The moon, the myth, the legends
Voted Avenues’ Best Pub, a finalist for Outstanding Bar and People’s Choice at the 2024 Canterbury Hospitality Awards and most recently a finalist for best bar in the New Zealand Hospitality awards, this is more than a pub. It’s a living, breathing community hub, built on comfort, culture, cuisine, and a refusal to follow the rules.
At the helm is owner Matt Kamstra, and behind the pass, chef Kalle Välimäki. They lead a fiercely diverse team hailing from Finland to China, the Netherlands to Poland, and Canterbury to the mighty Hawke’s Bay. Their food philosophy? Elevated pub grub.
While keeping a core range, the menu has a revamp every 4–6 weeks. There are currently eight burgers, including a tofu option, The Mapo Zedong, that would make any carnivore dabble. The legendary Thunder Cluck. A brie-and-fried- chicken burger, once a menu special, so popular it’s here to stay. All served in proper Grizzly milk buns because, in Matt’s words, “Brioche is for pastries. Keep your brioche away from my burgers.” Other stand out dishes include Peter’s Chow Down Chowder in winter months, beef brisket tacos and nachos made with Napier’s best corn tortillas and chips from Hands Down.
With 18 rotating taps, they’ve poured thousands of unique beers since opening in 2018 and even have a couple exclusively available at Moon including an award-winning APA from Altitude in Queenstown and a hazy from Emporium Brewing. There’s also a curated wine list with the likes of Pegasus Bay and a 80+ bottle gin library for the botanically inclined.
Not content with “Oktoberfest”, they throw Not-toberfest. A rule-breaking German tap takeover that deliberately ignores the traditional purity laws (yes, there are additives, and they’re delicious). Come November, it’s Ciderfest. Held on the last Saturday of the month. Come try the Karma Keg, pouring Three Boys Brewery kegs every Saturday with 100 per cent of proceeds going to the likes of a local charity, youth sports team, or cultural exchanges. Whether you’re here for the burgers, the brews, or just a bloody good time, Moon Under Water welcomes all and leaves no one thirsty.