueled by elaborate rum cocktails. For more neighborhood spots, see our East Village guide.

Go for: A fun, low-pressure hang with a tiki twist. Know before you go: The open mic now runs on the first and third Wednesdays of the month.

Comedy

New York Comedy Club

East Village & Midtown · 85 E 4th St & 241 E 24th St · $ WebsiteMap

One of the city's foundational comedy institutions, NYCC runs multiple open mics a week at its different locations. These are no-frills, get-in-get-out mics for working comics. The vibe is professional, the turnover is quick, and the list fills up fast. It's a great place to see who is grinding it out on the city's comedy circuit. This is a key stop, much like the venues in our guide to The Best Comedy Clubs in New York City.

Go for: A classic, brick-wall club environment to work on your set. Know before you go: It costs $5 to perform. Sign-ups are in-person only and you should arrive 20 to 30 minutes early to get a spot.

The Grisly Pear

Greenwich Village · 107 Macdougal St · $ WebsiteMap

The Pear is a tiny, gritty, and utterly essential Greenwich Village comedy bar. They pack in multiple open mics almost every day, making it one of the most accessible places to get stage time in Manhattan. It is a true comics' hangout, which means your audience will be other comedians waiting for their turn. This can be a tough crowd, but it will definitely sharpen your act.

Go for: Frequent, no-nonsense stage time in a classic Village room. Know before you go: The schedule changes, so check their open mic calendar online before you show up. Drink minimums are enforced.

Q.E.D. Astoria

Astoria · 27-16 23rd Ave · $ WebsiteMap

Q.E.D. is a woman-owned arts space that serves as the de facto community center for Astoria's creative scene. They host a variety of comedy mics, some with feedback, some for music and comedy, and some that are straight stand-up. The vibe is supportive and neighborhood-focused, making it a great place for newer comics. If you're in the neighborhood, check out our Astoria guide.

Go for: A friendly, multi-purpose arts space with a community feel. Know before you go: The schedule varies, so check their calendar online. There's typically a one-item minimum to perform, which helps keep the venue running.

St. Marks Comedy Club

East Village · 12 St Marks Pl · $ WebsiteMap

Located inside a VFW hall, this speakeasy-style club has a classic downtown feel. They run frequent open mics where you can work on your five minutes. It's a popular spot for comics honing their material before weekend shows, so you'll be in good company. The back-room setting makes it feel like a bit of a secret.

Go for: A true East Village experience with a dedicated comedy crowd. Know before you go: There's a $5 fee to perform, and you can sign up in advance online.

The Tiny Cupboard

Bushwick · 1717 Broadway · $ WebsiteMap

This DIY-spirited spot in Bushwick is known for its rooftop shows and supportive, indie-leaning mics. It's a bit of a trek, but it's a favorite for Brooklyn comics. They run multiple mics, and the sign-up process is handled online, which is a welcome bit of organization.

Go for: A rooftop stage and a friendly, off-the-beaten-path vibe. Know before you go: Pay close attention to the entry instructions on their website, as finding the entrance can be tricky.

SoHo Playhouse

SoHo · 15 Vandam St · $ WebsiteMap

This historic off-Broadway theater hosts several open mics, including the Cuckoo's Open Mic, a variety show where anything goes. Stand-up, music, magic, and performance art all share the stage. They also host a more traditional stand-up focused mic on Thursdays. The stage has real history, which you can feel when you perform.

Go for: The chance to perform on a historic theater stage. Know before you go: The Cuckoo's variety mic is on Wednesdays; sign-up is at 9:30 p.m. for the 10 p.m. show. There is a $5 cover.

Poetry and Spoken Word

Nuyorican Poets Cafe

Lower East Side · 236 E 3rd St · $$ WebsiteMap

This is, without exaggeration, one of the most important venues for spoken word poetry on the planet. Founded in the 1970s, the Nuyorican is the birthplace of the poetry slam movement. Their open mics and slams are legendary for their energy, quality, and passionate audiences. While the original building is under renovation, their events continue at nearby venues like the Loisaida Center and Bowery Poetry Club.

Go for: A legendary, high-energy slam poetry experience. Know before you go: The cafe's main building is closed for "Nuyoricanstruction" into 2026. Events are currently off-site, so check their calendar for locations. Sign-ups are first-come, first-served, and the line forms early.

Bowery Poetry Club

East Village · 308 Bowery · $$ WebsiteMap

Another pillar of the downtown poetry scene, Bowery Poetry is a dedicated space for verse in all its forms. They host a range of events, including open mics that draw both seasoned poets and first-timers. The club is currently hosting the Nuyorican's famous Monday night slam while their building is renovated, making it a nexus of the city's poetry world.

Go for: A listening room that takes poetry very seriously. Know before you go: Check the online schedule, as nights are programmed by different curators and series. A link from here to one of the city's best independent bookstores feels natural.

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL)

Midtown · 455 5th Ave · Free WebsiteMap

The New York Public Library's flagship circulating branch hosts a free, in-person poetry open mic. It’s a welcoming, all-ages space intended strictly for poetry and spoken word, no instruments or recordings allowed. The room is supportive and the four-minute time limit is strictly enforced, making it a great, low-stakes place to share your work.

Go for: A free, quiet, and supportive environment in a beautiful public space. Know before you go: Registration online is recommended to save a seat, but mic time is first-come, first-served for up to 20 readers who sign up on site.

Pete's Candy Store (Dead Pete's Society)

Williamsburg · 709 Lorimer St · Free WebsiteMap

In addition to its famous music and comedy mics, Pete's hosts a poetry open mic on the first Friday of every month called Dead Pete's Society. The same intimate, attentive vibe of the music open mic applies here. It's a great space to read to a crowd that appreciates the written and spoken word, and a good fit for anyone who also haunts the city's best literary bars.

Go for: A cozy, literary-minded poetry night in a beloved Brooklyn venue. Know before you go: This event is monthly, on the first Friday. Check the venue's event calendar to confirm.

The Shout NY Take

An open mic is a transaction. You are giving the venue your time and your friends' drink money in exchange for a few minutes of their attention. The best ones give you something more: a sense of community, a place to fail, and a reason to finish that new song or poem. The rooms on this list are all actively managed and currently running as of our publication date. But this is New York, and things change fast. Always check the official website or social media before you haul your guitar across town. Then, go get your time.