Moonshine

Ok, this place was a let down. I was told that there is a rum bar in Manly. I have experienced many rum bars outside of Sydney, and was excited! But then when I got there they do not serve rum straight! Yep, that’s right a rum bar that doesn’t serve rum — unless it is in a cocktail.
Also, most of the bartenders don’t know that many rum cocktails. So at the end I was disappointed.
The atmosphere was good. They have live bands that play and the whole place is deced out like a pirate ship. So it is cool to hung out as long as you don’t think that this is a rum bar.

I ended up discovering this bar by chance and then I felt like kicking myself for not knowing about this most awesome of bars in Manly, after living here for the last two years! Its on a level above the Styne hotel and is a Rum and Cider bar with a wicked (are we still using this word?) collection. With over 20 Ciders on the tap and around 100 Rums you will be spoilt for choice. Its large and spacious with a deck where you can gaze longingly at the beach or check out those famed surfer bods in summers ;).The art deco on the roof with vintage photos is seriously cool. And the live band every Thrusdays and Fridays makes ths place a winner… To make up for lost time I guess I will be making this my home for the next few weekends!

This is my favorite bar in Manly, my hidden gem.
This is a cider and rum bar above the Steyne with an old era vintage feel. It’s dark with big booths and candle wax. Awesome vibe. It also has the best view overlooking Manly beach.
The drinks are incredible. They have about 15 – 20 ciders and 100+ rums. They always have a special rum concoction which I love trying. Cool bartenders with some mad cocktail making talents.
I almost don’t want to be Unilocaling about this bar because I’d like to keep it a local secret ;).

This is a comfortable rooftop bar above Hotel Steyne overlooking Manly beach with a fun nautical/​pirate theme with swinging lanterns, crate wood furniture, caged glass bottles with fresh dripping candle wax, and ship sails adorning the ceiling with images of bar regulars who resemble sea captians.
We were served from the cider-​and-​rum-​only bar by a friendly, helpful bartender who totally looked the part!
Delicious drinks, great atmosphere and not too pricey for the location. I highly recommend.

This is a comfortable rooftop bar with some funky DJ tunes … The bar maintains a pirate theme with sails on the roof line, comfy pews lining large glass windows a Pirates of the Caribbean pin ball machine in the corner, and an abundance of young scallywags looking for a fine wench … young ladies beware !
Try the freshly pressed apples and rum mixer they have… Don’t recall the name of the drink but it was very refreshing !

Upstairs at the Hotel Steyne, Moonshine brings its concept alive with murals of vintage photographs, sea faring craft, steel hanging lanterns and sea bottles strategically laid out in cages as if they have been discarded from a big night before. Big thick rope hangs from ceilings and walls. There a upraised chairs similar to those found on old ships and wooden beaming running throughout.
Moonshine specialises in 16 ciders on tap and over 100 rums. It opened on September 1^st and we are there on a Sunday evening and its heaving with the summer keen in platforms, denim cutoffs and mini skirts. The night is reggae and the crowd is enjoying the beats. We grab our Batlow Cider’s (look out for these folks they are very good Summer beverage) and settle for a wooden crate to enjoy the music.
Its a nice and much needed change from the Shore Club, Sugar Reef, Wharf Bar and the likes even if the same demographics grace Moonshine with their presence. Im not sure if this crowd will appreciate the variety of rums but its location is premium on Manly beachfront and Im sure the masses will be rollicking in this bar for summer ²⁰¹¹⁄₂₀₁₂.

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.