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A sultry Shanghai-style cocktail den has just landed in Melbourne 

Eleanor EdströmBy Eleanor Edström
Drawing from the Mahjong rooms of 1920s Shanghai, Moondrop Bar brings east-meets-west decadence to Fitzroy’s Gertrude Street.

If the idea of clandestine nooks and old-world Shanghai glamour makes your ears prick up, it’s worth making a beeline for Melbourne’s newest cocktail hangout: Moondrop Bar . The venue, which opened to the public on Sunday 4 January, is the brainchild of Steve Chan, Jesse Kourmouzis and Jacob Muoio – the trio behind Carlton North’s Sleepy’s Cafe & Wine Bar.  

The site was once the home of Melbourne legacy institution The Everleigh, which closed its doors in March 2025 after 14 years of operation. Now, Moondrop Bar is making its own mark with a contemporary, east-meets-west take on warm Chinese hospitality. Expect craft cocktails and bespoke bar snacks in this ambient atmosphere.

The design

moondrop bar melbourne
Moondrop Bar is fitted out with handpainted mosaics and moon-like lighting. (Image: Mike Lam)

Upon stepping foot inside, guests are drawn into a sultry world of red velvet drapery and subtle references to Chinese culture. Custom-made Mahjong tables hark back to roaring twenties Shanghai, while subtle rabbit motifs nod to the Chinese Zodiac. It’s a space that’s equal dashes moody and inviting, with a glowing orb light and sheets of white textiles hanging over the ruby-hued mosaic bar.

Along with a main bar with capacity for up to 76 people, the bar also offers a function room for events and celebrations.

Drinking

moondrop bar cocktails
Cocktails are (Image: Mike Lam)

Whether you’re seeking to dip your tongue into new flavour combinations or discover delightful riffs on classics, Moondrop Bar’s cocktails shine bright. The drinks menu swings eastern, heroing lesser-known Chinese spirits and alluding to Shanghai’s east-meets-west era.

Signature libations include bubble milk tea-inspired Me & Ube, Hakuna Martini with yuzushu and honey water, and Chanhatten – Japanese whisky, Lapsang Souchong tea-infused vermouth, creme de cacao and bitters. For those who prefer fresh and fruity notes, opt for Crimson Ruby (watermelon, rhubarb aperitif, rose tea and prosecco) or Peaches (gin, elderflower liquer and white peach cordial).

A generous selection of low- and non-alcoholic beverages offers flavour combos as exciting as the stronger stuff, meaning everyone can experience the fun.

Dining

food at moondrop bar
Nibble on bespoke bar snacks. (Image: Mike Lam)

While drinks are the starring act at Moondrop Bar, the Chinese-Australian bar snacks are well worth a nibble, from barbecue mushroom bao buns and Cantarbrian anchovies with bread and butter to good ol’ prawn crackers. Also on offer is a seasonally rotating dumpling menu, along with charcuterie grazing plates, a cheese menu and bespoke caviar tins accompanied by scallion pikelets and chives. Sweet tooths ought not to miss Moondrop Bar’s signature mooncake, which is filled with vanilla and red bean ice cream.

The details

moondrop bar
Tables nod to the Mahjong rooms of 1920s Shanghai. (Image: Mike Lam)

Location: Level 1/150-156 Gertrude St, Fitzroy VIC 3065 

Opening hours: from 5pm to 1am, Thursday to Monday 

Prices: Cocktails $25-28, bar snacks $4-20

Capacity: 78 in the main bar, 120 in the function room 

Website: Moondrop Bar  

Eleanor Edström
Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or testing her friends’ patience with increasingly obscure vocabulary.
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