There’s nothing more satisfying than having your obscure knowledge of American serial killers validated by questions posed at bar trivia. Since San Francisco is full of smarties, it makes sense that there is a surplus of trivia hot spots to keep everyone on top of their game.
Here are five of the best. (Note: This is by no means a definitive list):
[jump] Vinyl
359 Divisadero Street
On Tuesday nights at 8:00 Vinyl’s chill vibe turns into an all out intellectual brawl where normally docile San Franciscans passive aggressively battle for coveted seating. AJ is the congenial host of Vinyl’s BS Trivia, and structures the game in such a way that you can essentially wager bets on your trivia answers using his unique point attribution system. Prizes include a gift card to Vinyl, wine, Blue Bottle coffee, and of course eternal fame.
2490 Third Street
Tuesday night seems like brainiac paradise, and Yield is no different, except that it starts at 7:30 p.m. This Dogpatch wine bar has their pub quiz run by Nic, who brought his bar trivia hosting skills all the way from his native Sacramento. Expect categories ranging from science to pop culture making up 25 questions over 90 minutes. Weekly winners get tab discounts, but dedicated teams can go after the magnum of wine that’s awarded on a monthly basis.
950 Geary Street
Do I need to mention when this pub quiz takes place? Okay, well you know it’s Tuesday, but you might not know that it’s at 8:30pm. Edinburgh’s quizmaster Carl will challenge what you think you know about Northern European dog breeds, Thai etymology, and the definition of narthex. Edinburgh Castle is one of the few pub quiz locations in SF that is legitimately a pub, but it’s also one of the only places where you can win cash as a prize.
834 Irving Street
Breaking up the Tuesday night pub quiz streak is Blackthorn's Monday night event. This Inner Sunset bar stands ready to test your mastery of history, entertainment, and even audio/visual trivia. It's a popular spot, and the pros know to get there early for seats and to show dominance. Prizes will make you richer and drunker.
1609 Powell Street
For ten years now, this North Beach sports bar has hosted a (you guessed it) Tuesday night trivia showdown brought to you by Holly, the aptly named Trivia Queen. Get there by 8:30 to prove your trivia prowess, and don’t forget to take advantage of $2 tacos, Tecate, and $5 tequila.Â
Since this is a food blog, we urge you to be like Rosie Perez in White Men Can't Jump and learn seven foods that start with the letter Q!Â
