A book, a drink, and an hour of silence: Why Darwin silent book club is the best midweek escape

In the heart of Darwin, book lovers are gathering in total silence every Wednesday night – and loving it.

Husband-and-wife duo Monica Bugno and Briant Clark, co-owners of The Last Supper Pizzarella, started Silent Pages: A shared reading experience in August 2024, seeing it as a natural extension of their venue’s bookish vibe. Picture: Taylor Mason.

At The Last Supper Pizzarella, a bookshop-bar hybrid in Darwin’s CBD, a quiet revolution is underway.

Every Wednesday night, patrons gather for an event where conversation is off the menu.

Instead, it’s an hour of blissful, uninterrupted reading – a sacred ritual known as ‘Silent Pages: A shared reading experience’.

Husband-and-wife duo Monica Bugno and Briant Clark, who are co-owners of the restaurant, started the event in August 2024, seeing it as a natural extension of their venue’s bookish vibe.

“We always said if we opened a bar, we’d have a bookshop in it,” Mr Clark said.

“Then one of our regulars suggested a Silent Book Club, and Monica, being an absolute weapon, made it happen.”

For $10, attendees book their spot, show up with a book (or grab one off the shelf), and spend an hour immersed in the pages, surrounded by like-minded readers.

The fee is redeemable for food or drink – a small price for a rare moment of peace.

Lost in the pages: Silent Book Club members and venue co-owner Briant Clark share a quiet moment of reading and reflection at The Last Supper Pizzarella. Picture: Taylor Mason.

“It’s a quiet night at the bar, and after the madness of the Dry season, people are burnt out from events,” Ms Bugno said.

“This gives them a chance to reset, to have some ‘me time.’”

There’s no music, no background chatter – just the communal hush of focused readers.

Audiobooks, e-books, and even picture books are welcome, as long as attendees commit to the silence.

And while it might sound simple, the effect is profound.

“It feels like you’ve had a massage,” Ms Bugno said.

“An hour of pure silence.”

Regular attendee Laura Burfitt swears by the silent book club and has attended the Wednesday night sessions at The Last Supper Pizzarella since it first started last year. Picture: Taylor Mason.

Regular attendee Laura Burfitt swears by it.

“It’s like having a parent force you to do something you know you love but never make time for,” she said.

“Everyone says they want to read more, but life gets in the way.

“This gives you discipline – and it’s addictive.”

The club has quickly become a midweek highlight for Darwin’s literary crowd, with spaces often booking out.

“It’s about community,” said Mr Clark.

“We see it as a third space – not work, not home, but a place to connect. Even in silence, you’re sharing an experience.”

Originally published as A book, a drink, and an hour of silence: Why Darwin silent book club is the best midweek escape