Newly opened Moonshine, a café/bar which abuts the Hotel Steyne and sits opposite Manly beach, is bringing a bit of variety to the Manly nightlife. (Or so it's PR tells me)
Its upper floor has been renovated as a function room and features live music on Thursday and Sunday nights. Drawing on the theme of a seaside shack the main seating area is brilliantly characterised by swinging lanterns, rough wood counters, nautical stripes and a strictly cider or rum policy behind the bar (there are over 100 types of rum!).
Ever the controversial maniac, I hit this spot at lunchtime to find it half-asleep and fairly deserted. I also did the classic idiot thing of ordering the food in Moonshine then wandering into the Hotel Steyne's dining room to wait for it. This tactic is best to be avoided if you want to pull off a cool non-chalant surfer dudette (or dude) look.
Once back in the correct part of the bar I found that the ready made food, although tasty, was quite limited and clearly intended more as a grab-and-go set up for passing surfers and beach-goers. Despite its brooding charm as a café, I'd recommend this place for the night-owls, particularly ones with a penchant for piracy as with such a fun theme and in such a promising spot, it's bound to be a good 'un. read more