Mahjong & Mocha: Tiles, tales and cups of calm

Bombay Times Life.Styled Club hosted the third edition of Mahjong & Mocha at Bayroute, Powai, curating a relaxed afternoon where conversation, connection and leisure took centre stage. The gathering paired the tactile rhythm of Mahjong with free-flowing mocha and easy camaraderie. Phones were set aside as tiles clicked across tables, cups refilled, and strangers quickly turned into companions.

For first-time participant Mikhael Kantroo, the experience was equal parts engaging and refreshing. He said,“I have always loved playing board games, this was a lot like rummy—sequences and all, it really required focus. It’s a good way to stay away from your phone. It is just as la-di-da as it looks in pictures—very aesthetic, a perfect afternoon get-together. I was here with my wife, and we’ll definitely do Mahjong afternoons at home,” he said.

Pooja Waghela, another newcomer, was drawn in by both the visual appeal and the energy of the game. She said, “I’ve never played this before—it was a completely new experience for me. The Mahjong board looked so colourful. The vibe was quite energetic in there.”

From the Mahjong partner’s perspective, the enthusiasm was unmistakable. “There was excitement on every table. The good thing was that people wanted to play the entire game, not just stop at the introductory round. They realised it’s an intelligent game and they enjoyed it,” said Sucheta Kaushik, Salome Vora and Karishma Hingorani from The Boardroom Mahjong. The event was also in association with The Mahjong Network by Ria Bajaj, Ishira Kumar and Maneka Jain Daswani.

Adding a thoughtful touch, gifting partner Surasa Life brought a layer of sweetness to the afternoon, complementing an experience that was as much about slowing down as it was about playing on. In the end, Mahjong & Mocha wasn’t just an event—it was a gentle reminder that sometimes, the best connections happen when the phones go down, the tiles come out, and time feels just a little less rushed.