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Do You Yearn For 2000s Nostalgia? These Millennials Are Bringing Back Hong Kong's Glory Days — Minus the Late Nights and Hangovers

INTERVIEW


Tiana Ludhani and Marcellia Debenoit weren't trying to start a nightlife revolution — they just wanted somewhere to dance that didn't end in a hangover and a 2am cab ride home. What started as a shared frustration turned into No Curfew Club, the sold-out party series that's got Hong Kong's 30-somethings belting Y2K anthems on a dance floor by 9pm and home before midnight.


We sat down with the co-founders to talk nostalgia, appletinis, and why "no work talk, no TikTok trends" might be the most millennial pitch of 2026.



1) Could you tell us about No Curfew Club and how it came to fruition?


As a millennial, you start to realise that places you used to want to go to no longer exist in Hong Kong... we start to feel like we have nowhere to go.


No Curfew Club was born out of a desire for a space that caters specifically to our generation, one that captures essence of our early clubbing days. Midnight Espresso Communications isn't an events company; we're about experiences and creating memorable campaigns so we wanted to create a series that makes space for millenials to relive the glory days without the late nights and hangovers.. We teamed up with So Up Collectiv, our amazing partners who handle all the stunning graphics, visuals, and interactive props, to bring this concept to life.


We partnered with ÆR, an audiophile resto-bar in Soho, because it offers a sophisticated lounge setting rather than a chaotic late-night club environment. The core concept is 4 hours, 4 genres, a curated, hour-by-hour journey through 90s and 2000s R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop, and Throwback Beats.




2) Why do you think Hong Kongers love No Curfew Club?


2026 has been the year of nostalgia. It’s really about belting your heart out to classics and having our age group take over the dance floor.


Hong Kong millennials are craving spaces that bring back pure nostalgia without requiring a three-day recovery. People love that it’s a focused, age-tailored party where they can enjoy great music, dance around, chat with friends, and still be home early.


There’s zero pretense, zero "work talk," and zero TikTok trends, just good food, great cocktails, and timeless 90s and Y2K bangers that everyone knows every word to. We serve up appletinins, cosmopolitans, elevated redbull vodkas, and off-menu Jagermeister shots if you ask nicely. 



3) What are Hong Kongers looking for on a night out these days? How about by generation?


My space right now doesn't involve late nights, hangover nights, or greasy food anymore. It's more like I want a nice place to sit and chat with friends, have some good food, and really vibe to music from our generation.


Nightlife preferences have shifted dramatically across generations:


  • Gen Z often looks for high-tempo, viral, or trend-driven "rave" and wellness experiences.

  • Millennials (30+) are seeking comfort, quality, and connection. They want sophisticated drinks, elevated bites, and music that brings back core memories, all wrapped up in an earlier, daytime or early evening format.


No Curfew Club caters directly to the "Above 30" palate, giving people the party energy they miss on a timeline that fits their current lifestyle.



4) How are you catering to the generations with No Curfew Club?


We’re catering to the generation of No Curfew Club by teaming up with great collaborators. It's just a matter of having a really good time.


We elevate the party through physical, tangible experiences that play on Y2K culture:


  • Immersive Collaborations: We brought in analog vibes with Kodak Professional for single-use film cameras, and partnering up with artisan gelato brand Crème Club to serve gourmet sweet treats on the dance floor soon.

  • Interactive Nostalgia: Thanks to So Up Collectiv, the space is packed with retro elements like iPod-shaped mirrors, vintage flip phones, and photo booths.

  • The Full Package: Every ticket includes a burger, an upgraded retro cocktail, and artisan gelato, offering a complete sundowner experience.



5) Any upcoming events that we should know of?


Our next event is September 12th, and we’ve already sold out of Early Bird tickets within 12 hours!


Following our sold-out August 1st event, our next takeover is set for September 12th. Demand has been overwhelming, but Midnight Espresso and So Up Collectiv will keep evolving and elevating the series with new brand partnerships, retro props, and interactive setups for every edition.

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