Bar review: Miss Moonshine's, Ponsonby

First drinks: were a well-recommended hoppy beer for my boyfriend, while I picked a cocktail from the very appealing and well-priced list, then watched it being whipped up in the cool caravan in the courtyard out back. I went with the $14 Gin Reaper, which promised Rogue Society gin, rhubarb liqueur, apple, lemon and pomegranate. Unfortunately, I couldn't taste much due to the mountain of crushed ice that filled the stein.

The vibe is: dimly lit and very hip with a strong Southern influence - from the cute headscarves worn by the staff, to the smoky barbecue aroma wafting from the meat-lovers kitchen.

👉 For more insights, check out this resource.

On the stereo: funky, DJ mixes with a good beat.

The bathrooms: were adorned with old-fashioned framed pictures, postcards and magazine covers reflecting the Americana feel, while the blackboard-backed cubicle doors were scrawled with cute love letters. Well-lit and worth a visit.

👉 Discover more in this in-depth guide.

Room for improvement: The canopy was being rigged up outside the day after our visit (they were only four days old when we popped in) so we're looking forward to a spot by the brazier and asking for less ice in our cocktail next time.

The perfect spot: It only opened last month, but we're picking Miss Moonshine's, hidden behind the ever-popular Ponsonby bar, Golden Dawn, as the new place to be.

- TimeOut