Winter in Cape Town might mean you have to give up cocktails on the balcony for a few months, but there’s still plenty of indoor entertainment. Gather your mates, order some comfort food and test your general knowledge at one of the many pub quiz nights in Cape Town. Here are 15 of our favourite pub quizzes in Cape Town. Have we missed any? Let us know in the comments below.
Monday
1. The Woodcutters Arms, Hout Bay
Address: 37 Main Road, Hout Bay
Cost: R20 per person
Contact: Tel 0217906060, thewoodcuttersarms.co.za
Hout Bay’s very own English pub (complete with a wide range of beers and pub-inspired food) holds a general knowledge quiz every third Monday of the month. Teams of up to eight people can participate, with the winning team taking the pot, or hopefully donating their winnings to charity as is generally the tradition. It starts at 19:00 and bookings are essential.
2. Oblivion Bar and Kitchen, Claremont
Address: 22 Chichester Road, Claremont
Cost: R20 per person
Contact: Tel 0216718522, oblivion.co.za
Lubricate your brain with some of Oblivion’s excellent wines while answering questions on history, geography, entertainment, sport, music and current affairs. Correctly answering the spot prize questions will win a round of drinks for your team. Starts promptly at 20:00 and tables are available in both the smoking and non-smoking sections.
3. Woodstock Lounge, Woodstock
Address: 70 Roodebloem Road, Woodstock
Cost: R25 per person
Contact: Tel 0214483338, woodstocklounge.co.za
Quiz night by the fireplace takes place every second Monday of the month with loads of great prizes and spot prizes up for grabs, including bottles of wine, beers, ciders and vouchers for your meal. Teams of two to five people and the quiz starts at 19:00.
Note: Quiz nights will resume in July.
Tuesday
4. Beerhouse on Long, City Bowl
Address: 223 Long Street, City Bowl
Cost: R30 per person
Contact: Tel 0214243370, beerhouse.co.za/onlong
As if 99 beers were not enough, at the Beerhouse’s OMG Quiz Night every Tuesday, you can win loads of El Jimador tequila, a R500 gift voucher, and various spot prizes. The quiz starts at 19:30 sharp and booking is essential. Why not get there a little earlier and try some of their famous beers. The bitterballen, burgers and bunny chow are great too.
5. Carlyle’s on Derry, Vredehoek
Address: 17 Derry Street, Vredehoek
Cost: R20 per person
Contact: Tel 0214618787, carlyles.co.za
The famous Carlyle’s Quiz Evening is held on the first and last Tuesday of every month, with some great prizes, including wines and beers. There’s also “The Impossible Question Jackpot”, where if no correct answer is given, the prize rolls over to the next quiz night. There are comfy couches, a heated veranda area, a fully licenced bar with great wines, plus oven-baked gourmet pizzas… perfect for the winter chill! Four people per team and the quiz starts at 19:00.
6. Jamaica Me Crazy, Woodstock
Address: 74 Roodebloem Road, Woodstock
Cost: R25 per person
Contact: Tel 0214480691, jamaicamecrazy.co.za
Enjoy cocktail specials at this Caribbean-style restaurant before settling down for their quiz night with Master Menzi every Tuesday. There are roaring fireplaces and plenty of beers and good food to keep you warm. Prizes include meal vouchers and bottles of wine. Unlimited members per team and the quiz starts at 20:00.
7. The Foreign Exchange, Observatory
Address: 92-96 Station Road, Observatory
Cost: Free
Contact: Tel 0214480083, or visit their Facebook page
Expect interesting and fun questions that cover trivia from all around the world, including the use of song snippets, cryptic messages and audio clips from films and TV shows. Prizes include a R200 FOREX beer card, food and various prizes from sponsors. Food is available from Sticky Fingers BBQ and there are various drinks specials throughout the night. The quiz starts at 20:00 with six people per team maximum.
