Moondrop has taken over the iconic space with a menu and fit-out that draws from co-owner Steve Chan’s heritage.
A few months after the shock closure of Fitzroy cocktail bar The Everleigh, a new team stepped in, reopening the space as Chinese-inspired cocktail bar Moondrop. Behind it is Steve Chan (Sleepy’s) whose Chinese heritage is front and centre in everything, alongside Jesse Kourmouzis (ex-Above Board) and Sleepy’s chef Jacob Muoio.
The martini-like M.S. Gibson cocktail is laced with baijiu – a potent, pungent spirit that Chan calls “China’s moonshine” – and, as its name suggests, the flavour-enhancing MSG. The Chanhattan is an ode to the Above Board Manhattan, bolstered by lapsang souchong, the smoky Chinese black tea. Wines tie into the theme, including some from nomadic winemaker Ian Dai, whose label Xiao Pu uses grapes grown across China.
Muoio’s Chinese-ish menu is made up of snacks you could stack into a meal. Toolunka Creek olives are marinated in Sichuan pepper, cheddar tartlets are enhanced with quince and osmanthus, and there are three types of house-made dumplings to choose from including pork and chrysanthemum. Or you can splash out on kaluga caviar from China, which comes with spring onion pikelets, creme fraiche and chives.
And for dessert? Chewy mochi-like snow-skin mooncakes are made with glutinous rice flour, stamped with Moondrop branding and filled with vanilla and red-bean ice-cream.
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