Love Philly? So do we. Let’s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today.
What is “Quizzo?” The game itself is just like every other trivia game or pub quiz, said Johnny Goodtimes, Philly’s premier “quizmaster.”
“It’s going to be teams, typically two to eight players, and they’re all working together to try to answer the questions that the quizmaster is asking,” he said.
But the term Quizzo? It’s uniquely Philly. The story starts in Jersey.
Kensington native Patrick Hines was bartending in North Wildwood in the early 1990s, along with his friend, Sean McLoughlin. The pair eventually started hosting pub quizzes at the restaurant.
One night, a confused woman walked into the restaurant and went up to Hines and McLoughlin, who were waiting for the trivia participants to finish filling out their final trivia papers. She asked if the group was playing bingo, and Sean responded, “No, this is Quiz-o!”
The term made its way back to Philly, where both the word and the game exploded in popularity.
One of the first popular quizmasters in Philly after Patrick Hines was a man known as Irish John.
“Irish John was kind of a character,” Johnny Goodtimes said. “He is from Ireland, but he portrayed himself as this perpetually angry Irishman, and I think it helped Quizzo along by making it as much personality-driven as it was question-driven.”
Johnny Goodtimes attended one of the Quizzos Irish John hosted in 2002, where he saw an opportunity.
“I’d gone to school for communications, and I was comfortable on a microphone,” he said. “I was like, ‘oh yeah, I could do this.’ So, I started hosting them shortly thereafter”
Irish John and Patrick Hines both reside in Ireland now. Johnny Goodtimes said their legacy has continued to be embedded throughout the city.
Even the cast of NBC’s Scranton-based “The Office” traveled to Philly for a round of Quizzo (although just referred to as “trivia”) during a 2012 episode.
Quizzo has also been a Billy Penn staple for years, with a Quizzo question delivered to thousands of inboxes Monday through Friday as part of the Billy Penn newsletter.
Philly has no shortage of spaces where you can play Quizzo – with hundreds of restaurants and bars hosting events every week.
Goodtimes said that even the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t slow down the Quizzo momentum.
“We actually had these leagues running, and we were playing on Zoom, and it was huge,” he said.
Reflecting on over twenty years of Quizzo hosting, Johnny Goodtimes said it has continued to be a popular Philly game – and for good reason.
“I think there’s something kind of magic in a society where people are kind of perpetually online, that it’s an excuse to get together in person and enjoy your friends in person,” he said.
Patrick Hines initially trademarked the word quizo (yes, with one ‘Z’).
Because of the trademark, popular Quizmasters like Johnny Goodtimes added the extra ‘z’ to their Quizzo names to avoid legal troubles. You may see it referred to either way these days.
Below is a list of Philly Quizzos, sorted by day of the week. We tried our best to include everyone – and we have to give special kudos to The Quizzo List, an Excel sheet regularly updated with Quizzo information.
Another note – some of these are labeled as “trivia” nights and not specifically Quizzo. Some of those namings are intentional, while some are not. We still included them on the list. We will update the list as new information becomes available.
Day-by-day guide to Philly Quizzo spots
Mondays
The Plough & The Stars in Old City
- Address: 123 Chestnut Street
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Notes: Food & drink specials during the game.
Ortliebs in Northern Liberties
- Address: 847 N 3rd Street
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Notes: Check their Instagram before attending – sometimes other events happen on this day that interfere with trivia.
Marsha’s in South Philly
- Address: 430 South Street
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Notes: No cover.
Cedar Point in Fishtown
- Address: 2730 East Norris Street
- Time: 7 p.m.
Stogie Joe’s Tavern in Passyunk
- Address: 1803 E Passyunk Avenue
- Time: 7-9 p.m.
- Notes: Prizes are $100 cash for first place, a $50 gift certificate for second place and a $25 gift certificate for third place.
Jose Pistola’s in Center City
- Address: 263 S 15th Street
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Notes: Upstairs at the restaurant. Drink specials like $7 Altos Margaritas and $5 Troubles End Drafts. Food specials and prizes as well. Hosted by Johnny Goodtimes, Philly’s “premier” quizmaster.
Twisted Gingers in Manayunk
- Address: 4317 Fleming Street
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- Notes: Beginners are welcome and encouraged to join.
Carbon Copy in West Philly
- Address: 701 South 50th Street
- Time: 7-9 p.m. (sign-ups start at 6:30)
- Notes: Teams can be up to six people and the trivia topics vary. Prizes for winners.
New Wave Cafe in Bella Vista
- Address: 784 S 3rd Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: First prize is $50 off your tab, second prize is $25 off your tab. One round follows a “connections” theme, where you get a bonus point for finding a connection between your answers. You can double your points for a particular with a “joker” once per game with an answer you feel confident about.
