DJs, Dancing, and Deli Sandwiches? Welcome to the Food Rave.
From coffee shops to supermarkets, food raves are redefining the party scene.
A new kind of party is taking shape in the glow of morning light, where the bass drops with the sun still rising and the drink of choice might be a matcha latte.
Younger generations are drinking less, and actively seeking out unique social experiences that don’t center around alcohol or drugs. They still want to dance, sweat, and chase the collective euphoria of music and movement—just without the hangover, and sometimes with a croissant in hand.
The rave isn’t dying, it’s just showing up in new places, at new times, and with new priorities.
79% of 18-to-35-year-olds are drawn to events that mix multiple interests into unique social experiences (2024 Eventbrite Study)
Enter the food rave: a format that fuses DJs and dancing with the rising cultural status of food—what we’re photographing, posting, and building our weekends around. Some blur the line between dining and dancing—cold brew in hand, bites between songs, cheese boards not far from the DJ booth. Others bring the dance club energy into nontraditional spaces like bodegas, cafés, and even Denny’s; where the setting isn’t just background, it’s part of the spectacle.
The New Party Brunch
In the 2000s, New York had Bagatelle: sparklers, champagne showers, and French toast as an afterthought. Brunch wasn’t just a meal—it was a spectacle. Now, a new generation is rediscovering that energy, and party brunches are all over TikTok, with Gen Z bringing the daytime party back into the spotlight.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
But beyond restaurant brunches, we’re seeing the pairing of food, music, and a party scene pop up in new, unexpected places—with full-on DJ sets, pulsing lights, and a dance floor tucked between coffee counters and produce displays.
Le Pain Quotidien (international): In a bid to reach younger and more active audiences, the bakery chain recently partnered with Lucky Stride Run Club to host a community 5K run, followed by a full-blown “bakery rave” at one of its NYC locations, blending wellness, music, and baked goods into a 10am party. The "Post-Running High” activation drew major attention—generating over 4 million organic impressions and 10K new followers—and the concept was so successful, the brand is scaling it across 23 countries.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
Insight-OUT: Hospitality brands—especially legacy businesses—can bolster their relevance through unexpected, experience-driven moments that tap into cultural trends.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Insight Out to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.