Cheaper Than Therapy

Reposting this from my Yelp review - I travel to SF for work regularly, and I often stay at the Grand Hyatt just a block away. I was here for the long weekend and have been in a bit of a valley in terms of happiness in my life recently. I decided to head over for the Sunday night "cheaper Than Therapy" show on my own to try to pick myself up. I grabbed a liter of beer () from the bar and then we all crammed into the main stage, which was very intimate and cozy. I laughed and laughed and laughed, and I can genuinely say that I feel much better about things after going there tonight. The staff and host were all great. I think I'll make this a regular habit from now on when I visit SF. They do say that laughter is the best medicine, so at $25 a show, this just might be both as effective as *and* cheaper than therapy. Rob.

It’s pretty much a tourist trap. There are no professional comedians—just the staff performing stand-up—but most of them weren’t bad. Still, $25 for that feels a bit overpriced. At least there’s no minimum drink policy. The staff is nice, and so is the venue.

I’m a regular comedy fan and usually enjoy a good roast, but my experience here crossed a serious line. One of the comedians appeared to be visibly impaired during the show e.g almost falling off his chair, stumbling and behaving erratically. What started as typical crowd work quickly became xenophobic and mean spirited. He spent an extended amount of time targeting me and my friend from the audience. He made comments about my friend being Italian, calling her “white but not nice white. like war white, Eastern European war white.” He then turned to me, and after learning I’m from El Salvador, made multiple offensive comments including saying I “must have a knife” in my bag, that someone should call 911, and that he’d “rather go to prison” in El Salvador. He then asked where I live and went ahead and judged just by my zip code that I must be doing tax evasion. Too surprised that someone from my background would be living there. Given the current times we live in I was expecting some sort of acknowledgment from him that he had crossed lines. These weren’t edgy jokes anymore, they were harmful stereotypes based on our ethnicities. There’s a difference between playful comedy and discriminatory attacks, and this was clearly the latter. The comedian’s apparent intoxication made the situation even more uncomfortable and unsafe. I love comedy and can take a joke, but this experience was deeply disappointing and hurtful. I hope the venue takes performer conduct more seriously going forward. Sad to say I won’t be returning. I was a regular spectator and recommended this place to my friends a lot but I was very disappointed this time around. On this show we only liked one comedian and she was great. The comedian who made all of these jokes was the last comedian of the night

Love a good comedy show. Popped in on a whim. I love it when the comedians joke with each other. Intimate space with around 50-75 seats.

Laughter at Its Best – A Must-Visit Comedy Club Located in the heart of downtown San Francisco, Cheaper Than Therapy is surrounded by a vibrant mix of bars and theaters, making it the perfect spot for a fun night out. I highly recommend this place—you won’t stop laughing! The comedians deliver sharp, well-crafted humor that keeps the energy high throughout the show. And as they say, laughter is great for your health! The staff was incredibly welcoming and attentive, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience from start to finish. If you're looking for a place to unwind and share a night of laughter, this comedy club is a fantastic choice.