Someone in Toronto is hosting tranquil tea parties and they're selling out fast
If you scroll through Instagram long enough, you'll come across something that feels real. Not curated. Not overly produced. Just someone putting an honest idea out there.
That's exactly what happened when Toronto-based creator and self-proclaimed "chai connoisseur" Aditya Chouhan posted a reel saying he wanted to host a simple chai and sutta (tea and cigarettes) meet-up —no DJ or guest list, just homemade tea and conversation with like-minded people.
"I just wanted to host a few people, make chai, and hang out in my living room. I didn't expect it to go outside my circle," he tells blogTO.
The expectation was that only a handful of people would respond. Instead, hundreds reached out and expressed their interest.
Roham Sanan, co-collaborator and co-owner of Toronto-based event planning company The Can't Social, says that "what resonated wasn't the idea of a party, it was the absence of one." For people tired of bars, nightclubs, and loud dance floors, the idea of sitting down, sipping chai, and actually talking felt refreshing.
After receiving over 400 comments, Chouhan quickly realized his living room wouldn't be the appropriate venue, so he decided to turn it into a full-fledged community event at a larger, external venue.
With the help of Sanan and a small group of friends, Classic Night was officially launched. Last month, the team secured a venue — Society Clubhouse — and brought in live classical music performers to turn what would have been a small gathering into a full-scale event.
"We did all of this in six days, from idea to a room full of people," Chouhan recalls.
Roughly 160 people showed up. Tickets, which were priced at $20, sold out quickly. A waitlist formed. Even after capping attendance, people kept arriving at the door.
Classical Night wasn't loud or flashy. People drank tea, listened to live classical music, and engaged in interesting conversation, all of which were things that many attendees said were missing from Toronto's social scene.
As the performances went on, the night organically shifted into a singalong. By the end, strangers were singing together and leaving with new friends.
"This was never about hosting an event but more about creating a space where people could actually connect," Chouhan confirms.
For many attendees in their mid-20s to early-30s, the event filled a gap. Third spaces that don't revolve around alcohol or dating are rare, Chouhan and Sanan both agree. Guests told them that they weren't looking to dance or drink, they just wanted a calm, platonic environment where conversation came first.
And Chouhan's reel was more than just a viral moment. It was a bridge to new friendships, which was exactly what the organizers wanted. "Many people who met at Classical Night are still hanging out today," Sanan exclaims.
In a city where making friends as an adult can feel surprisingly difficult, something as simple as tea and cigarettes turned out to be the perfect icebreaker. And judging by the response, it's a concept Toronto didn't realize it needed, until one tea-lover posted a reel and made it a reality.
Chouhan and Sanan confirmed that another chai and sutta party is already in the works, and more information will be available in the coming week.
Sanjan Suhan
