Best Trivia Nights in the DMV: Bar Quiz and Pub Trivia Across DC, Maryland, and Virginia (2026)

2 days ago
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Updated August 2026. Please let us know if anything is outdated and we will get it updated!

The DMV has one of the most active bar trivia scenes in the country. On any given weeknight you can find pub quiz running across a dozen neighborhoods, from craft breweries in NoMa to Irish pubs in Old Town Alexandria to rooftop bars in Navy Yard. Whether you're looking for a casual excuse to get out on a Monday or a serious weekly competition with your regular team, this guide covers the best trivia nights across DC, Maryland, and Virginia organized by night.

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A Few Tips Before You Go

Arrive early. Most trivia nights fill up fast, especially at popular spots on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Arriving 30-45 minutes before start time is standard if you want a good table.

Team size matters. Most pub quiz formats cap teams at 6-8 players. Check before you go if you're bringing a larger group.

It's usually free. The vast majority of bar trivia nights in the DMV are free to play. Prizes typically range from gift cards to bar tabs to merchandise. A few spots charge a small entry fee, noted where relevant.

Combine with happy hour. Most trivia nights start between 7-8 PM, which means you can hit happy hour at the same venue (or a nearby spot) before the quiz starts. Check our day-of-week happy hour guide for the best deals on each night.

Monday Trivia

Monday trivia is a DMV staple and a genuine reason to get off the couch on what is otherwise the quietest bar night of the week. The energy at Monday trivia spots tends to be more relaxed than midweek, and the crowds are smaller, which means better service and easier seating.

Barrel (Capitol Hill): one of the highest-rated Monday trivia nights in DC, hosted by Trivia Kings at 7:30 PM. A consistently popular spot with an outdoor patio and a strong whiskey and bourbon program alongside the quiz.

Red Bear Brewing (NoMa): Sporcle-hosted pub trivia Monday nights at 7 PM with two separate games running back to back (7 PM and 8 PM), which is unusual and useful for teams that show up late or want a second shot. A great craft beer selection alongside the competition.

Madhatter (Dupont Circle): Trivia Kings hosting at 7 PM with food and drink specials during the quiz and prizes for the winning team. One of Dupont Circle's most consistent Monday night options. See our Dupont Circle happy hour guide for pre-trivia drink deals.

The Wonderland Ballroom (Columbia Heights): Monday trivia at 7:30 PM at one of DC's most beloved neighborhood bars. The Wonderland has been a Columbia Heights institution for over a decade and the Monday trivia crowd reflects that: local, loyal, and fun.

Tonic (Foggy Bottom): Monday trivia at 7:30 PM with a $50 Tonic gift card for the winning team. One of the better prize structures for a free trivia night in the area.

The Pub & The People (Bloomingdale): Geeks Who Drink hosting at 7 PM on Mondays. Reservations recommended on Resy for table seating; bar seating available for smaller groups. One of the better craft beer selections for a trivia night in this part of DC.

Shaw's Tavern (Shaw): 7:30 PM Monday trivia at a neighborhood bar with a strong community following, outdoor seating, and live music on other nights.

McGinty's Public House (Silver Spring): Brainstormer Pub Quiz at 7 PM. One of the few consistently strong Monday trivia options in Montgomery County. See our Silver Spring happy hours for pre-quiz deals nearby.

Ballston Local (Ballston, VA): Geeks Who Drink hosting at 7 PM in Arlington. A good option for the Northern Virginia crowd who wants Monday trivia without heading into DC. See our Arlington happy hour guide for nearby deals.

Barkada Wine Bar (U Street): first Monday of the month only, hosted by Miss Sarah Tonin at 6:30 PM. Maximum 8 people per team. A more intimate and competitive trivia format in one of U Street's best wine bars.

Dacha Beer Garden (Shaw): Monday Night Trivia at a beloved outdoor beer garden. Dog-friendly, craft beers, and one of the best outdoor trivia settings in DC. The Navy Yard location also runs Monday Night Trivia separately.

Tuesday Trivia

Tuesday is the DMV's most active trivia night by venue count, with over 40 spots running quiz across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The competition is real, the prizes are better, and the crowds are larger than Monday.

Ireland's Four Courts (Courthouse, VA): pub quiz every Tuesday at 7 PM at what Men in Blazers named "America's Best Soccer Bar." Free to play with prizes. One of the highest-rated trivia nights in Arlington. See our Arlington happy hour guide for pre-quiz happy hour deals.

Murphy's Grand Irish Pub (Old Town Alexandria): free Tuesday trivia at 8 PM with a chance to win tickets to see the Capitals and Nationals. Half-price burgers from 4-9 PM. One of the best value trivia nights in the DMV when you factor in the food deal.

Union Pub (Capitol Hill): Tuesday trivia at 8 PM on the Hill. A solid sports bar option with a strong craft beer selection for the post-work Capitol Hill crowd.

