When Ryan Lee first played mahjong two years ago, he quickly turned a private pastime into a public nightlife offering, organizing pop-up mahjong parties in San Francisco bars, restaurants and nightclubs that now attract hundreds of young people.
Lee, a 25-year-old Chinese American, began by hosting games in his apartment and then expanded his gatherings into Youth Luck Leisure (YLL) Mahjong Club events. YLL now holds bimonthly parties that can include as many as 30 tables and 200 guests, combining traditional tile play with live DJs, custom cocktails and on-site instructors who teach novices.
Organizers said the events draw a racially and culturally diverse crowd of mostly young adults who are drawn less by gambling and more by the social environment. "A lot of people are just really intrigued even though they don’t really know how to play," Lee said, adding that some attendees seek a connection to cultural roots while others simply want to meet new people away from their phones.
Event staff and volunteer instructors circulate among tables to explain rules and encourage newcomers. Hosts and venue partners advertise the nights as communal, low-pressure introductions to the game, often framing mahjong as both a cultural pastime and a social night out.
Mahjong originated in 19th-century China and has long been played in Asian communities around the world. Organizers and participants in San Francisco say the recent surge reflects a broader interest among younger people in analog activities and face-to-face socializing. The format at YLL and similar events pairs traditional play with elements common to contemporary nightlife, including music, drinks and themed décor.
The trend is reflected in event-platform data: Eventbrite reported a 179% increase in U.S. mahjong events listed on its platform from 2023 to 2024. Local restaurateurs and bar owners have accommodated the pop-ups as a way to attract weekend crowds and diversify programming.
Participants include experienced players who appreciate the game's strategic and social elements and newcomers who attend for the atmosphere, organizers said. Venues hosting mahjong nights range from neighborhood restaurants to nightclubs, and some events sell out as interest grows.
Organizers emphasized that instruction and a welcoming atmosphere are priorities, noting that the events are marketed as inclusive and noncompetitive. As the gatherings expand in size and frequency, they have prompted renewed conversation about how traditional cultural practices are being reinterpreted and repackaged in urban nightlife settings.
The revival of mahjong in San Francisco fits into a larger pattern of young adults seeking communal, low-tech experiences. Organizers said they plan to continue expanding pop-up nights while maintaining the instructional elements that help introduce the game to new players.