Edinburgh Fringe is a glorious month-long odyssey where you’ll laugh so hard you’ll cry, then cry so hard you’ll laugh—and then queue for a falafel wrap in the rain. Edinburgh Fringe 2025 is fast approaching and amid the chaos, there’s one quest that truly matters: finding the perfect comedy venue. Where can you see the next big thing before they hit Netflix? Where’s the best place to laugh until your ribs ache and snag a pint? Worry not, fellow Fringe fanatic—this guide has you covered.
From cavernous late-night institutions to pop-up rooms above pubs, here’s your essential, witty, totally biased guide to the best comedy venues at Edinburgh Fringe you simply can’t miss.
1. The Pleasance Courtyard – The Beating Heart of Edinburgh Fringe Comedy
If the Edinburgh Fringe had a Hogwarts, this would be it. A bustling hub of performers, punters, and producers, The Pleasance Courtyard is where comedy careers are born—and sometimes die spectacularly on stage.
Why It’s a Must:
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- Multiple performance spaces catering to all comedy formats
- A buzzing courtyard bar perfect for post-show debriefs and celeb spotting
- Line-ups stacked with stars, rising talent, and occasional utter weirdness
- Venue Site
Hot Tip: Don’t skip The Pleasance Dome around the corner—it’s the slightly more civilized cousin with equally stellar line-ups.
2. Monkey Barrel Comedy – The Local Hero
Monkey Barrel isn’t just a venue—it’s a vibe. Known for its slick programming, supportive atmosphere, and intimate rooms that actually feel like comedy should be experienced, this venue is a rising star that’s rapidly become a favourite for comics and audiences alike.
Why It’s a Must:
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- Independently run, artist-friendly, and refreshingly no-nonsense
- Great acoustics and low ceilings (comedy gold, literally)
- Regularly features critically acclaimed acts before they hit the big time
- Venue Site
Pro Move: Grab tickets for their late-night showcases—they’re chaotic, joyous, and often feature surprise drop-ins from big name
3. Underbelly – The Purple Cow and Beyond
You can’t talk about Edinburgh Fringe without mentioning the iconic purple cow—Udderbelly, part of the wider Underbelly empire. This venue group runs multiple locations across Edinburgh.
Why It’s a Must:
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- Hosts everything from sketch and stand-up to circus
- Great for high-energy shows and bold new acts
- Has one of the most visually recognisable venues on the Fringe
- Venue Site
PSA: The “cow” is air-conditioned. On a hot Fringe day, it’s as glorious as a two-star review from The Guardian is devastating.
4. Assembly George Square – The Sophisticated Choice
If Pleasance is the Hogwarts, Assembly George Square is the Oxford. It’s a more curated, sometimes posher affair (read: it has wine), and its comedy line-up tends to include international acts, award winners, and those going for five-star glory at Edinburgh Fringe 2025.
Why It’s a Must:
- Strong line-up of established acts and international comedian
- Lush garden area perfect for show-hopping breaks
- A great place to “Fringe hard” during the day and wind down at night
- Site Venue
For Fancy Pants: Assembly Rooms on George Street is its grander sibling—catch a high-brow comic or cabaret act and feel very grown up.
5. Gilded Balloon – The Edinburgh Fringe OG
One of the Fringe’s Big Four venues, Gilded Balloon is iconic. It’s been hosting comedy at the Fringe since 1986 and helped launch the careers of everyone from Bill Bailey to Hannah Gadsby.
Why It’s a Must:
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- Historic lineage and top-tier programming
- Multiple stages, from grand halls to quirky nooks
- Located at Teviot Row House, a Fringe institution
- Venue Site
Insider Vibe: The late-night So You Think You’re Funny? competition is a must-see. It’s where tomorrow’s stars cut their teeth—sometimes literally, on a dodgy mic stand.
6. The Stand Comedy Club – For Hardcore Comedy Nerds
While others seek the glitz and the glamour, The Stand offers unfiltered, raw, and fiercely funny comedy. Year-round home to Scotland’s comedy scene, it becomes a Fringe mecca in August.
Why It’s a Must:
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- A local legend with one of the best-curated comedy programmes at the Fringe
- Famous for its political comedy, panel shows, and experimental hour-long sets
- Underground, no-frills, and all heart
- Venue Site
Warning: Don’t go in expecting cabaret or sketch—this is the domain of sharp stand-up and devoted fans.
7. Laughing Horse Free Fringe – Edinburgh Fringe Wild Cards
Want chaos? Want value? Want to accidentally wander into a 12-minute poem about Brexit followed by a ten-minute puppet show? Laughing Horse’s Free Fringe is for you. It’s unpredictable, it’s donation-based, and it’s so Fringe it might be wearing a novelty wig.
Why It’s a Must:
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- Free to attend (just donate what you can at the end)
- Features everyone from total newcomers to cult legends
- Great for filling gaps in your day with spontaneous shows
- Venue Site
Edinburgh Fringe Bingo: Spot at least one act giving out flyers dressed as a Victorian chimney sweep.
8. Hoots Comedy – The New Kids On The Block
Two distinctively different venues for Edinburgh Fringe 2025; the first an air conditioned six room conference centre in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town offering sharp stand-up comedy, the second a pop-up yurt extravegana at Potterrow for messy clowing and alternative comedy.
Why It’s a Must:
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- A home for comedians and independent producers doing it for themselves.
- Edgy, alternative acts who push the boundaries of “funny”
- Late-night energy at Potterrow without the tourist circus
- Venue Site
See More: Don’t miss the compelation shows here, they are fantastic. Find your next favourite comic strutting there stuff here first.
9. Banshee Labyrinth – The Haunted Choice
Billed as “Scotland’s most haunted pub,” this venue is dark, loud, and undeniably cool. Perfect for goth comics, misanthropic musings, and jokes about the paranormal that somehow work.
Why It’s a Must:
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- Free shows, spooky vibes, and a die-hard alt-comedy crowd
- If a ghost doesn’t heckle you, a drunk student probably will
- Feels like a secret club you’re lucky to have stumbled into
- Venue Site
Bonus Challenge: Stay for more than two hours without trying to summon something.
Final Thoughts
The Edinburgh Fringe is less about ticking off a list and more about letting the Fringe happen to you. But if you’re serious about comedy—whether you crave polished pros or chaotic open mic energy—these venues are your starting points, your spiritual homes, your slightly sticky safe havens.
Pack your programme, charge your phone, and wear shoes that can withstand the cobbles and beer spills. Whether you’re laughing until your face hurts in The Pleasance or discovering the next Stewart Lee in a pub basement, Fringe comedy is always an adventure—and these venues are your launchpads. Go out and enjoy all that Edinburgh Fringe has to offer.