Cavanaugh’s in Rittenhouse
- Address: 1823 Sansom Street
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- Notes: Prizes + giveaways during the game. There are $9 cheesesteaks through 9 p.m. and during Quizzo time, there is $1 off Guinness drafts.
Victory Brewing Company in Center City
- Address: 1776 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
Strangelove’s in Center City
- Address: 216 S 11th Street
- Time: 7-8:30 p.m. (sometimes as early as 6:45 – check their Insta before going)
- Notes: Prize is often a gift card. Food & drink specials during the game.
Tuesdays
Bonners Irish Pub in Rittenhouse
- Address: 120 S 23rd Street
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Notes: There are drink specials each Quizzo night and prizes vary – and can include gift cards and ticket giveaways.
Green Room in Fairmount
- Address: 1940 Green Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: Prizes available to winners.
Founding Fathers on South Street
- Address: 1612 South Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: Johnny Goodtimes, the Philly ‘King of Quizzo,’ hosts a weekly trivia sesh with beers on tap, late-night bites, and more.
Jerry’s Bar in Northern Liberties
- Address: 129 W Laurel Street
- Time: 7-9 p.m.
- Notes: Extended Happy Hour cocktails are available and prizes will be given as you play.
The Post in University City
- Address: 129 S 30th Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: Prizes after every round with a $50 grand prize.
Sunset Social in University City
- Address: 129 S 30th Street
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Notes: Quizzo is held on the Cira Green rooftop. There are also $5 mango daiquiris, prizes every round and a $50 gift card for the winners.
Misconduct JFK in Center City
- Address: 1801 John F Kennedy Blvd
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Notes:
J.D. McGillicuddy’s in Manayunk
- Address: 111 Cotton St #13
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: Food & drink specials throughout – including $9 burgers and $14 select pitchers. Trivia has five rounds, including general trivia, a top ten list, a picture round and a music round. There are weekly prizes for top teams.
Dave & Buster’s on Delaware Ave
- Address: 325 N Christopher Columbus Blvd
- Time: 5:30, 6:30 & 7:30 p.m.
- Notes: Food and drink specials during the game and prizes as well. Teams can have up to six players.
The Pub on Passyunk East in East Passyunk
- Address: 1501 East Passyunk
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Notes: This trivia is monthly – so not every week. It is ‘80s-00S pop culture themed. You can find a listing of their upcoming events here – https://ma.to/venue/latchkeyrecords.
Dawson Street Pub in Manayunk
- Address: 100 Dawson Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: Quizzo is held every other Tuesday. Keep up-to-date on their current Quizzo schedule on their Facebook page.
Bar Ly in Chinatown
- Address: 101 N 11th Street
- Time: 7-9 p.m.
- Notes: Quizzo is free to play. The featured Quizzo beer during the game is $5 and the Yards Pale is $6. There are prizes during the game, too.
Top Tomato in Center City
- Address: 116 S 11th Street
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Notes: $100 gift card to the winning team, prizes and giveaways and drink specials.
Fergie’s Pub in Center City
- Address: 1214 Sansom Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: Fergies also does Thursday trivia. There is a limit of eight people per team. Space is sometimes limited, so availability is first come, first served.
Garage in Fishtown
- Address: 100 E Girard Ave
- Time: 7-9 p.m.
Cerveau in Callowhill
- Address: 990 Spring Garden St Ste 102
- Time: 7-9 p.m.
- Notes: The trivia features food and prizes for winners.
Moonshine in South Philly
- Address: 1825 East Moyamensing Avenue
- Time: 8 p.m.
Philadelphia Brewing Company in East Kensington
- Address: 2440 Frankford Ave
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Notes: Prizes for the winning team and beers, cocktails and ciders available for purchase.
Bourbon & Branch in Northern Liberties
- Address: 705 N. 2nd Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: This Quizzo night is music themed. It is free entry and the winner gets a $50 cash prize.
Mount Airy Tap Room in Mt. Airy
- Address: 300 West Mount Pleasant Avenue
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: Features draft specials.
Santucci’s in West Poplar
- Address: 655 N Broad Street
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Notes: Themes can vary.
Wednesdays
Attic Brewing in Mt. Airy
- Address: 137 Berkley Street
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Notes: Every Wednesday except the last Wednesday of the month. Hosted by @phillyquizzo, another prolific Philly Quizzo host.
12 Steps Down in Bella Vista
- Address: 831 Christian Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: Music Quizzo. Follow their Instagram to stay up-to-date on their Quizzo schedule.
