Australian café & wine bar MoonGlow opens in Telok Ayer

CONTENT: Seraphina Tang

Looking to have a taste of Australia, but have no time to travel this year-end? Take a trip down town to Telok Ayer, where MoonGlow Café & Winebar has just opened its doors. This brand-new 50-seater restaurant, nestled in a second-storey shophouse along Stanley Street, pays homage to Australia’s rich wine heritage and cafe culture with its concise yet vibrant menu of food and tipples.

Step in, and you’ll be welcome by warm industrial-style furnishings that call to mind a wine cellar — indeed, bottles from mainly Australian labels line the shelves along one wall, including a selection from a boutique Southern Australian vineyard, Foggo Wines, known for its cabernet sauvignon and shiraz grapes, known to have kick-started the New World wine movement.

Start your meal with a glass of Foggo’s Floraison Sangiovese Rose (S$14++/glass or S$65++/bottle), which offers a delicate sweetness, or the citrusy Euphoria Chardonnay (S$14++/glass or S$65++/bottle). Those who prefer something more full-bodied can go for the rich and spicy Cabernet Sauvignon (S$16++/glass or S$78++/bottle).

Of course, don’t forget to pair your drinks with food! The menu is designed by founder and self-taught Singaporean cook Chek Kai (CK), and boasts dishes that range from small bar bites to hearty sharing platters with unique Asian flavours.

Signature dishes include the Steak Bites (S$29++ for 110g) made with wagyu striploin or picanha. With a marbling score as high as seven out of nine, the beef is sourced from grass-fed, free-roaming cattle from Tasmania. Sous-vide to medium rare perfection, pair these tender bites with MoonGlow’s in-house smoked salt for an extra hit of smoky umami flavour.

We absolutely enjoyed MoonGlow’s Beef Stew (S$19++) as well, a comforting dish of tender MB4/5 wagyu beef cuts braised in beer paired with toast. For finger food, go for the shoestring House Fries (S$12++), doused in special salted egg sauce and garlic chilli, a delightful crowd pleaser that is easy to share and oh-so-moreish; or the savoury Szechuan Wings Flats (S$14++) that features crispy fried mid-joint wings in a numbing mala gravy.

Not much of a wine person? MoonGlow has a selection of classic G&Ts as well! Their signature Pavo (S$15++) combines mulberry gin, dried pear, and pawpaws into a tropical yet tart concoction that is sure to delight. With a combination of sunshine citrus gin, dried lemons and a fresh lime wedge, the Lyra (S$13++) offers lush, refreshing citrus flavours. Meanwhile the Columba (S$13++) offers sweet, berry-forward flavours with a mix of Berry Bliss gin, dried pears and pawpaws.

MoonGlow Café & Wine Bar
2A Stanley Street, Singapore 068721
Operating Hours: Monday – Saturday: 5PM -11.59PM