Mahjong Is Having a Moment. And The Wayback is Hosting a Retreat in Austin, TX.
The game the whole world is suddenly playing, brought to the Hill Country for one unforgettable retreat. Tile Me Away returns August 5–6, and there are only 24 seats.
Have you noticed the growing mahjong trend?
Though mahjong has been played in China for nearly 200 years, it’s only recently become popular in the West, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z.
And this summer, it’s coming to Austin, Texas.
Why It’s So Popular
There is a reason the game is spreading the way it is. In a world of endless phone scrolling and laptop jobs, mahjong asks four people per table to sit down, put the screens away, and be together for a few hours at a time. It combines strategy, luck, and social interaction. It’s competitive, but there is also plenty of room for lighthearted banter between rounds.
In Austin, mahjong night has become one of the most enjoyable outings in the city, and the rooms keep getting fuller. We’ve hosted several already at The Wayback.
We wanted to give that energy a place to stretch out. Not a two-hour meetup squeezed into a weeknight, but a whole night under the oaks, with nowhere else to be.
Tile Me Away
Tile Me Away is our overnight mahjong retreat, co-hosted with Austin Mahjong Social, and it is exactly what it sounds like: a full day and night of the game you love, wrapped in everything The Wayback does best.
You arrive to a welcome cocktail and a goodie bag. You play poolside in the afternoon sun, and yes, there is Water Mahj in the saltwater pool for the brave. You gather for a farm-to-table dinner under the stars, with live music drifting across the cabana. Then you keep playing, later than you should, before getting some shut eye. In the morning, a full latte bar and biscuit spread, one final round, and a winner crowned.
One night. Nothing on the schedule but fun.
One Night, Well Spent
Here is how the retreat unfolds:
3:00 PM — Check-In & Welcome. A cocktail, your goodie bag, and pool time.
5:00 PM — Round One. Friendly competition, poolside.
7:00 PM — Cabana Picnic Dinner. Farm-to-table, under the stars.
8:00 PM — Late Evening Play. Live music and desserts.
9:00 AM — Round Two & Breakfast. The final round, with french press and a biscuit bar.
10:45 AM — Winner Announced. First place takes home a bespoke Mahjong Mat and Tile Set. Second place, a Back to Mahj mat.
With raffle prizes and a few happy surprises scattered all the way through.
All the Tiles, Taken Care Of
Your ticket covers the whole experience:
Two scoring rounds plus open play, poolside, with Water Mahj
Happy hour drinks and bites by the pool
A cabana picnic dinner, farm-to-table and under the stars
Live music and desserts through late evening play
A breakfast biscuit bar with a full latte bar
A welcome goodie bag and raffle prizes throughout
All of it made possible by the makers and friends who love this game as much as we do: Mahjong Bespoke, Back to Mahj, Marfa Spirit Co, The Gilded Grasshopper, Illahe, Cut ATX, Seda by Danica, and fine art photographer Jessica Schumaker.
Only 24 Seats! Sign Up Now.
There is a maximum capacity to this event, so it’s beneficial to sign up sooner rather than later. There are twenty-four seats at the table exactly. Spots are offered first come, first served, and they are already going.
If a night like this is calling to you, reserve your spot before it’s gone.
Shuffle in. Settle in. Enjoy the moment.
Reserve your seat at Tile Me Away →
August 5–6, 2026 · The Wayback, Austin, Texas · Co-hosted with Austin Mahjong Social