Lost Time Brewing in East Kensington
- Address: 2145 N Front Street
- Time: Depends, check their Instagram
- Notes: Rotating hosts depending on the week.
Maggie’s Waterfront Cafe in Torresdale
- Address: 9242 N Delaware Ave
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: Drink and food specials like half price pizza, half price boneless wings and $4 Twisted Teas. Trivia is tech-enhanced and there are prizes for best placed.
The Black Taxi in Fairmount
- Address: 745 N 25th Street
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
Carbon Copy in Port Richmond
- Address: 3124 Richmond Street
- Time: 8-10 p.m.
- Notes: Teams can be up to six people.
Union Tap House in Manayunk
- Address: 4801 Umbria Street
- Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.
- Notes: There are five rounds for trivia and prizes every round. The team with the best score of the night wins $100 off their tab, and there is a prize for the best team each month.
Tir Na Nog in Center City
- Address: 1600 Arch Street
- Time: 7 to 9 p.m.
- Notes: Happy hour priced drinks until 9 p.m. Prizes like Phillies tickets, full sized coolers and Union tickets are available.
Cook and Shaker in Port Richmond
- Address: 2301 Albert Street
- Time: 7 p.m.
Other Half Brewing in Fishtown
- Address: 1002 Canal Street
- Time: 6-8 p.m.
254 Philly in The Gayborhood
- Address: 254 South 12th Street
- Time: 7-9 p.m.
- Notes: Coined the “Gayborhood’s Favorite Quizzo,” this trivia is on the first floor of 254 every Wednesday. Grab White Claw drink specials, prizes and fun.
Chestnut Hill Brewing Company in Chestnut Hill
- Address: 8231 Germantown Avenue
- Time: 7-9 p.m.
- Notes: Hosted in the brewery’s outdoor beer garden if weather is nice – equipped with heaters for the winter.
SouthHouse in South Philly
- Address: 2535 S 13th Street
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
Urban Saloon in Fairmount
- Address: 2120 Fairmount Ave
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: Prizes are $50 off your tab for first place, a percentage off for second place, and shots for the last place team.
Kelliann’s in Fairmount
- Address: 1549 Spring Garden Street
- Time: 8:30-11 p.m.
- Notes: Weekly prizes and giveaways during the game.
Sutton’s in West Kensington
- Address: 1706 N 5th Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: Teams of up to 8 people. First prize is $25 off yoru tab, and second place is $15 off.
Evil Genius in Fishtown
- Address: 1727 Front Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
Punch Buggy Brewing Company in Olde Kensington
- Address: 1445 N American Street
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Notes: A BP team favorite.
Fadó in Center City
- Address: 1500 Locust Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: Arrive early to secure a spot.
Love City Brewing in Callowhill
- Address: 1023 Hamilton Street
- Time: 7-9 p.m.
- Notes: Their Quizzo/trivia nights have varying hosts and themes. You can stay up-to-date with the event list on their website.
O’Jungs in Pennsport
- Address: 1625 S 2nd Street
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Notes: Food and drink deals including $5 wine and a $14 pasta dinner. $100 in prizes. Stay up-to-date on their specials and Quizzo schedule on their Instagram.
The Shipyard Bar in Port Richmond
- Address: 2537 E Ontario Street
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Notes: There is a gift card prize for winners.
Topside Tavern in Center City
- Address: 10 S 20th Street
- Time: 7-9 p.m.
- Notes: First prize is a $25 gift card and second prize is a $10 gift card.
FringeArts in Old City
- Address: 140 N. Columbus Blvd.
- Time: 7-9 p.m.
- Notes: You can walk in or make a reservation to guarantee seating. Hosted by Johnny Goodtimes, Philly’s “premier” quizmaster.
Garage Rittenhouse in Rittenhouse
- Address: 1501 Spruce Street
- Time: 8:30 p.m.
- Notes: First place receives a $60 gift card, second place receives a $40 gift card and third place receives a $20 gift card. There are $7 Surfsides throughout the trivia session.
Nut Hut Saloon in Fishtown
- Address: Frankford Ave & E Norris Street
- Time: 8-10 p.m.
Toska in Mt. Airy
- Address: 7136 Germantown Ave
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Notes: Host Karly Moon previews the theme of each week’s trivia on her Instagram ahead of each trivia sesh.
Mix Bar & Grill in Rittenhouse
- Address: 2101 Chestnut Street
- Time: 7-9 p.m.
- Notes: There are four different themed rounds and there needs to be less than six people on each team. First place is a $25 gift card, second place is $15 in gift cards and third place is $10 in gift cards. There is happy hour from 5-7 p.m. before the start of trivia.
