Trivia nights in Toronto
Whether you’re a Jeopardy couch champ or have a bank of random references you’re dying to blurt out, a weekly trivia night is a great way to one-up your pub night and go home with plenty of bragging rights. From general knowledge, theme nights and prizes up for grabs, check out these top bars to use your memory muscles. [Image credit: iStock.com/mihailomilovanovic]
The Ossington
61 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 2Y9Play off those back-to-work blues with a post-dinner trivia session. While this local favourite may be better known for long evenings cozied up at the long bar or dancing it out to ‘90s hip-hop, Sunday trivia nights here are a force to be reckoned with in the city’s trivia scene. Categories range from pop culture, music and film to a crowd favourite: image rounds. The competition can be fierce and players take their game seriously, so you may want to watch a few episodes of Jeopardy to up your ante.
The Hogtown Pub and Oysters
633 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1B5Locals flock to this Little Italy neighbourhood pub for its chill vibe, dirty fries (housemade fries where you choose the toppings), libations and, of course, oysters. Trivia fans fill the space every Sunday night to test their noggin on a theme that changes each week. Past nights have included Star Wars, David Bowie, The Hunger Games, and famous quotes and acronyms. Play solo or in a team – the top three scores win a prize.
Loons Pub
416 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON M6R 2N2Order up a burger and brew, and crush a case of the Mundays at this cozy dimly lit Roncy locale. Known for its energetic trivia night, complete with a live host, players are given a wide range of questions via the Pubstumpers trivia league. Game time is 8 pm and prizes are up for grabs. Tip: it’s usually a packed house, so arrive early to avoid disappointment.
Cadillac Lounge
1296 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6K 1L4If you know why Lisa Simpson has remained a vegetarian, remember which bands that played at Homerpalooza or can instantly name the side character who sleeps in a drawer, look no further. Fans of The Simpsons battle it out at this Parkdale bar, which, on the second Tuesday of the month, dedicates its trivia night to everyone’s favourite animated family. All levels of Simpsons’ knowledge are welcome with minimal judgment.
Louis Cifer Brew Works
417 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1P1On Tuesday nights, fuel your brain with general knowledge trivia questions and your belly with some hand-cut nachos and a flight of the pub’s own craft brew. While the stakes may not be too high, prizes are on the table and defeating a player in the pop culture references category will be a definite ego boost. Grab a seat at the bar if you’re playing solo and want to conspire with the bartender. Or post up at one of the long, large wooden tables – they’re perfect for teams of four to six players and obligatory fist-pounding when you score.
Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1J3Put your memory bank of random facts, celebrity knowledge and stuff you read on the Internet to the test at one of Toronto’s most stylish spaces in the city. Hosted by Megan Griffith-Greene and Jeromy Lloyd, the north lounge fills up quickly every Wednesday at the Drake – TO’s “hotbed for culture” in West Queen West. Reservations are recommended and the winner takes home an $80 Drake gift card.
Sneaky Dee's
431 College St, Toronto, ON M5T 1T1Fans of the legendary College and Bathurst haunt come in droves for a pre- or post-party fuel up on some of the most insane nacho fusions in the city, not to mention live music and controlled debauchery. On Wednesday nights, Dee’s has the humpday antidote with Another Round Trivia. Pull up a chair, grab a pint and give it your all in three rounds of skill-testing questions about sports, music, history and pop culture.
