Are supper clubs the new dinner parties?

The term "supper club" evokes a sense of luxury, of glamour, and particularly, the entertainment of a bygone era. Supper clubs were introduced and attained popularity in the 1930s and 1940s.

In the United States, a supper club was where you could spend your entire evening; cocktail hour to post-dinner night entertainment, all in one place. In the UK, supper clubs are not to be conflated with the more elite dining clubs.

Supper clubs mimicked the style of New York City jazz bars where people could enjoy dinner without formalities and enjoy live music. In both these places, supper clubs were informal social networks.

After COVID, specifically, something changed in the way we dined out. For starters, we were doing it less. Why doll yourself up to go out and eat from an overpriced menu when you could do the same at home in your pajamas with a food delivery app?

Some people realised they liked the motions of dining out—going to a swanky restaurant, trying new food, but did not like the crowds or the noise—but did not like the crowds or the noise. They preferred a more intimate setting.

ENTER: The supper club revival.

Nowadays, the supper club has become an experience. It refers to an underground restaurant whose location changes constantly and is known only to those who choose to buy a ticket. Guests are offered dining choices from a set menu. Oftentimes, you will be seated next to complete strangers, adding a new way to socialise with people you might not have known otherwise.

Supper clubs are predominantly found in London, with concepts from amateur home cooks to professionally trained chefs; there is something for everyone, which means it did not take long for the concept to tour the world.

Supper clubs have started to find their way to India's urban hubs as well. Young people longing for exciting experiences and community are the first adopters of this trend. There are a range of cuisines to try from.

In Delhi, you can indulge in Kashmiri flavours away from the snow-capped vistas of Srinagar with Zuva Supper Club or take a small stroll through Northeastern Indian fare at Mood.

Mumbai, staying true to its roots of a "port city", offers Sichuan dining like you've never seen it before with House of Málà or perhaps live out your K-Culture dreams with Zahvi, a Korean cuisine-inspired supper club.

Though the trend is yet to hit the mainstream in Bangkok, there is still a way for you to dip your toes in the supper club bandwagon. Kate's Place - Supper Club in Sukhumvit 36 is a supper club establishment that is known for their delicious Thai home-style cooking on the menu.

So, are supper clubs just a new-fangled version of potlucks, a fancier way of saying "dinner parties with strangers", or a truly revolutionary way to eat out... You decide.