Moonjar

Bengaluru’s ruling the roost when it comes to how far ahead India’s bar scene really is. Two of India’s three entries on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list in 2026 are in Bengaluru; we’re home to some incredible new concepts – from wine dive bars and Japanese-themed speakeasies to menus that focus on Indian ingredients and indigenous spirits – so it’s no wonder that Moonjar’s got some high standards to live up to. 

That a bar was in the works above Nila – Chef Rahul Sharma’s degustation-menu-only restaurant with brand new ‘chapters’ for menus – was known to many and much awaited by several. Moonjar opened doors in August 2026, and immediately piqued my curiosity for several reasons. For one, this 28-seater’s only open Friday to Sunday. Secondly, it focuses on sessionable cocktails made with bases of soju, vermouth, wine, and other low-ABV spirits. The food menu – well, more on that later. 

To get to Moonjar, you’ve got to walk past Nila and its now Instagram-loved light installation, and go up a narrow flight of stairs. The Japandi theme (introduced at Nila and replicated here by Prachi Joshi of Designworx) abounds, with curves, circles, and an almost eclipse-like lighting in several corners. 

The food and drinks at Moonjar

The drinks menu, created by Head of Bar Sibasish Palai (who honed his craft at Mayfair’s Sketch before joining Public House Group – a winner of a Michelin Bib Gourmand in their debut year, no less) presents only nine drinks, representing the eight phases of the moon, plus Helios – one for the sun. Colour me eclipsed. 

Interestingly, the cocktails even visually mimic the phases of the moon, and go from light to dark in that order. Elixir No. 3, for instance, takes a savoury path, with cumin, curry leaf and coriander, softened by milk whey and soju. 

Dust of Selene is the kind of drink you could happily order again: rhododendron, juniper and grapefruit, finished with a tart, salty rim of sumac. Stepping into the darker realm is the Syzygy, which has Vermouth Rosso at its centre. So nice to see a homegrown vermouth being showcased. 

The Penumbra is the marriage of red wine, cherries and molasses with house-made cola, nostalgic and delicious. You also have choices like the Pink Moon, which pairs salted rose cordial with soju, and the Eclipse Float, which is almost dessert-like with cream soda, vanilla and cultured dairy sorbet. The ghost-pepper of Helios may put off weak-stomached drinkers, but the spice is well balanced, with mango, honey and cucumber.

The food menu carries forward the strange but delicious flavour profiles. The chana aioli brings pickled apricot and charred shoestring leeks (you see hints of Nila’s recently concluded coastal and currently ongoing Ladakh chapters here). The shrimp wontons come with peanut butter and chilli oil. Avocado is turned into a pâté with burnt spring onion and preserved lemon. And who would’ve thought that tofu curd with Italian noodles and Chinese chilli oil could be a thing. 

The vibe at Moonjar

Moonjar’s darkly intimate, with curved sofas, cosy two-seaters, a turquoise bar, and decor that inspires the general feeling of being in a glass treehouse with the moon shining between branches. The private dining space accommodates small groups, but is flexible enough to be made bigger for larger gatherings.

It’s a bar perfect for almost all occasions – sundowners, the main act, or the last stop of the night. You may be tempted to club it as a pre-dinner stop before your reservation at Nila, but don’t make that mistake. They each deserve your full attention.