In the energetic heart of Surry Hills, Don’t Tell Aunty has become one of the neighbourhood’s most vibrant dining destinations - bold, bright, unapologetically playful and brimming with personality. Known for reimagining Indian flavours with modern flair, the venue thrives on creativity, colour and a glorious sense of fun.
That attitude flows straight to the bar, where cocktails are designed with just as much imagination. This week, the drink stealing the spotlight is a beautifully crafted, deeply inspired creation: the Moss Garden.
The Moss Garden is a drink that speaks softly at first glance - elegant, green-toned, serene - yet offers remarkable depth beneath its surface. Inspired by the famed Kokedera (Moss Temple) in Kyoto, the cocktail channels the stillness, texture and quiet beauty of a moss-covered garden into a glass.
Matcha, green tea and vermouth provide a fresh, grassy foundation, while a hint of peach introduces delicate fruitiness. Taken together, the flavours are bright, balanced and distinctly Summery - a refreshing drink that feels alive with subtle detail.
Why We Recommend It
The Moss Garden is more than a pretty pour - it’s a clever, contemporary take on flavour trends that are shaping modern cocktails. The combination of matcha, green tea and vermouth offers a clean earthiness, lifted by gentle sweetness and aromatics.
To complete the concept, the drink is topped with a caramel matcha foam, representing the soft surface of a moss bed. Then comes the surprise: black caviar, used not for extravagance alone, but for texture and flavour. The sweet caramel notes and savoury umami of the caviar create a unique harmony - popping gently on the palate and transforming each sip.
It’s inventive, unexpected and perfectly suited to warm-weather drinking.
A Fun Fact
Crafting the Moss Garden wasn’t just a matter of mixing flavours - it was an exercise in storytelling. Translating the sensory experience of a moss-filled garden into a cocktail required experimentation, patience and a willingness to play.
Nature-inspired drinks can be difficult to balance, but the team approached it with their signature humour and curiosity, refining it until the final profile felt just right: fresh, layered and texturally intriguing.
How the Cocktail Got Its Name
The name Moss Garden is a direct homage to its muse - the tranquil moss gardens at Kyoto’s Kokedera Temple. Just as the gardens use subtle variations of green, texture and softness to create a sense of calm, the cocktail mirrors that gentleness in flavour and form.
It’s a drink designed to evoke a place - soothing, grounded and beautifully green.
A True Taste of Don’t Tell Aunty
For a venue that thrives on bold ideas and modern twists, the Moss Garden fits seamlessly into Don’t Tell Aunty’s creative ethos. It’s playful yet refined, familiar yet inventive - a cocktail that sparks curiosity while remaining effortless to enjoy.
So next time you’re in Surry Hills, settle in at Don’t Tell Aunty and order the Moss Garden.
It’s fresh, silky, imaginative and unlike anything else - a garden you can sip, crafted with both whimsy and skill.