8. The Royal Oak, Bloubergstrand
Address: Marine Circle, Bloubergstrand
Cost: R20 per person
Contact: Tel 0215570354, or visit their Facebook page
This English-style pub’s quizzes take place on the second Tuesday of each month with winners receiving meal vouchers for the Royal Oak. Quiz starts at 19:30.
9. Caffé Verdi, Wynberg
Address: 21 Wolfe Street, Wynberg
Cost: R30 per person
Contact: Tel 0217620849, caffe-verdi.co.za
Enjoy one of Caffé Verdi’s signature pizzas or juicy burgers while taking part in this popular quiz night where the scores are always high and the questions seem to challenge even the smartest folk. A maximum of six people are allowed per team and you can win meal vouchers, drinks and more. Quiz starts at 19:00 and booking is essential.
10. The Hollow Tree, Bellville
Address: 12 Old Oak Road, Bellville
Cost: R20 per person
Contact: Tel 0219140186, thehollowtree.co.za
Prizes vary depending on the sponsors – previous sponsors have included Klipdrift and Castle Lite. You could also win vouchers for a meal at The Hollow Tree. Maximum of six people (minimum two) per team and the quiz starts at 19:00.
Wednesday
11. Alexander Bar, Café and Theatre, City Bowl
Address: 76 Strand Street, City Bowl
Cost: R30 per person online, or R40 at the door
Contact: Tel 0213001088, alexanderbar.co.za
This is not just any games night, this is OMG QUIZ NIGHT AT ALEXANDER BAR where ‘what is the capital of…’ questions are not the only type of guessing you are going to do. This quiz has a whole lot of hands-on, get-your-tastebuds-guessing, blind-fold-necessary questions too! Sound intriguing? Get your team of six together and get there to start at 19:30 every Wednesday.
12. JC Brasserie and Pub, Zonnebloem
Address: 18 De Villiers Street, Zonnebloem
Cost: R10 per person
Contact: Tel 0214614594, jcbrasserie.co.za
Ever wondered what the JC stood for in JC Brasserie? “Just Chilling”… And that’s exactly what you can do every Wednesday while taking part in their fun general knowledge quiz where the winning team gets a R400 voucher and shots. There are also additional prizes from sponsors that vary from week to week. Quiz starts at 20:00 and they suggest you book your table at least a week before.
Thursday
13. Fireman’s Arms, City Bowl
Address: Corner Buitengracht and Mechau Street, City Bowl
Cost: R20 per person
Contact: Tel 0214191513, firemansarms.co.za
One of the oldest pubs in South Africa and possibly one of the oldest running pub quiz nights too. It’s very popular and competitive, but with prizes sponsored by Johnnie Walker, El Jimador and more, we’re not surprised! Teams of any number can play, but only those with six or less are eligible to win prizes. The quiz starts at 20:00. You can’t book in advance so get there early to secure a table.
14. Stoep and Swing, Glencairn
Address: 12-14 Main Road, Glencairn
Cost: R20 per person
Contact: Tel 0217820314 or visit their Facebook page
Get to The Stoep & Swing on the first Wednesday of each month and take in the ocean views while taking part in their quiz. The winning team gets their meals on the house, with those in second place getting a voucher. Even the losing team gets a prize! Quiz starts at 20:00 sharp.
15. The Hollow Tree, Durbanville
Address: 20 Oxford Street, Durbanville
Cost: R20 per person
Contact: Tel 0219763522, thehollowtree.co.za
Prizes vary depending on the sponsors – previous sponsors have included Klipdrift and Castle Light. You could also win vouchers for a meal at The Hollow Tree. Maximum of six people (minimum two) per team and the quiz starts at 19:00.
Updated 6 June 2016 by Rachel Robinson. Have we missed your favourite one out? Let us know in the comments below.
This article, The whiz list: 15 pub quiz nights in Cape Town, was originally posted on the Getaway Blog by Getaway.