Play American Mah jongg in London
We know it’s hard to find a place in London to learn American Mahjong or to play regularly with a nice group of people, that’s why we created this space! Dear Asia is London’s only club offering multiple Mahjong styles — join our growing American Mahjong community to learn or to play real person‑to‑person games!
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American Mah jongg
Let’s start by saying: American Mahjong is quite different from Chinese Mahjong. When the game first arrived in the U.S. from China in the 1920s, it became an overnight sensation — but rulesets varied so wildly from group to group that nobody could agree on how to play. Truth be told, Chinese Mahjong still has that problem today; as we like to say, house rules rule.
The ladies of New York had had enough. In 1937 they founded the National Mah Jongg League to standardise the American game once and for all — and invented three features that still make it distinctive today: the annual NMJL card of legal winning hands (a new one drops every April), the jokers, and the Charleston tile-exchange ritual before every game.
Who plays american mahjong in london?
Across the Atlantic, Mahjong is having a real moment. American celebrities are talking openly about their weekly games, three-generation family groups are meeting in living rooms across the country, and twenty-somethings who picked up the tiles during lockdown are now hosting mahjong nights in Brooklyn and LA. It’s genuinely trending. Here in London, we see the same energy in the messages we get: American expats craving a taste of home, Brits who play Chinese style and want to try something new, and complete beginners who’ve never touched a tile before but love the idea of a beautiful, social game they can grow into over time.
Play in styles
The game itself is exciting to play — but the tiles have become a story of their own. Over the past few years, mahjong sets have taken on a high-fashion sensibility, with a wave of new brands producing colourful, cheerful designs that make the game feel fresh, contemporary, and (dare we say) a little bit fashionable. Bold colour palettes, soft pastels, art deco flourishes — the tile set has become as much a design object as a game piece. It’s a striking contrast to the heritage feel of a traditional Chinese set. We couldn’t resist ourselves; we’ve imported a few of our favourites so you can play with them at our tables.
“Our friends started playing American Mahjong and got hooked – now we want to try it too.”
I would recommend this to anyone wanting to learn how to play, they do both beginners and inprover courses! Great stuff, thanks you all!
“We hired a lovely instructor to come to our house to teach our group American mahjong – it was great fun.”
Learn American Mahjong in London
American Mahjong is primarily played in the U.S., but we’ve had growing requests for it — some social circles here in London prefer American Mahjong over other styles. So our team has spent over 100 hours learning how to play at a competitive level before putting our teaching cap on and writing our own tutorials. We even imported some beautiful American Mahjong tiles and mats to match the vibe.
Private American Mahjong Lessons
Looking for American Mahjong in London used to be difficult — but not any more! Our team is now trained and fully equipped to teach you this fantastically exciting game. Booking a private lesson couldn’t be easier: use our scheduler to pick a time and a place, and our instructor will come to you, anywhere in London. We’ll bring a beautiful set of tiles and mat, four original NMJL cards, and all the learning material you need to get started.
One instructor can teach from 1 to 8 learners in a single session (£300/session), so bring your friends and family together and make it a fun event.
Hire our instructors for your private event 👉 Here.
our Saturday Newbie workshops
Another way to learn American Mahjong with us is to book a ticket (£36 per person) to our Saturday Newbie Workshops — affordable, social, and fun. They run every other Saturday afternoon, and they’re designed for two kinds of beginner: those brand new to mahjong, and those who play another style and want to try the American version. Believe us, the styles are different enough that everyone should start at the beginning.
Our newbie workshops teach you how to play the game from beginning to end. To really get good at it — or stop second-guessing every discard — you might want to come back for our follow-on sessions. Just book again, and we’ll see you there.
American Mahjong Saturday Workshop
Finally — our beginner American Mahjong workshops, open to everyone every other Saturday afternoons.
play American Mahjong in London
We get messages like this quite often: “Do you know where to play American Mahjong in London?” We used to say, “I think Kensington and Chelsea might have some private events going on, but it’s not public information — sorry, can’t help.” Not any more. Now we can proudly say: come play with us at Aldgate on Saturdays. Our Just Play sessions run at least one or two American Mahjong tables, alongside the Chinese and Japanese styles.
Book a just play ticket to play with us
Because our Just Play runs regularly, you don’t have to think twice about other people’s schedules, or spend a week organising a game only to have someone pull out at the last minute. We offer a destination for mahjong lovers to come, sit down, and enjoy an afternoon of play — no stress, no fuss, just good vibes.
At £10 a ticket, it’s the most affordable way to play — easy enough that we hope you’ll make it a regular fixture.
“Booking a Saturday ticket and turning up is so much easier than trying to pull together a four-person game on my own.”
American Mahjong lovers — come play with us on Saturdays!
Already know American Mahjong? Great — book a Just Play ticket to play with us on Saturdays at Aldgate (E1). We’d love to have you!
Our Mahjong Styles
Dear Asia is the only Mahjong club in London offering at least three different styles; our inclusive community is always growing.
Chinese Mahjong
Chinese classic Mahjong — specifically the Hong Kong (old) style — is the most popular version worldwide and is the main style we play here.
american Mahjong
American Mahjong is trending worldwide and plays quite differently from other styles. We’ve taught private clients and are now offering public workshops for anyone who wants to learn and play.
Japanese Riichi
Riichi Mahjong is the most popular style online, and it deserves social time away from the screen. That’s why we’re building a Riichi player community—already home to many enthusiastic players and a number of experienced masters.
American Mahjong FAQs
Everything we’ve been asked, and everything we try to tell new players joining our club.
Ask us anything about American Mahjong
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