Quiz Nights in Cape Town

Geek is the new chic: where to find a Cape Town pub quiz

Last Update: 26 June 2017

MONDAY

Oblivion
Start the week with the Monday quiz night at Oblivion, a Southern Suburbs wine bar that’s been home to a Cape Town quiz classic for nearly a decade.  Test your general knowledge and get the creative juices flowing with some of the excellent Merlots and Sauvignon Blancs on offer. Make sure to book a table for your team, as the local Harfield Village haunt fills up each week. Teams stand the chance to win awesome prizes each week (think vouchers, wine and more).

Entry fee and starting time: The cost is R20p/p, and teams are expected to be seated at 7.30pm for the 8pm start.
22 Chichester Road | Harfield Village | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 671 8522

Hoghouse Brewing Company
Every last Monday of the month, Quiz Nite Cape Town hosts themed quizzes at this barbeque-style open kitchen establishment. Teams can compete while sipping on superb brews and enjoying contemporary pub fare such as the excellent brisket and popular pig’s tails (the decadent Baked Aubergine dish is not to be missed by the vegetarians). You can look forward to spot prizes to keep your thirst at bay (hello, beer!) during the evening and there is a main prize for the ultimate trivia champions.

Entry fee and starting time: Entry is R200 per group of 4 or R50 p/p and the quiz kicks off at 7pm.
42 Morningside Street | Ndabeni | Cape Town | +27(0)21 810 4545

TUESDAY

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE AT THIS CITY HOTSPOT
Tiger’s Milk in Claremont, Century City and Stellenbosch run quiz nights on Tuesday evenings at 7pm in Claremont and Stellenbosch and Sunday evenings at 6pm at Century City. Bring along five of your friends and stand a chance to win a range of great prizes. 
Entrance fee: Free

Muizenberg +27 (0)21 555 5555 | Claremont +27 (0) 21 671 1296 | Long Street +27 (0)21 422 3556 | Kloof Street +27 (0)21 286 2209 | Century City +27 (021 286 2191 | Stellenbosch +27 (0)21 883 2431

The Forex Bar
Kicking off at 7:30pm for 8pm, this FREE Tuesday affair is by no means your traditional pub quiz. Not only are the questions specifically designed to cater for both local and international patrons with trivia from all around the globe, but it also challenges participants by making use of song snippets, cryptic messages and audio clips from popular films and TV shows. Teams of six (this is the maximum group size) are asked five sets of 10 questions. Although the topics generally depend on the evening’s quizmaster, contestants can expect to be questioned on anything and everything from geography and history to weather, music and movies. What’s more, there is a prize of a R200 bar tab for winners, free shots and lots of other goodies to be won. Book a table to secure your team a spot, as tables can fill up fast.

Entry fee and starting time: Entry is FREE and the contest begins at 8pm
92 – 96 Station Road | Observatory | Cape Town | +27 (0) 21 448 0083

The Square Cafe and Wine Bar
Once every month, on a chosen Tuesday, this debonair joint in Century City hosts a battle of the (supposed) brainiacs. Quiz nights are often associated with pubs and beer, but as you’re at a specialised wine bar why not give their vino selection a go? The amiably rowdy atmosphere of a typical quiz night juxtaposed against the elegant setting of the Square Cafe and Wine Bar is a pretty unique combination. Give them a ring to book a slot for your team of trivia masterminds. Winning team gets a prize!

Entry fee and starting time: Joining the quiz costs just 20p/p and it’s best to arrive at 6:30pm as the quiz promptly begins at 7pm.
Ground Floor, Century City Hotel | 3 Energy Lane | Century City | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 204 8000

The Royal Oak
If you are looking for a classic venue for your quiz night (think British-style pub and pints of beer), The Royal Oak in Blouberg is a top choice. The watering hole’s quizzes take place on every second Tuesday and only costs R20p/p. Although The Royal Oak serves up classic English pub fare for lunch (think crispy fish and thick-cut chips), they do not have a dinner service. Therefore, winners and runners-up of the quiz receive various lunch meal vouchers, giving them the perfect excuse to pop back in for a scrumptious workday break or Sunday pub lunch.

Entry fee and starting time: Start time on Tuesday is 7:30pm sharp, and participation costs R20p/p. Be sure to make a booking; this is an extremely popular night.
2 Harvan Centre | Marine Circle | Blouberg | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 557 0354

Fat Harry’s
Known for its wide selection of local and internationally brewed craft beers, AAA grade steaks and homemade gourmet burgers, Fat Harry’s remains a Kenilworth favourite. Building on its selection of specials including happy hour, a lunch special and live music nights, Fat Harry’s also hosts a themed Quiz Night every second Tuesday! Groups of four, six or eight are recommended for entry so grab your friends and take part in the fun. Themes so far have included general knowledge, sports, a movie night and more, and the grand prize can be anything from a case of craft beer to R200 Fat Harry’s gift vouchers for everyone on the winning team. If quizzes are not your strong suit, fear not, lucky draws during the game and a free drink on arrival ensure that everyone's a winner.