National Mechanics in Old City
- Address: 22 S 3rd Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: They don’t call themselves a “Quizzo” – saying they “make their own games for Philly.” But, similar vibes to trivia and hosted by Philly comedians.
New Deck Tavern in University City
- Address: 3408 Sansom Street
- Time: 8-11 p.m.
- Notes: Specials like $5.50 Strongbow Cider, $14 Miller Lite pitchers and $8 cheese fries. Giveaways and gifts throughout.
Paddy Whacks in Northeast Philly
- Address: 9241-43 Roosevelt Blvd
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: ½ priced cheesesteaks during the Quizzo.
Thursdays
Canalside Beer Garden in Manayunk
- Address: 1705 Chancellor Street
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Notes: Drink specials such as $5 Victory drafts and $8 margaritas. Past giveaways have included Phillies tickets and gift cards.
Hilltown Tavern in Fairmount
- Address: 795 N. 24th Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: This trivia is music themed! You can test your playlist knowledge, sing along to tunes and more. There are $4 Michelob Ultra Drafts, $5 Heineken Drafts and $5 Modelo Drafts specials during trivia as well.
Smokey Joe’s Bar in University City
- Address: 210 S 40th Street
- Time: 9:30-11 p.m.
- Notes: The bar sometimes does not hold Quizzo on particular weeks or for particular events – keep up-to-date with their Instagram.
Stir Lounge in the Gayborhood
- Address: 1705 Chancellor Street
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
Wissahickon Brewing Company in East Falls
- Address: 3705 W. School House Lane
- Time: 7:30-9 p.m.
- Notes: Hosted by Sean P. Maguire, a popular Philly Quizzo company.
Wissahickon Brewing Company in Olde Kensington
- Address: 1526 N. American Street
- Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.
- Notes: Seating is first-come, first-served.
Brewery ARS in Fishtown
- Address: 2223 Frankford Ave
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Notes: Dates and timing for trivia vary based on the month. Keep up-to-date on their Instagram.
Milkboy South Street in South Philly
- Address: 401 South Street
- Time: 7:30-9 p.m.
- Notes: Prizes for first, second and third place.
Libertee Grounds in Fairmount
- Address: 1600 W. Girard Avenue
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Notes: The first Thursday of every month features a “fun, topical theme.”
Paddy Whacks in South Philly
- Address: 150 South Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
Deli @ Dwell in Fishtown
- Address: 1301 N. American Street
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Notes: Past prizes have included Phillies merch, Surfside-branded hats, koozies and more.
Fergie’s Pub in Center City
- Address: 1214 Sansom Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: Fergies also does Tuesday trivia. There is a limit of eight people per team. Space is sometimes limited, so availability is first come, first served.
Meyers Brewing Company in Fishtown
- Address: 435 E Girard Ave
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
Bridget Foy’s in Society Hill
- Address: 200 South Street
- Time: 7 p.m.
Dock Street Brewery in South Philly
- Address: 2118 Washington Avenue
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- Notes: Prizes and pay-as-you-go food and drinks.
Urban Village in Northern Liberties
- Address: 1001 N 2nd Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: Get there early to secure a spot.
Adobe Cafe in Bella Vista
- Address: 736 S 8th Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: First place is a $40 gift card. Specials like $25 margarita pitchers and $6 burritos during the game.
Future Days Brewing in Northern Liberties
- Address: 433 Fairmount Avenue
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Notes: Trivia nights are monthly! Check their Instagram for specific days.
Wolf Burger in South Philly
- Address: 2301 South Front Street
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Notes: Not every Thursday – check their Facebook or Instagram for week-by-week updates.
Cartesian Brewing in South Philly
- Address: 1326 E Passyunk Avenue
- Time: 7-9 p.m.
- Notes: Rotating hosts every other week.
Queen & Rook Game Cafe in Queen Village
- Address: 123 South Street
- Time: 7 p.m.
Fridays
Manayunk Brewing Company in Manayunk
- Address: 4120 Main Street
- Time: 8:30-10:30 p.m.
- Notes: $5 select drafts, $6 house wines and $7 cocktails of the week. Food specials and prizes throughout.
Sundays
The Sidecar Bar & Grille in Grad Hospital
- Address: 2201 Christian Street
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Notes: Check their Facebook or Instagram before attending to make sure Quizzo is on for that week. There are regular prizes like a $75 gift card for first-place winners, a $25 gift card for second-place winners and a trivia-specific prize for the third-place winner. Trivia has different themes each week.
Local 44 in West Philly
- Address: 4333 Spruce Street
- Time: 10 p.m.
- Notes: Their Sunday Happy Hour also runs from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
