Mixed heritage social nights
Wasian & Half Asian Meetups
If you are half Asian, you have probably been told you are "not Asian enough" by one side and "too Asian" by the other. At Lounge Asia you do not have to pick a side. Come as you are, in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane.
8,000+ members · 4.7 rating on Meetup · Free when you RSVP early
You will fit in here if…
- One parent is Asian and one is not.
- You grew up between two countries, or came back to one.
- You do not speak your family's language and feel odd about it.
- You are a third culture kid and "where are you from" is a long story.
- You just want a normal night out where none of that needs explaining.
How it works
Free if you RSVP early · A$5 within 24 hours
Come alone · English only is fine · Photo ID needed at the door
Not a pickup night. Anyone who makes others uncomfortable is asked to leave.
Why a mixed heritage crowd feels different
Nobody asks you to prove anything
A lot of Asian social groups quietly assume you speak the language, grew up with the food, and know the customs. If you are Wasian, that assumption can make a room feel like a test you did not study for.
Lounge Asia started inside the Asian community, but it grew around people who live between cultures — mixed families, returnees, third culture kids, and people who moved countries young. So the "half and half" experience is not unusual here. It is most of the room.
English is the shared language at every event. You will not be quizzed on Mandarin, Japanese, Korean or anything else. If you want to practise, plenty of people are happy to. If you do not, that is completely fine too.
Where to go
Wasian friendly nights in three cities
Same crowd, same rules, three cities. Pick the one nearest you and check the exact date before you go.
Melbourne
Every Wednesday from 6:00 pm
Diesel Bar & Eatery, 202 Little Lonsdale St
Enter from Little Lonsdale Street only, not through Melbourne Central.
Melbourne details →Sydney
Every second Saturday, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Harts Pub, The Rocks
5 minutes from Circular Quay Station, 8 from Wynyard.
Sydney details →Brisbane
Every 2 weeks on Tuesday, 6:00 pm
Criterion Tavern, 239 George St
3 minutes from Queen St Mall, 5 from Central Station.
Brisbane details →Your first night
What actually happens
No games, no forced introductions, no going around the circle saying your name. It is a bar, with a group of people who are all there to meet someone new.
- 1. RSVP on Meetup. Do it early and entry is free.
- 2. Turn up and show your RSVP at the door with photo ID.
- 3. A host says hello and gives you a name tag.
- 4. Start with easy stuff — food, travel, where you grew up, what you are watching.
- 5. Move between groups whenever you like. Leave whenever you like.
Wasian meetup FAQ
What does Wasian mean?
Wasian is a short way of saying someone is part White and part Asian. People also say half Asian, mixed Asian, hapa, or Eurasian. They all point to the same thing: you have Asian heritage on one side of your family.
Am I Asian enough to come?
Yes. There is no test and nobody checks. Lounge Asia started in the Asian community, and a lot of our guests are mixed heritage, adopted, third culture kids, or returnees. Feeling like you sit between two cultures is a normal thing to feel here, not something you have to explain.
Do I need to speak an Asian language?
No. English is the common language at every event. Many guests do not speak their family's language, and that is very normal in a mixed heritage crowd.
Can I come alone?
Yes, and most people do. A host will say hello, give you a name tag, and help you into a conversation. You can move between groups at your own pace and leave whenever you like.
Is this a dating event?
No. It is a social night for making friends. Chatting people up is not allowed, and anyone who makes others uncomfortable is asked to leave straight away.
How much does it cost?
Entry is free when you RSVP early. If you RSVP within 24 hours of the start time, entry is A$5. Please also buy at least one drink to support the venue.
Which cities have a Wasian friendly meetup?
Melbourne every Wednesday at Diesel Bar and Eatery, Sydney every second Saturday at Harts Pub in The Rocks, and Brisbane every two weeks on Tuesday at Criterion Tavern.
What should I bring?
Bring a government photo ID, because the events are held in bars and the venue may check your age. Also have your Meetup RSVP ready to show at the door.
Free Newsletter
Can't make an event yet? Stay in the loop.
Events, culture & community news for Asians in Australia — straight to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Come to the next one
Check the date and venue on Meetup, then just turn up.