American Ice Company (U Street): Trivia Kings hosting at 7:30 PM on Tuesdays. Outdoor seating, dog-friendly, and craft beer. A consistently popular U Street option.

Caddies (Bethesda): free Tuesday trivia at 7:30 PM with gift card prizes ($40 for first, $25 for second, $15 for third). One of Bethesda's most reliable weekly events at a bar that already has some of the best happy hour windows in the area. See our Bethesda happy hour guide for pre-quiz deals.

The Auld Shebeen (Fairfax): District Trivia hosting two back-to-back games at 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM on Tuesdays, with gift card prizes for winners. The only pub quiz venue in Fairfax City with double sessions. See our Fairfax happy hour guide.

Boundary Stone Public House (Bloomingdale): King Trivia hosting at 7 PM with gift card prizes for first and second place. The suggestion to come early for happy hour is well-taken. Boundary Stone has one of the better neighborhood bar happy hours in this part of DC.

Nanny O'Brien's Irish Pub (Cleveland Park): Trivia Kings hosting at 7:30 PM at one of DC's most authentic Irish pubs. Cleveland Park is less crowded than Dupont or Adams Morgan, which makes this a relaxed option for serious trivia players who want to focus on the quiz rather than fight for a table.

Samuel Beckett's (Shirlington, VA): Trivia Kings at 7:30 PM in Arlington's Shirlington Village. Dog-friendly, outdoor seating, and one of the more competitive weekly trivia nights in South Arlington.

Rampart's Tavern & Grill (Fairlington, VA): Pour House Trivia weekly at 7 PM. Free to play with prizes. A neighborhood option for the Fairlington and south Arlington crowd.

The Looking Glass Lounge (Park View): Tuesday trivia at 8 PM at one of DC's most beloved dive bars. A neighborhood institution with a loyal following and a low-key, competitive weekly quiz.

Lost & Found DC (Shaw): Tuesday trivia at 8 PM at the craft cocktail and whiskey bar in Shaw. A good option for a more upscale trivia setting with a strong drinks program alongside the quiz.

Trusty's (Southeast DC): Trivia Kings hosting at 8-9:30 PM in a rooftop bar setting. One of the later Tuesday trivia starts in the city, which makes it a good option for people who need extra time after work.

Wednesday Trivia

Wednesday trivia skews toward the neighborhood bar crowd: smaller venues, more loyal regulars, and a mid-week energy that feels more local than the Tuesday rush.

The Red Derby (Petworth): Paul Rudd Wednesday Trivia, which is exactly what it sounds like. One of DC's most beloved neighborhood dive bars with a rooftop, a loyal following, and a trivia night that draws a packed room every week.

Nellie's Sports Bar (U Street): Out of Bounds Trivia at 7:30 PM with $15 buckets of Bud, Budweiser, or Michelob Ultra all night. One of the few trivia nights where the drink deal runs alongside the quiz. A U Street institution.

Red Bear Brewing (NoMa): Red Bear hosts team trivia every Wednesday night as well as Monday, with Quiz Masters William, Neil, and DJ. A genuinely high-production trivia experience at one of DC's best craft breweries.

Shipgarten (Tysons Corner): Pour House Trivia hosted by Elliot every Wednesday at 7 PM. Free to play across a variety of categories. One of the few quality Wednesday trivia options in the Tysons area. See our Tysons/McLean happy hour guide.

The Barking Dog (Bethesda): Wednesday trivia at Bethesda's classic neighborhood dive bar. Low-key, no-fuss, and fun.

Courthaus Social (Courthouse, VA): District Trivia at 7 PM on Wednesdays in Arlington. See our Arlington happy hour guide for pre-quiz deals nearby.

Ned Devine's Irish Pub (Herndon, VA): Quiz Night every Wednesday at 7 PM with live music until 10 PM. A good combination of competitive trivia and live entertainment in the Herndon corridor. See our NoVA suburbs guide.

Crooked Run Fermentation (Northeast DC): team trivia every Wednesday at 7 PM. A craft brewery with a loyal neighborhood following and one of the more distinctive Wednesday trivia settings in the city.

O'Sullivan's Irish Pub (Clarendon, VA): Wednesday trivia at 7 PM in one of Clarendon's most reliable Irish pubs. Darts, brunch, a full Irish pub menu, and a consistent weekly quiz.

Stoney's Bar & Grill (Logan Circle): Trivia Kings hosting at 8 PM on Wednesdays. One of the later Wednesday starts in DC if you need extra time to get there.

The Celtic House Irish Pub (Arlington, VA): Trivia and Wings on Wednesdays starting at 7 PM. $8 Rolando's Special Buffalo Wings alongside the quiz. One of the better food-and-trivia combo deals in Arlington.

Thursday Trivia

Thursday trivia has a different energy from earlier in the week: more pre-weekend buzz, slightly louder rooms, and a crowd that's ready to stay out later.

