By: William Jones

Nightlife has often been associated with barriers — velvet ropes, exclusive guest lists, and the unspoken hierarchy of who gets in and who does not. But for the new generation of global clubgoers, exclusivity may no longer be sufficient. They seek connection. They desire community. They crave the energy of a room filled with people who are there for more than just status.

Alan Eferl is hopeful that this shift might represent the future. His startup, Tabler, reimagines what it means to go out at night. Through a sleek peer-to-peer app, Tabler enables users to share premium table experiences by splitting costs and filling empty seats. The result is not only access to bottle service but also the potential for meaningful encounters and spontaneous friendships.

“People are tired of emptiness,” Eferl shares. “It is all about human connection and the energy you create together.”

That ethos has helped propel Tabler from a fledgling idea in 2019 into a platform gaining traction in Miami, New York, and nightlife capitals across Europe. By blending technology with community, Eferl is working toward building what he describes as “the Airbnb of nightlife” — a marketplace where access to elite experiences may no longer be limited to the ultra-wealthy but could be within reach for anyone looking to connect in real life.

How Tabler Works

Tabler brings this idea to life with a simple marketplace model. Hosts list tables or private parties, set preferences for who can join, and decide whether guests pay to chip in or attend for free. Guests browse the app in real time, request to join, and — if accepted — connect through a group chat before the night even begins.

The platform places significant emphasis on trust. Instagram verification, community reviews, and a streamlined thumbs-up/thumbs-down rating system help ensure accountability. Frequent positive ratings can unlock “Super Tabler” status, giving users a visible badge of credibility.

Entry is made seamless through unique QR codes tied to each user profile, which helps reduce fraud and removes the hassle of paper lists or wristbands. “It is like Eventbrite on steroids,” Eferl says. “But with complete control over the crowd, hosts decide the mix of guests, not a faceless ticketing system.”

The Competitive Advantage

While apps like Discotech and Tablelist offer access, Tabler aims to disrupt the nightlife industry by focusing on the 95 percent of people who are not celebrities or billionaires.

Eferl draws a comparison to JetSmarter, the jet-sharing service that scaled to a nine-figure exit. “If people are willing to share jets, it seems plausible that they could share tables,” he notes. What sets Tabler apart is the emphasis on emotional value: it is not only about splitting costs but about creating opportunities.

One story stands out. At a $20,000 table in Tulum, a doctor from Texas joined as a guest, paying $2,000 for his seat. There, he met another attendee who helped him generate $150,000 in new business within months. The doctor later became one of Tabler’s first investors. “It is not just about sharing a table,” Eferl states. “It is about access.”

Why Now?

Nightlife is evolving. Traditional clubbing, with its inflated prices and transactional energy, has lost some of its appeal. Festivals and immersive events now attract people seeking authenticity. At the same time, social media has flooded feeds with glossy but shallow highlight reels, leaving many craving real-world connections.

Tabler taps into this cultural shift. It gives users the agency to build their own social circles through the group chat feature, which fosters trust before the night even begins, and the rating system that creates accountability, often absent in nightlife.

For women in particular, this structure can offer reassurance. Joining a table with other verified guests may feel safer than venturing out alone. “Hosts can screen applicants, and guests know they are walking into an environment where expectations are clear,” Eferl explains.

Building Toward a Global Platform

Based in Miami, Tabler is already expanding beyond U.S. borders. Ibiza, Mykonos, and London have all seen organic growth, with Germany alone generating tens of thousands of downloads driven by word of mouth.

The long-term vision is expansive. Tabler plans to integrate directly with hospitality groups, allowing users to book tables through the app and then open unused seats to the community. Promoters, traditionally underpaid and inconsistently compensated, could become the “Uber drivers of nightlife,” earning daily payouts through the app instead of waiting months for commissions.

Like Uber, the company faces the challenge of balancing both sides of its marketplace — hosts and guests — while scaling globally. But Eferl remains optimistic. “Zero to one is the hardest,” he states. “Once the community exists, growth accelerates.”

The Future of Nightlife

If Tabler succeeds, the future of nightlife could feel less like a velvet rope and more like an open invitation. A $20,000 table could become a launchpad for friendships, networking, and business opportunities. A solo traveler arriving in a new city might find an instant connection. What was once a static display of wealth could become a dynamic arena of possibility.

“Nightlife should be about the people, not the price tag,” Eferl insists. “We are social beings. We want energy, connection, and fun together. That is what Tabler is helping to bring back.”

For now, the app is free to download, and hosts set their own terms for guests. But its real value appears to lie in something money cannot buy: authentic community.

To see how the future of nightlife might unfold, download the app today on the App Store or Google Play Store.