The Top 9 Trivia Nights & Pub Quizzes in Shanghai

Did you know that Shanghai has the largest metro network in the world, with 508 stations connecting some 831 kilometres?

If you did, we’re roping you in for our team at Shanghai’s next quiz night. Fun facts are sometimes worth shelving — you never know when they might help you secure that deciding point.

Love a good battle of the brains? Then bring your A game to these pubs, sports bars and restaurants in town and quench your thirst for trivia glory. There’s one for just about every day of the week!

Get cosy at this homey Irish pub, where quiz nights are hosted by the charismatic Mike Norton and have gained a loyal following. 

There is no limit to the number of players per team, so it’d be silly not to bring all of your brightest pals.

Subjectwise, expect curveballs on music, TV shows, and films that will keep you on your toes.

TIME OUT TIP: Score bonus points for cracking the ‘Cryptic Connections’ round.

Win big with booze and F&B vouchers, and climb the ranks in the pub’s quarterly league starting in September.

More than a roller disco, RIINK is also an arena for testing one’s wits and wagers.

Hosted by the bubbly Jessica Hu, each week’s quiz brings a fresh theme that’s announced on RIINK’s socials (WeChat and Instagram).

Gather your smartest squad of six for a chance to win big: the champions earn a hefty 300 RMB bar tab to spend when they like, while runner-ups gain the equivalent in 200 RMB. That said, everyone is a winner given RIINK’s night-long drink deals starting at just 38 RMB.

RIINK’s Trivia Tuesdays aren’t just about the prizes, but about creating a fun and inclusive atmosphere. The friendly crowd, tasty food and drinks, and Hu’s infectious energy make this trivia night a local favourite.

Tex-Mex restaurant El Santo in Found 158 on Julu Road offers trivia nights not once but twice a week. Both are hosted by none other than Ned Kelly, Shanghai’s longest-serving quiz master, who keeps the fun at maximum level and the chaos to a minimum.

“El Santo’s Tuesday trivia nights ave different weekly themes, whereas Wednesdays have mixed themes as well as a league element,” explains Kelly.

Tuesday themes range from cartoons, Disney, Harry Potter, the TV show Friends and video games to non-fiction topics like geography.

Whereas on Wednesdays, you can test your knowledge across 10 diverse rounds covering the likes of current events, geography, history, pop culture, music, films and more — it’s a great mixture of content and surely the best trivia bang for your Shanghai quiz buck! 

Wednesday trivia nights also make up a quarterly season, at the end of which the top four teams win F&B vouchers worth a whopping 2,000 RMB.

Add ‘nedshanghai’ on WeChat to stay in the loop and book your spots.

Trivialicious is a game night that goes above and beyond with additional games involving funny puns, riddles, rapid fire prize rounds and more.

Plus, don’t get us started on the prizes: not only does The Hai do bar tabs for the first and second-place winners as well as shots for the third-place winners, but there are also additional prizes for the rapid fire rounds — things like Bluetooth speakers, bar swag, electric fans complete with batteries, et cetera.

TIME OUT TIP: If you are or know a local business owner who would like to sponsor quiz night prizes in exchange for publicity, don’t hesitate to contact the The Hai.

Hosted by The Hai’s own founder Dan H, Trivialicious lets teams of up to six pax max answer questions on a wide range of topics like geography, science, sports, specific themes, et cetera. Add him at ‘TheHaiSocial’ to join the bar’s WeChat community group, where you’ll be privy to weekly updates.

With a trivia league starting in September and its laid-back vibe, The Hai’s the perfect place to spend your Wednesday nights.

Don’t miss this epic showdown that is a full-on production with exciting games, half-price pizza deals, drink specials, and impressive prizes.

At other trivia nights, especially themed ones, participants have time to prepare themselves with a bit of self-study. At Cages, however, there’s a catch: each month’s topic is chosen a whole week earlier and the dedicated WeChat group is your lifeline to getting clues as to what it is.

Host Brian from Guangzhou has blatantly called it “the greatest of trivia nights,” and pulls out all the stops.

So gather your team of eight and save the date: every third Wednesday of the month! With a league starting in September, the stakes are even higher.

Not for the faint of heart, Abbey Road’s trivia nights see three rounds of increasingly difficult and fast-paced questions, so you’ll need quick thinking and teamwork to come out on top.

Host Emmett Sheridan delivers a challenging mix questions on literature, movies, animals, geography, and sports, keeping even the smartest players on their toes.

Compete for coveted prizes, including a 300 RMB voucher, wine and shots for the first place team, and a 200 RMB voucher and round of shots for the runners-up.

TIME OUT TIP: Pair your trivia pursuit with Abbey Road’s 88 RMB burger set.

This is the trivia night to attend if you don’t want to have to worry about making it to work the next morning.

Expect a high-energy atmosphere filled with friendly competition, laughter, and lots of rakija (Serbia’s national drink). Abbey Road aside, veteran trivia host Sheridan also runs the show at Yugo Grill. 

Whether you win big or just enjoy the camaraderie, Yugo has got you covered with delicious Balkan bites and behemoth burgers from the former Yugoslavia.

Book your table in advance for this popular event.

Kickstart your week with a brain workout at The Rooster every Sunday.

Also hosted by Sheridan (the guy’s everywhere!), The Rooster’s quiz nights are fuelled by drink specials including discounted house wine, Goose Island IPA, Jameson shots, and prosecco.

TIME OUT TIP: The grand prize is a Goose Island IPA keg, which most patrons usually enjoy on site or save for later.

All images are either courtesy of the respective establishments or sourced via public social media platforms. This article is not to be replicated without prior consent.