The Brig Beergarden (Navy Yard): weekly trivia at 7 PM in one of Navy Yard's most popular outdoor bar settings. Dog-friendly and live music on other nights. A great option before or after a Nats game. See our Nationals Game Day Guide.

The Coupe (Columbia Heights): Cap City Trivia hosting at 7 PM with extended happy hour specials running 2-10 PM on Thursdays. The best overlap of trivia and happy hour pricing in Columbia Heights. Come early for the deals, stay for the quiz.

DC Brau Brewing Company (Brookland): trivia with Capital City Showcase at 7 PM on Thursdays. Winning team gets a $50 DC Brau gift card, second place gets a prize as well. A brewery-specific trivia night in one of DC's best local craft beer facilities.

Clare and Don's (Falls Church, VA): Sporcle Events Pub Quiz Thursday nights at 7-9 PM. An LGBTQ+-friendly bar in Falls Church with a strong weekly trivia following.

Tommy Joe's (Bethesda): Thursday trivia at 7:30 PM. One of Bethesda's livelier bar options, especially for Thursday nights when the crowd is ready for the weekend. See our Bethesda happy hour guide.

Solace Outpost (Navy Yard): Pour House Trivia on Thursdays with sign-ups at 6:30 PM and questions starting at 7 PM. Free to play with brewery coupons and prizes for winners.

Alexandria Bier Garden (Old Town Alexandria): Thursday trivia at 7 PM with cash prizes: $30 for first place, $20 for second, $10 for third. One of the better prize structures in the area. See our Alexandria happy hour guide.

801 Restaurant & Bar (U Street): weekly trivia night at 7:30 PM hosted by Sarah and Ingrid. Rooftop setting in a U Street bar. Make reservations at 801dc.com.

Jackie Lee's (DC): Thursday trivia at 8:15 PM upstairs, with the winning team getting $50 off their bar tab. One of the later Thursday starts in the city with a meaningful prize.

Anchor Bar Leesburg (Leesburg, VA): King Trivia on Thursdays at 7 PM. A good option for the Leesburg and Loudoun County crowd. See our NoVA suburbs guide.

Sunday Trivia

Sunday trivia is rare but useful, a low-key way to close out the weekend.

The Queen Vic (H Street NE): Sunday Night Trivia at 6-8 PM at H Street's British pub. One of the earlier Sunday trivia starts in the city, which makes it manageable for people with Monday obligations. See our H Street guide.

Free State (Chinatown): Music Bingo on Sundays at 7-9 PM. Combines bingo with recognizing popular songs. A different format from standard trivia but equally competitive and fun for groups who like music.

The Best Trivia Hosting Companies in the DMV

Most bar trivia in the DMV is run by one of a handful of professional hosting companies. Knowing which company hosts where helps you find the style of trivia you prefer:

Trivia Kings is one of the most active hosts in DC, running multiple nights per week at spots including Madhatter, Barrel, Nanny O'Brien's, and Samuel Beckett's. Known for a consistent format and well-run events.

Geeks Who Drink is a national trivia company with a strong DMV presence at spots including The Pub & The People and Ballston Local. Format tends to run 8 rounds with audio and visual rounds mixed in.

Pour House Trivia hosts at Rampart's, Solace Outpost, Solace Brewing Sterling, and others. Known for competitive events with clear prize structures.

District Trivia is a local DMV company hosting at Courthaus Social, The Auld Shebeen, and Wunder Garten. Generally free to play with gift card prizes.

Sporcle is the online trivia platform's live events division, active at Red Bear Brewing and Clare and Don's among others.

Capital City Showcase runs events at DC Brau, BreadSoda, and other spots.

King Trivia is active across the DMV at spots including Boundary Stone, Jackie Lee's, and Anchor Bar Leesburg.

Trivia + Happy Hour: The Perfect Combination

Most trivia nights start at 7 or 7:30 PM, which means you have a natural happy hour window before the quiz begins. A few combinations worth building an evening around:

Kingfisher + nearby trivia (Logan Circle): Kingfisher runs happy hour until 8 PM every day of the week, which means you can grab drinks during the extended window and walk to a nearby trivia spot. See our DC happy hour guide.

Caddies + Tuesday trivia (Bethesda): Caddies runs happy hour Monday-Friday 3-8 PM with $1 off drafts and hosts trivia on Tuesday nights. One-stop shopping for deals and quiz. See our Bethesda happy hour guide.

The Auld Shebeen + Tuesday trivia (Fairfax): The Auld Shebeen has one of the most competitive trivia setups in the suburbs (two back-to-back sessions) and a strong Irish pub happy hour before the quiz starts. See our Fairfax happy hour guide.

Ireland's Four Courts + Tuesday trivia (Courthouse): America's Best Soccer Bar has a full happy hour program before the weekly Tuesday pub quiz. See our Arlington happy hour guide.

Explore More of the DMV

Last updated August 2026. Trivia nights change frequently. Always verify with the venue before going. Have an update or correction? Use the "Report Update" button on any listing or contact us.