Could you maybe use a laugh? Leave causation with a neighbor, plug in your symptoms and let comedy cure what ails you. Contrary to what you may have been led to believe, D.C.’s comedy scene is surprisingly robust. Whether you crave edgy standup or sketch work, these are the best places to catch comedy around the area—from the smallest open mic venues to the most opulent performance halls.—Scott Harris

The DC Improv Comedy Club features a rotating cavalcade of national and local standup stars from its home near Farragut Square. (Photo via Facebook)

DC IMPROV COMEDY CLUB: The unquestioned kingpin of the scene features a rotating cavalcade of national and local standup stars from its home near Farragut Square. In addition to the 285-seat main room, there are all sorts of attractions in its smaller lounge area. The club also offers open-mic nights and classes for the aspiring hilarious among us.

The D.C. Improv Comedy Club is located at 1140 Connecticut Avenue NW

ARLINGTON CINEMA AND DRAFTHOUSE: Perhaps fittingly, it’s the drafthouse portion of this Arlington venue that houses the comic performances. Inside a 70-plus-year-old space, the drafthouse features a full bar and seat-side service (and the seats themselves are pretty comfy). Nationally known comedians dot the calendar, as do lower-priced showcases of up-and-coming talent.

Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse is located at 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ARTS CENTER: It’s nowhere near as stuffy as it sounds; this Adams Morgan venue pours plenty of comedy into its schedule. Performances from local improv and sketch groups like Laugh Index Theatre, The Klunch and Washington Improv Theater are regulars on the docket.

District of Columbia Arts Center is located at 2438 18th Street NW

The Unified Scene Theater bills itself as “a permanent home (finally) for those wayward types raised on the collaborative art of improvisational comedy.” (Photo via Facebook)

THE UNIFIED SCENE THEATER: If it’s improv you’re after, you can do a lot worse than this new venue in Bloomingdale. The theater bills itself as “a permanent home (finally) for those wayward types raised on the collaborative art of improvisational comedy” and walks the walk with veteran area teams VI Lenin and Request for Protest. National acts like Upright Citizens Brigade also come through.

The Unified Scene Theater is located at 80 T Street NW

RFD: Thursday night is open-mic night at this well-known Chinatown sports bar. And open-mic night, in this case, means comedy. The ad for the night indicates that new comics and first-timers are welcome. At least these brave souls (and the group of friends they dragged along) don’t have to go too far to get lathered up.

RFD is located at 810 7th Street NW

WONDERLAND BALLROOM: There is free comedy in Columbia Heights, courtesy of the neighborhood’s favorite dive-style ballroom. Put on by Underground Comedy, the best local comics—and a few new ones that people haven’t quite made up their minds about—put on a free show here every Sunday.

The Wonderland Ballroom is located at 1101 Kenyon Street NW

Underground Comedy hosts events at The Big Hunt, among other places. (Photo via Facebook)

THE BIG HUNT: As much as any other group, Underground Comedy is keeping the laughs alive and well in the region. They host events at various venues, but the keystone is Dupont Circle’s Big Hunt, perhaps best known to those who like to chuckle at happy-hour singles unknowingly dancing to The Dead Boys. But that’s not the kind of funny we’re talking about in this case. We’re talking about national touring acts of film and TV fame, as well as frequent (and often free) showcases in the bar’s basement area.

The Big Hunt is located at 1345 Connecticut Avenue NW

O’SULLIVAN’S IRISH PUB: This Clarendon watering hole may not scream “comedy” at every passerby. But every Sunday, it’s a free venue for checking out some open-mic standup. The same group that sponsors this event, Stand-Up Comedy to Go, also hosts a free open-mic night every Friday at Georgetown’s China Disco and one for $10 on Saturdays at Bethesda’s Positano restaurant.

O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub is located at 3207 Washington Boulevard, Arlington

BIER BARON: You may know this Dupont bar best as the land of the 600-item beer menu. But it’s also home to various comedic performances throughout a given month. Local groups like Chocolate City Comedy and The Drunk Show appear alongside cheekier acts in the burlesque vein. Check the schedule for show dates and times.

Bier Baron is located at 1523 22nd Street NW

VENDETTA: Another creation from Underground Comedy, this H Street beer and bocce ball hall hosts top and rising local comics every Tuesday night. This is a popular side spot for comics opening up for larger acts at the bigger places.

Vendetta is located at 1212 H Street NE