Aastha Agrawal

Picture this: a Sunday morning pulsing with fresh beats, the scent of ceremonial-grade matcha in the air, and a room full of people swaying, boogieing or simply sipping in peace over pastries and hash browns. This was the vibe at Mix and Matcha’s debut event, a sober morning gathering blending wellness rituals, electronic music and community connection. Matcha-fuelled, music-charged and hangover-free. Held at Bourke Street Courtyard, the free (but fully booked out) session featured specialty coffee and a genre-hopping DJ set that moved from hip hop and baile funk to Afro house and amapiano. Designed as a gentle yet energising antidote to nightlife fatigue, the event offered something refreshingly new: a third space for early risers, burnt-out partygoers and caffeine connoisseurs alike. Think of it as an alternative to Zumba, a more joyful way to queue for your matcha or a soft substitute for the Friday or Saturday night you didn’t quite make.  Photograph: Supplied/Mix and Matcha As many of us collectively age out of sticky club floors and Sunday comedowns, partying culture is shifting. Since the pandemic, Australians have begun drinking less – nearly 30 per cent less than just seven years ago. The appeal of loud clubs and long lines is giving way to something calmer: mornings filled with movement, flavour and connection. And if you’re going to line up for coffee, why not add good beats and friendly faces? Enter the rise of the “third place”. Coined by sociologist Ray Oldenb