Mahjong Lah is an initiative that hosts workshops on how to play the traditional game mahjong.
Founded by Sabrina Tan, Mahjong Lah was created as an effort to encourage authentic and meaningful social gatherings.
Mahjong Lah's Mahjong Social Club event for beginners will be held at Common Man Coffee Roasters on 14 August.
A mahjong session for beginners by Singaporean initiative Mahjong Lah brings a new dimension to dining at hotspots out and about the city.
It’s all fun and games, with a burger on the side, at the Mahjong Social Club — a novel collaboration between the colloquially named Singapore-based initiative Mahjong Lah and Common Man Coffee Roasters café. The latest pop-up event for beginners running on 14 August, entails understanding and playing rounds of the Chinese tile-based game on location, while feasting on mains and drinks from the venue’s menu.
Mahjong Lah’s founder, Sabrina Tan, first conceived the idea behind the initiative upon her return to Singapore from Finland after completing her two-year Masters programme in Educational Leadership. During her time abroad, Tan grew a deep appreciation for connecting with strangers on her travels, and mahjong, she discovered, could gather an audience to participate in an authentic local activity under an engaging social setting.
On why mahjong means so much to her, Tan says, “It’s part of how I grew up — a way of bonding with friends and family. But it also became a meaningful way for me to think about inclusion and cultural connection. When I was in Finland, I remember longing to be part of someone’s home life, their traditions. It made me realise how important it is to create spaces where people can feel welcomed into a culture.”
“Mahjong Lah is my way of offering that — especially to expats or tourists in Singapore who want to understand a side of local life they might otherwise not be able to access.”
At the moment, Tan hosts regular weekly classes at a private venue in the Kovan neighbourhood, and monthly workshops at another address in the Duxton enclave. These events, suitable for beginners, teach participants the foundations of mahjong and delve into the more complex strategy component of the configuration game.
And the latest development to Mahjong Lah’s programming is the creation of the Mahjong Social Club, which operates out of various cafés and restaurants including Common Man Coffee Roasters and Smash Street Burger Bar. First launched in June, the event reframes its classes as a social gathering meets competitive gaming dining experience.
Ticketing details to join the Mahjong Social Club for beginners will be released closer to the event’s date.
Where: Comman Man Coffee Roasters, Joo Chiat Road, East Coast, Singapore
Contact: @mahjonglah