117 MacDougal Street (New York City, New York)

 restaurant, comedy club

4-story Romanesque-revival building completed in 1864 as a stable. It is clad in dark red brick, with a metal mansard roof encompassing a studio window at the top floor. The five bays of windows are segmental-arched, with the center bay projecting slightly forward. Just below the mansard is a corbelled and dentiled brick cornice.

In 1876, a 1-story extension was added to the rear and the building became a chair factory. By the 1920s the lower floors were being used for a restaurant and the upper floors for residences. The building currently houses The Comedy Cellar - a famous comedy club in Manhattan, where many top New York comedians perform. Regular performers are some of the best stand-ups performing, including Colin Quinn, Jim Norton, Greg Giraldo, Mitch Fatel, Darrell Hammond, Dave Attell, Nick DiPaolo, and Rich Vos. Also, some rising stars in comedy frequently perform, including Dov Davidoff, Robert Kelly, Sherrod Small, Keith Robinson, Gregg Rogell, and Ben Bailey.

Each week consists of two shows a night on Sunday through Thursday, three shows each Friday, and four shows on Saturday. The Cellar is located under and connected to the Olive Tree Cafe, where many of the comedians hang out after performing.

Also, some of the famous stars in stand-up occasionally stop by unannounced to try new material, including Dave Chappelle, Ray Romano, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, and Robin Williams. The New York Post regularly rates the Cellar as the best comedy club in New York. Musician John Mayer can also be seen dabbling in stand-up here occasionally.

Much of Jerry Seinfeld's 2002 documentary Comedian was filmed at the club, and it also can be seen in a 2006 Pepsi commercial starring SNL star Jimmy Fallon.