Play Mahjong in Arlington

Arlington is in the middle of a genuine mahjong moment, and there has never been a better time to learn or play. The closest and most accessible starting point is Upside on Moore’s Mahjong Monday at 1700 N. Moore Street in Rosslyn — a fun, low-pressure recurring event right above the Rosslyn Metro; check upsideonmoore.com for the current schedule. For something more structured, Sparrow Room at Westpost in Pentagon City is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar and dim sum restaurant built around custom mahjong tables, hosting mahjong classes at 6 and 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and open-play on Thursdays during happy hour — find details at sparrowroomdc.com.

The newest addition to the local scene is Montahj Social, a pop-up mahjong studio at Ballston Exchange inside El Rey Ballston’s space, offering lessons, guided games, and reservable tables for up to two hours of play, with a food and drink menu alongside the tiles.. For a more community-oriented crowd, Arlington County’s senior and recreation centers host drop-in American-style mahjong sessions at Arlington Mill on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and at the Madison Community Center on Tuesdays — details at parks.arlingtonva.us. And Art House 7 on Langston Boulevard offers classes, workshops, and game nights for players from 4th grade to adult. With so many options across Rosslyn, Ballston, Pentagon City, and beyond, getting a regular game going in Arlington has never been easier.