Left-of-centre wines poured in a low-key setting – that’s the winning formula at this pint-sized bar showcasing a mix of hard-to-find gems, boundary-pushers and local favourites.
A couple of after-work drinks here, enjoying an orange wine, say, and snacking on France’s Comté cheese as the sun dips below the CBD buildings, can easily turn into an entire evening. Such is the pull of the low-key space, its warm, relaxed staff and the laid-back crowd. The intimate room – just a communal bar table, bench seating, exposed concrete floor and a wall of wine – has no service bar, so there’s no barrier between the staff and guests. It feels a little like walking into a friend’s party – occasional impromptu barbecue included.
There’s no kitchen either. But while there’s little in the way of food (a bite-sized menu of cheese and crackers, anchovies and bread will sustain you in the short term), Moore has a symbiotic relationship with Dunfor Noodle Bar owner-chef Justin Healy next door, so you can slurp down a bowl of ramen at Loc’s tables, or eat in next door with a BYO bottle from Loc.
Every now and then Moore hosts guest chefs who make smart use of an induction cooker and the outdoor barbecue (previous pop-ups have included pasta nights, sausage sizzles, long brunches and “natties and patties”). It all contributes to the everyone-knows-everyone Cheers vibe. This is a classic neighbourhood bar, smack bang in the middle of the city. And sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name.