Entry fee and starting time: Entry is R20p/p. Booking is essential and the quiz starts at 7pm for 7:30pm.
166 2nd Ave | Kenilworth | Cape Town | +27(0)21 671 7433

Beerhouse on Long 
This Long Street bar is known for having 99 beers on the wall. While you work your way through their national and international selection of craft beer and cider, you and your team of brainiacs can play a fun game of trivia. Hosted by OMG Quiz Nights, this awesome weekly event features a quick-witted quiz master who challenges you with questions about everything from sports to naming Hugh Jackman movies. And of course, your prizes will be the golden nectar that is the stuff of man’s (and lady’s) drinking dreams – BEER.

Entry fee and starting time:  R30p/p and the quiz starts at 7:30pm. Booking is essential.
223 Long Street | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 424 3370

Caffé Verdi
English-style Caffé Verdi has long been impressing Wynberg locals with their light meals and hip atmosphere. With the pub quiz, the little Italian café’s ambience enjoys a charged vibe every Tuesday evening. Order one of their signature pizzas and juicy pub burgers as your team battles for the status of quiz champion. Participants stand a chance of winning meal vouchers to the value of R2000, sweets, drinks and more! Do note that a table reservation is essential to take part in the quiz.

Entry fee and starting time: Expect to pay R30p/p (max of six per team) for the pub quiz, which begins at 7:30pm.21 Wolfe Street | Wynberg | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 762 0849

WEDNESDAY

The Stoep & Swing
Dying to get out of the city for a bit? Check out quiet Glencairn (just around the corner from Simon’s Town) and spend the evening at The Stoep & Swing’s Quiz Night on the first Wednesday of every month. The chilled-out atmosphere is the perfect place to take in ocean views, down a few craft brews and test whether you really do know it all. The winning team will get their entire meal on the house, second place gets a voucher and even the losing teams get a prize.

Entry fee and starting time: Entry fee is R20 and the quiz starts at 7:30pm sharp. Booking is required.
12-14 Glen Road | Glencairn | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 782 0314

JC Brasserie and Pub
Are you the king or queen of general knowledge? Then this pub’s weekly Wednesday quiz is just the place for you to prove it. Along with great prizes for the winners, each week’s spot prizes vary, making it an intense and exciting shindig. Do note that table bookings are required and each team can have a maximum of six players.

Entry fee and starting time: Entry fee is R10p/p and the quiz starts at 8pm sharp.
18 De Villiers Street | Zonnebloem | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 461 4594

THURSDAY

The Alexander Bar
OMG Quiz Nights brings you a war of the know-it-alls like no other every Wednesday night at this quirky old-world-elegance town bar. This is not your typical quiz; the  questions go from the usual “Name the capital of…” to taste-testing with blindfolds and other hands-on trivia challenges! Whether you want to go it alone or bring your friends (up to 6 players per team are welcome), you won’t be short of fun.

Entry fee and starting time: Competing costs R40 per team if you book online and R50 at the door. Get ready to get your general knowledge brain and battle spirit going at 7:30pm sharp.
76 Strand St | Cape Town | +27(0)21 300 1088

Fireman’s Arms
Established in 1864, this popular Cape Town hangout is purported to be one of the oldest pubs in the city. Known as a testosterone-filled sports fan haunt, the pub shifts gears on Thursday nights and embraces an atmosphere akin to ‘revenge of the nerds’. Keep in mind that this is one of the largest weekly quiz nights in Cape Town, and questions cover everything from geography and music to current affairs and more, so there is no telling who will be victorious. If you happen to be the winning team, expect prizes like Amarula hampers and bottles of wine. There is no limit on the number of people per team. Get your team a table early to avoid disappointment.

Entry fee and starting time: Cover charge is R20p/p for quiz nights, and the trivia starts at 8pm sharp (no reservations). 
Cnr Buitengracht & Mechau Street | Cape Town | +27(0)21 419 1513

Aandklas
Something of an institution in the student town of Stellenbosch, Aandklas is famous for rocking music and ‘big name’ shows; but their new weekly quiz nights are rapidly gaining popularity too. Every Thursday, the wine town’s live music venue takes an intellectual twist with a witty pop culture pub quiz that gives patrons the chance to win generous bar tabs. The four rounds of 10 questions challenge participants in categories like entertainment, music, movies and sports; the winning team – there’s no limit to the number of team members -  wins a R400 drinks tab, and second and third place teams also walk away with prizes.

Entry fee and starting time: Participation is totally FREE! The quiz kicks off at 9pm.
43a Bird street | Stellenbosch | Western Cape | +27 (0)21 883 354543 

FRIDAY

Simon’s Town Country Club
If golfing in a howling Southeaster isn’t your kind of challenge, every second Friday of the month the Simon’s Town Country Club holds an open quiznNight to test your brainpower. On the edge of its windy sea-facing golf course which is purportedly one of the oldest in South Africa, the Club house also serves delicious pub fare at very reasonable prices and attracts many back for more Friday night fun and food. You can phone and book a place to play at a cost of R50 per team of four. Look out for the dates for new quiz nights every month on their Facebook page.

Entry fee and starting time: R50 per four-person team and the quiz starts at 8pm.
Main Road | Simon’s Town | Cape Town | +27(0)21 786 5559

by Cyprien Pearson

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Want to get dinner before testing your general know-how but not keen on eating at the quiz venue? Check out our overview of restaurants with the best steaks in Cape Town.

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