Frequently Asked Questions

Curious Souls Café is a third place (a social environment, separate from home and the workplace) where people gather to engage in thoughtful conversations centered around meaningful questions. It's designed to foster a sense of community, encourage self-reflection, and explore different perspectives on life.

• Safe and Non-Judgmental Environment: It is designed as a safe space where participants feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and vulnerabilities without fear of judgment.
• Beyond Small Talk: The café focuses on meaningful, deep, and introspective conversations that go beyond superficial topics.
• Casual Philosophy and Psychology: It aims to be non-academic and casual, making it accessible to everyone.
• Fostering Connection: The event serves as a platform for strangers to connect on a deeper level and form bonds.

Curious Souls Café was founded to bridge the gap often created by online communication and personalized feeds, which can lead to social bubbles and isolation. We aim to break these barriers by facilitating face-to-face conversations.

We believe in the power of in-person interaction to foster deeper bonds and understanding that online exchanges cannot provide. Our core mission is centered on the invaluable experience of human connection in real life.

Curious Souls Café differentiates itself by its focus on fostering meaningful bonds (curious ‘souls’) rather than academic or debate-style discussions. While other groups might involve small talk or specific activities, Curious Souls Café centers on structured, deep conversations on personal and universal themes.

Yes. Our public events are free and run as a non-profit, community-driven initiative. We don’t charge admission or membership fees. You’re responsible only for your own food and drinks at the venue. Beware of anyone requesting payments on our behalf; when in doubt, email hello@curioussouls.cafe to verify.

Generally, a session is structured into two rounds to balance structure and spontaneity.

• First Round: Participants use question cards curated by our facilitator to explore a topic.
• Second Round: This optional round invites participants to write and discuss their own questions, focusing on the most engaging topics voted on by the group.
• Moment of Truth: The final 5-10 minutes are for sharing key takeaways and feedback.

The structure of our events is introduced here and further detailed here.

While we use a base structure with rounds of questions, we intentionally avoid rigid adherence. There's a strong emphasis on adapting to the group's vibe, with flexibility to skip rounds or introduce fun elements like the "punishment" dice. This creates a comfortable atmosphere where participants feel free to engage authentically.

Since the event is conducted in English in Asia to appeal to a global audience, attendees are often diverse individuals. The participants usually include a mix of locals, expatriates, and people from various professional and cultural backgrounds who share an interest in meaningful conversations.

The format is designed to accommodate both introverts and extroverts. For introverts, the turn-taking format offers a clear framework, easing the pressure of spontaneous conversation. Extroverts benefit from the opportunity to openly share and engage. The focus on genuine sharing ensures a meaningful experience for everyone.

The facilitator guides the discussion, sets the tone, introduces questions, manages time, and encourages participation from all members. They ensure everyone gets a chance to speak and are mindful of sensitive topics, steering the conversation if necessary to maintain a safe and harmonious group dynamic.

We use a variety of platforms to organize events and engage our community:

• Meetup: Our primary platform for organizing events. A list of our groups is here.
• Zoom Events: Hosted to help global community members reconnect.
• Dedicated Web App: Our web app offers virtual question cards to facilitate discussions.

The initiative began in Hong Kong in July 2024. Our events are currently held regularly in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Seoul. Other locations with past events include Osaka, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, and many more. As of September 2025, there have been about 100 sessions globally.

The "global citizenship" mindset is a core tenet of our community, fostering an environment where individuals transcend national and cultural boundaries. The events use English to attract a wide, international audience, and discussions often touch on universal human experiences, offering a sense of belonging for those who may not feel fully at home in a single country.

Our custom-designed web app is a companion tool used during events to spark conversations. Participants can scan a QR code to access virtual question decks on various topics. Features include generating random questions, saving favorites, and using a dice roll to add a playful twist to discussions. You can explore the app here.

Personalized touches are highly valued. The practice of incorporating questions written by previous attendees makes events feel more unique and reflects the collective insights of the community. This commitment to personalization and evolution aims to keep the experience fresh, relevant, and deeply resonant for participants.

Curious Souls Café for the Workplace adapts our public events into facilitated sessions for business teams. The goal is to build authentic connection, empathy, and psychological safety.

• Structured, meaningful conversations: Sessions use question prompts to guide non‑judgmental sharing and active listening.
• Customizable to your goals: We tailor themes and branding to your company.
• Works in-person or virtually: Formats are effective for on-site or remote teams.
• Note on pricing: While our public café is a free initiative, workplace engagements are a paid, professional service.

Interested in bringing this to your team? Read more about it here.

To share your feedback with us, please fill in our feedback form.

You are also welcome to email us directly at hello@curioussouls.cafe if you have any additional questions.