Quick answer
Madhouse Comedy Club sits under Horton Plaza in downtown San Diego. Tickets run $15–$30 with a two-drink minimum, shows are 21+, and the club runs something most nights of the week including a free open mic.
Upcoming shows at The Madhouse Comedy Club
- Tickets
Wednesday, September 30 · 8pm
- Tickets
Thursday, October 1 · 8pm
The Famous Mad House Weekend Showcase Special
Friday, October 2 · 10pm
The Famous Mad House Weekend Showcase Special
Saturday, October 3 · 10pm
- Tickets
Sunday, October 4 · 8pm
FREE Open Mic Comedy Night at The World Famous Mad House Comedy Club – Watch careers start and dreams die... 5 mi...
Monday, October 5 · See website for times
FREE Open Mic Comedy Night at The World Famous Mad House Comedy Club – Watch careers start and dreams die... 5 mi...
Tuesday, October 6 · See website for times
Listings refresh daily from the club's own calendar. Prices and showtimes can change — confirm on the ticket page before you go.
Best for
Cheap weeknight comedy, local headliners, bachelorette and birthday groups.
Parking
The Horton Plaza garage is directly above the club and is the obvious choice at roughly $10–$20 in the evening. Validate at the club when it's offered.
Drinks & minimums
Two-drink minimum per person. Bring a card and a little cash — the bar is small and moves faster with tips.
Where to sit
- •Rows 3–4, center — visible to the comic without being a target.
- •Front row if you want crowd work; the club leans into it.
- •Back booths for larger groups that will be talking.
- •Avoid the pillar seats house-right; the sightline is partially blocked.
The story of The Madhouse Comedy Club
Madhouse has been the Gaslamp's small-room workhorse for years, tucked below street level at Horton Plaza and running comedy on nights the bigger clubs are dark. Its long-running open mic is one of the main entry points into the San Diego scene — a meaningful share of the locals you see hosting weekend showcases around town got their first stage time in this room. The basement intimacy is deliberate: 150 seats, a low stage, and a crowd-work culture that regulars come back for specifically.
Make a night of it
Park once in the Horton Plaza garage and do the whole night on foot: dinner anywhere in the Gaslamp by 6:30, the show, then a rooftop nightcap when you come back up. The open mic is the cheapest night out downtown — pair it with a slice or happy-hour tacos and you've spent under twenty dollars. Late shows let out into a busy weekend Gaslamp, so expect surge pricing and walk a block to call your ride.
Local tips
- •The free open mic is the best zero-dollar night out downtown.
- •Weekend showcase specials stack six-plus comics for one ticket price.
- •Doors are 45 minutes before showtime and seating is first-come inside your tier.
- •The room is tight — if you hate being spoken to from stage, sit back.
Before & after the show
- Gaslamp dinner: Every kind of pre-show meal within three blocks.
- Downtown rooftop bars: The natural post-show drink.
Address: 502 Horton Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101 · Official site: madhousecomedyclub.com
The Madhouse Comedy Club FAQ
Does Madhouse Comedy Club have open mics?+
Yes — the club runs a long-standing free open mic where local comics test new material, plus weekend showcase specials with six or more performers.
How much are Madhouse Comedy Club tickets?+
Most shows are $15–$30 plus a two-drink minimum per person. The open mic is free.
Where is Madhouse Comedy Club?+
It's downtown at 502 Horton Plaza in the Gaslamp Quarter, with the Horton Plaza garage directly above it.
Will comedians talk to the audience at Madhouse?+
Frequently. It's a small room and crowd work is part of the house style, so sit a few rows back if you'd rather not participate.
Other San Diego comedy clubs
American Comedy Co.
Gaslamp Quarter · $20–$45 + two-drink minimum
The Comedy Store La Jolla
La Jolla · $15–$40 + two-item minimum
Mic Drop Comedy
Kearny Mesa · $20–$45
The Comedy Palace
Kearny Mesa · $10–$25
Finest City Improv
North Park · $10–$20
National Comedy Theatre
Mission Hills · $18–$22
Back to the San Diego comedy clubs guide or the full events calendar.