The dance floor is buzzing, the DJ is spinning, and the crowd is alive with energy. Yet instead of vodka sodas and tequila shots, hands clutch matcha lattes and espressos. Welcome to the world of “soft clubbing” – a growing trend where coffee, not alcohol, fuels the party.
Soft clubbing has emerged as a global phenomenon reshaping the way Gen Z socialise. From Sydney’s Maple Social Club hosting packed “Coffee + DJs” mornings to Melbourne’s Onair Café blending live music with cappuccinos, the movement reflects something of a wider cultural shift: young people are increasingly drinking less alcohol, prioritising wellness, and seeking new ways to connect.
For Gen Z, often labeled the “loneliest generation,” this feels like a remedy: community, creativity, and fun, minus the burnout. Attendees often feel more comfortable showing up solo, knowing the emphasis is on connection rather than excess. And data supports the rise: Australia’s drinking culture is undergoing a measurable reset, with one in five cutting back, and Gen Z leading the shift – 34% report abstaining in the past three months while 24% opt for zero-alcohol alternatives. The non-alcoholic category is booming, with 16% of Australians trying it recently, Dry July participation up 150% year-on-year, and 40% of beverage decisions influenced by low-sugar or low-calorie considerations.
The concept is simple but powerful: create spaces that deliver the joy of nightlife without the hangover. 'Soft clubbing' events often take place in unconventional venues – cafés, bakeries, gyms, even hair salons – where music, art, and community take centre stage. Some, like Mix&Matcha:AM in Melbourne or London’s Club Soft, focus on daytime gatherings, while others are reimagining nightlife with earlier finishes and lower costs.
Soft clubbing events in Australia
Maple Social Club (Sydney)
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Next event: Pool Party at The Old Clare on Saturday 6 September
Maple Social Club is a Sydney collective founded in 2024 that runs alcohol-free daytime events like café raves, brunches, and tennis socials in venues from warehouses to churches.
Onair Cremorne (Melbourne)
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Next event: Cafe open Monday–Saturday
This daytime café-meets-music venue in Melbourne’s Cremorne (25 Stephenson St) was founded by Francesca Poci and Deyon Murphy in early 2025, serving Inglewood-roasted coffee and paninis, and hosting live DJ sets – including “Espresso Sessions” and an in-house radio.
Refill Rhythm by frank green (Sydney)
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Next event: Bondi Icebergs Dining Room and Bar on 13 September from 9–11am
Hosting their second rendition of their cafe rave Refill Rhythm, frank green's Refill Rhythm series features ice-cold coffee and matcha, ocean views and a reusable-fuelled rave, combining music, coffee and community.
Mix&Matcha:AM (Melbourne)
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Next event: TBC
A Melbourne-based sober-party collective (debuting in April 2025) that blends ceremonial-grade matcha (served as the rave-drink), specialty coffee, and genre-hopping DJ sets in free daytime gatherings designed to energise and connect.
Dawnbreak (Australia-wide events)
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Next event: TBC
The Perth-born, alcohol-free sunrise silent disco tour has now unfolded across Australia, bringing headphone-fed dance parties at beaches from Perth and Adelaide to Melbourne and Brisbane, where attendees boogie in the dark as the sun rises, often ending with an invigorating ocean dip.
AM SOCIAL (Brisbane and Gold Coast)
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Next event: AM Social Volume 6 at Bakery Lane, Brisbane on Saturday 6 September (8am–12pm)
Brisbane-founded and alcohol-free, this morning rave collective combines freshly brewed coffee, DJ-curated music, and community energy in pop-up weekend events across cafés like California Lane, Fonzie Abbott, and Bar Pacino – now also staging movement-plus-music gatherings on the Gold Coast (like Pilates + DJ sets at Mermaid Beach).
Caffeine Club (Brisbane and Gold Coast)
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Next event: Surfers Pavilion, Gold Coast on Sunday 21 September
Hosting free sunrise dance-parties – complete with specialty coffee, mocktails and wellness shots – these guys feature rotating local DJs at venues like Joey’s in Kangaroo Point and pop-up events on the Gold Coast (like at Kirra Beach House).
Coffee Sessions (Adelaide)
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Next event: TBC
Adelaide’s only daytime coffee-fuelled rave series was launched earlier this year and blends specialty coffee (including matcha), house-music DJ sets, free croissants, and a warm community vibe across venues like Planter & Loft.
Micrology Coffee Roasters (Perth)
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Next event: TBC
The specialty-coffee roaster and café in Osborne Park, Perth features visible in-house roasting, cold-brew tanks, a training room, high-end espresso and pour-over gear, vinyl DJ sessions, and a strong focus on quality, sustainability and coffee education.
Feature images: one, two.
