What’s behind Asia’s new obsession with cafe parties?
As the region’s nightlife reinvents itself in a post-pandemic world, a new wave of social events – sober and sun-drenched – has emerged
With lattes lifted high, strangers become friends as loud music blares through the cafe-turned-dance-floor. This is the new face of nightlife in Asia – sober, social and safe, taking place in broad daylight. “I never had the chance to immerse myself in club culture until the pandemic ended,” says 21-year-old Aden Low, co-founder of Singapore’s sober event collective Beans & Beats. “By then, my idea of partying wasn’t limited to dark rooms and heavy drinking.”
For many in his generation, whose primary reference for nightlife was live-streamed DJ sets at home, walking into a physical nightclub feels like stepping into unfamiliar territory. Feeling out of sync with traditional nightlife, Low decided to stop waiting for the industry to adapt and instead built his own alternative.
How wellness redefined Asia’s nightlife
This shift grows because it is reflected across generations: millennials are ageing into health consciousness, while Gen Z is leaning towards sober curiosity. In Hong Kong, per capita alcohol consumption hit a record low of 2.24 litres in 2023, down from 2.84 litres in 2018 – a trend echoed in cities like Seoul, Tokyo and beyond.
Even in Bangkok – a city synonymous with a vibrant nightlife – change is brewing. “Thailand has built an identity as a 24/7 party destination, but younger locals are seeking alternatives to the tourist and alcohol-centric scene,” says Amy Tucker on behalf of the sober and wellness-focused daytime events organiser Before Midnight. “They want spaces where they can prioritise genuine connection [with] themselves and others, over consumption.”
