Where do you go for a second round after a weekend get-together?
Opened in June 2023, Moon grace is a rare spot in Kurashiki where you can enjoy drinks alongside homemade sweets.
Why choose to pair drinks with sweets?
What makes sweets created to go with drinks special?
We visited Moon grace at the end of summer, three months after it opened.
The information presented was current when this article was published in December 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About Moon grace
Moon grace is on the second floor of a building down a side street off Ebisu-dori Shopping Street.
The entrance is up a staircase surrounded by plants, behind a black sign featuring a hand-drawn cat, the shop’s logo. It serves wine and whiskey alongside homemade sweets created to pair with them.
Afternoon tea was also served through September 2023, but from October onward the shop has been open only in the evenings.
Black is the main color inside, while the plants and gold-colored accessories create a distinctive atmosphere.
How it opened
This location was previously home to Salon de Tonerico.
Salon de Tonerico was a cafe and bar run by flower shop Atelier Tonerico. Sakagami Megumi, now the manager of Moon grace, was in charge of the cafe at the time.
While discussing the future of the shop with her older sister and brother-in-law, the owners of Salon de Tonerico, they concluded that it would be better for each of the two shops to focus on its own strengths.
Moon grace then opened on June 14, 2023, as an independent business spun off from Salon de Tonerico.
![[Closed] Salon de Tonerico — A stylish restaurant filled with flowers, created from a desire to share the beauty of flowers](https://media.kuratoco.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/23022348/DSC05161-2ai.jpg)
The shop’s concept and the sweets made to pair with drinks
Moon grace’s distinctive feature is that you can enjoy pairings of drinks and homemade sweets.
There aren’t many places where you can enjoy carefully crafted homemade sweets in the evening.
The popular parfait, in particular, changes every month or two.
The parfait served on the day of our visit featured Pione grapes and muscat grapes, but afterward, a parfait made with chestnuts, an autumn ingredient, was added to the menu.
Of course, when the parfait changes, so does the wine paired with it.
The flowers displayed inside also change with the seasons, letting you enjoy the season while you’re there.
Sweets made to go with drinks
We visited just as the summer sweets were about to give way to autumn offerings.
We tried seasonal sweets as well as popular items available year-round.
Gorgonzola cheesecake
Cream cheese is generally used to make cheesecake.
However, Moon grace’s cheesecake is made with Gorgonzola, a type of blue cheese.
As soon as I took a bite, I could taste the bold flavor of the Gorgonzola.
It balanced beautifully with the rich cheese flavor, and I could see why it would go well with drinks.
Pione and muscat parfait
The seasonal parfait is another recommended item.
On the day of our visit, it was made with Pione grapes and muscat grapes, both specialties of Okayama.
It was piled with large Pione and muscat grapes, almost overflowing the glass.
The smooth ice cream and two juicy varieties of grapes offered alternating tastes of sweetness.
This means you can enjoy a new pairing of parfait and drink with each change of season.
Prosciutto and seasonal fruit
The fruit used on the day of our visit was muscat grapes and figs.
It was an unexpected combination of salty prosciutto and sweet fruit.
Each plate offered a variety of flavors to enjoy.
The staff’s thoughts
With glasses lined up behind the counter, the place has the feel of a bar.
However, Moon grace aims to be somewhere between a cafe and a bar.
The ideal is a slightly casual atmosphere where people can drop in after work or for a second round, enjoy sweets with friends, and chat.
It’s a place where people who find going to a proper bar a little intimidating can feel at ease and visit casually.
It may also be an easy place to visit for people who don’t usually drink much.
We spoke with the manager, Sakagami Megumi.
Moon grace details
| Name | Moon grace |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-7-10 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, 2F |
| Contact | 050-8888-1887 |
| Parking | None |
| Hours | 6:00 p.m.–12:30 a.m. (last order at 12:00 a.m.) |
| Closed | Tuesday |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted Reservations by phone during business hours |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Moon grace: Instagram |
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