Columbus Park tea house now moonlights as a Japanese-style bar
Moon Bar // Photo by Sarah Sipple
No more elusive pop-ups that sell out before you’ve even heard of them.
After holding limited pop-ups at host bars since late 2022, the creative cocktail concept, Moon Bar, officially opens a permanent space on May 27.
The Tian Tea House space in Columbus Park transforms into Moon Bar after hours. Saranya and Zachary Hubbard, owners of both concepts, transition the space when Tian Tea House closes for the day at 3 p.m. Then, Moon Bar opens at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Moon Bar claims the first Japanese bartending style establishment in Kansas City, bringing the art of omotenashi, or thoughtful and anticipatory hospitality, to patrons eager for a unique cocktail.
In practice, this means limited seating and ample staff with the intention that each customer receives the same level of attention.
If Moon Bar sticks to its mission, this bar will never see standing-room-only crowds. The self-imposed reservation limitations and small footprint of the bar, combined with well-orchestrated staff roles, aim to keep it running like a tight ship but feeling like an intimate experience.
At Moon Bar, omotenashi also means attention to details like handmade ice, serveware that feels less like a mass-market bar and more like you’re a guest in someone’s home, and staff who are encouraged to provide warm hospitality.
Moon Bar // Photo by Sarah Sipple
On my visit during the soft-opening phase, I didn’t have a single sip that I wouldn’t happily pay my own money for again–even the $16 cocktail (a decadent pandan coconut concoction).
Tea-based cocktails make up a large portion of the menu, and the Hubbard’s years of cocktail expertise really shine here.
The alcohol and tea combinations, ratios, and preparations result in drinks that are deceivingly strong for how pleasant they are. Each one an astringent and interesting and viscous symphony with slight variances based on the classic cocktail inspiration it starts with. Upon first sip, the oolong dry Manhattan ($15) had me reaching for flavor and mouthfeel descriptors that are rarely spoken in such combinations at local bars.
The straight yadong ($7) was a surprise favorite of mine, as it was the first infused spirit I’ve ever wanted to sip on all night long. It’s known as “fermented medicine,” and is infused in-house with Thai herbs and maple syrup, but to me, it tasted like I was sitting on a stool in my childhood kitchen while my mom made brown sugar cookies.
As for the snacks, all but one were a hit. I won’t be reordering the ume cream cheese and nori snack, simply because I’m not enough of a cream cheese fan. We tried cutting it with some cucumber from another plate, but there still wasn’t enough complexity. But for anyone who enjoys a variety of textures and sensory experiences, there are small plates, available until 10:45 p.m., that will delight you.
The local bites plate ($12), masala popcorn ($5), and tea jelly ($5 and not pictured) are a dainty trio of treats that cover the range of sweet, salty, smoky, and more.
The small portions are not exactly filling, but ideal for sharing with a friend for the sake of trying new flavor and texture combinations. For example, a handful of pickled green grapes from Thailand grace the local bites plate and are topped with KC-based J. Chang Kitchen chili oil. The result is an intense explosion of flavor packed into one small bite. The simplicity is part of what makes it so exciting.
Moon Bar // Photo by Sarah Sipple
The Thai deviled eggs ($6) are another dish I will reorder for myself every visit. These aren’t deviled by Midwestern definitions, but are soft-boiled, halved, and topped with tamarine and fish sauces, chili, cilantro, and crispy fried onion. The tiny slices of onion add an impactful sweetness and crunch to the soft egg, and the sauces add levels of brightness and umami to round out each bite.
Well-honed complexity defines the menu at Moon Bar.
Coming from years of experience with sell-out pop-ups, this should be the case. On the service and customer experience side, the Japanese-style hospitality element will continue to be refined through more specific staff training, according to Saranya.
Moon Bar is located at 911 E 5th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106.
