The stakes are high when you gather around the mahjong table, with every decision delivering a high reward or a devastating loss. Don't rule out needing more than a little luck, either. But beyond just a tabletop game that requires a mix of pattern recognition, probability and bluffing, mahjong is also having a huge revival thanks to its easygoing flow. Recognising the need for a social night out that gets people away from their screens, Fitzroy's hit Chinese-inspired cocktail bar Moondrop is launching twice-monthly mahjong nights in its newly opened events space, 'The Mahjong Room'. Kicking off from 6.30pm on Sunday, April 12 — and returning a fortnight later — now is your chance to build a winning hand — or at least have fun trying. Seated around custom-made mahjong tables — embossed with a signature rabbit trio emblem, no less — punters are invited to pull up a chair to experience China's centuries-old pastime. For a $20 buy-in, you'll receive four tokens, each worth $5, allowing you to participate in a four-person game and vie for the win. With these tokens redeemable at the bar, the winner of each game collects a token from each participant. At the end of each round, players can continue on or bow out — heading to the bar to redeem their tokens or saving them for future games. Moondrop co-director Jesse Kourmouzis has even crafted a tight four-drink cocktail menu for the night, inspired by the symbolic designs of mahjong tiles featuring Confucian plants. Served from The Mahjong Room's private bar, a highlight includes the Orchid — a carbonated vodka and yuzushu number, elevated with peach, vanilla and jasmine notes. Plus, each lively mahjong night is soundtracked by jazz-funk selectors, Earworthy Club — a soulful crew that regularly brings buttery-smooth grooves to a park near you. So, the vibes remain high whether you're on a hot streak, tokenless or just soaking up the end-of-the-week mood. Meanwhile, Earworthy's Doug will switch things up for the last Sunday of every month, inviting a host of special guests to play alongside him, from live brass musicians and flautists to vocalists spitting Chinese raps. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox. Images: Geneviève Rankin.
