There are few better ways to beat the mid-working week blues than hitting a trivia night. In addition to the top pub grub, drink specials and prizes on offer, there's an opportunity to show off your obscure knowledge on everything from 17th century history to Australian politics, World Cup football and One Direction.
Melbourne is home to dozens of weekly trivia nights, each with its own unique selling point. The Urban List has done the hard work for you – sitting through countless chicken parmas, jugs of beer and questions – to bring you our guide to Melbourne's best trivia nights.
The Corner Hotel
Richmond
The Corner Hotel is best known for its famous band room, which has hosted everybody from U2 to The White Stripes. Not far behind in the 'iconic Melbourne' stakes is Rooftop Trivia, held every Wednesday night on the picturesque rooftop bar. Hosted by Jess McGuire and George Hatzigeorgiou, questions primarily revolve around TV, film and music (and occasionally, cheese). Tables fill up quickly, and bookings are advised.
Edinburgh Castle
Brunswick
The front bar at Brunswick's longest standing pub, the Edinburgh Castle, is regularly packed out on Wednesday nights. The Castle hosts one of Melbourne's best trivia nights, covering a mixed bag of topics – expect to have your brain picked on everything from current news events to science, history, sport and entertainment. There are plenty of prizes up for grabs – including the obligatory jugs of beer and dinner vouchers – plus weekly specials on wagyu and haloumi burgers.
Revolver Upstairs
Prahran
It's safe to say that no other trivia night offers prizes as diverse as what's up for grabs at Revolver Upstairs on Tuesday nights. Winners at Never Cheer Before You Know Who's Winning can expect to score anything from DVDs to gig tickets and even Luna Park ride vouchers. Hosted by music journalist Mikey Cahill and Kerrie Loveless, trivia-goers can expect plenty of pop culture questions, plus a visual round 'to get the ocular cogs turning.'
The Mitre Tavern
Melbourne CBD
Melbourne's longest running trivia night can be found at the city's oldest building. The Mitre Tavern has hosted weekly trivia events since 2003. Currently held on Wednesdays, the trivia features a range of questions on pop culture and current events, with prizes on offer to the top three placing teams. While you're there, enjoy a bite from the pub menu or in-house steakhouse, and drink from the long list of imported beers, whiskeys and cocktails.
Reverence Hotel
Footscray
The Reverence Hotel has it all: two separate band rooms, a leafy beer garden, a vegan-friendly Mexican menu and a weekly trivia night. Mind Out Trivia, held on Wednesdays, has a different theme each week. Recent topics include heavy metal, Australian cinema and Arnold Schwarzenegger – with relevant prizes (like a Terminator 2 7") on offer. The fun starts at 7.30pm in the front bar; bookings are recommended for groups.
College Lawn Hotel
Prahran
If you're after "brain busting trivia" spanning all topics under the sun, make a date with Prahran's College Lawn Hotel. The popular Baron's Trivia takes over the multi-purpose venue every Wednesday night. Punters can expect plenty of laughs, diverse questions and a great atmosphere, plus giveaways including jugs of beer and 'venue bucks,' which can be exchanged for meals or drinks.
The B.East
Brunswick East
The B.East, with its American-style menu of burgers and po boys and comfy interior, is already one of East Brunswick's best hangouts. Things get even more enticing on Tuesday nights with one of Melbourne's best trivia nights, when Jess McGuire and George Hatzigeorgiou (the pair behind the Corner Hotel's Rooftop Trivia) take over. Rock and pop culture junkies will find the questioning up their alley, and there are prizes and drink specials all night. It starts at 8pm, and table bookings are essential.
The Spotted Mallard
Brunswick
If you've found a Melbourne trivia night with a better name than Let's Get Quizzical at The Spotted Mallard, we'd love to see it. Hosted by 'Trivia Newton-John' (better known as singer/songwriter Laura Imbruglia), the monthly event (the next one's on March 11) is all about music. Questions span everything from top 40 starlets to obscure indie rock bands, so gather up your pals of different musical persuasions. Drinks and meals are up for grabs.
Elsternwick Hotel
Elwood
Ever wondered what there is to do on a Monday night in Melbourne? Get yourself down to Elsternwick Hotel's Monday night trivia, which combines general knowledge trivia with a bit of comic relief (who doesn't need a laugh after the start of the working week?). The fun kicks off at 8pm in the sports bar, and there's a menu of pub favourites (including parmas, pies and steaks) on offer.
Main Image Credit: Animal - Space
