Moth Milk, a whimsical goth café tucked inside The Starlighter, has quietly started turning on the lights early in a corner of the Deco District that usually comes alive only after dark. The tiny daytime spot leans into maternal motifs and moody decor, serves matcha, lattes and witchy-themed drinks, and has already lined up a family-friendly “Matcha Movie Sundays” series plus vendor weekends. Owners say the goal is to give the venue’s creative community a low-key daytime anchor.
According to KENS5, Moth Milk opened in early March and currently runs Wednesday through Sunday, with plans to expand hours by the end of May. Co-owners Jacob and Kayla Guerrero operate the café with Kayla's cousin Angela Soto, and the team makes most of its syrups in-house. Kayla told KENS5 she wanted to bring some life into the space during daylight hours, when The Starlighter is usually quiet.
The Starlighter's daytime pivot
The Starlighter's website lists Jason Valdez, Selena Rios and Kayla and Jacob Guerrero as owners and notes that the venue opened in 2021. As reported by the San Antonio Express-News, the space has pulled double duty as a market and community hub alongside its late-night shows. Moth Milk is the latest daytime experiment, intended to stretch The Starlighter's programming into the afternoon and early evening.
A daytime stage for local makers
Per KENS5, Moth Milk plans to host fundraisers and vendor weekends that spotlight local artists and small businesses, while also programming kid-friendly film screenings on Sundays. The owners say they want these events to raise money for community causes and give local makers a place to sell their wares between concerts. If the idea works, the approach could become a model for pairing small daytime businesses with all-ages music venues.
What to order and what to expect
The menu centers on matcha and espresso-forward lattes with playful names inspired by iconic witches and themes of the divine feminine, along with house-made syrups and a short list of pastries. Service is deliberately casual and neighborhood-sized, so expect counter ordering and limited seating. Owners say they intend to keep the café approachable and community-focused rather than building it into a full-scale daytime restaurant.
For now, Moth Milk is a small and intentional test of how to fill daytime hours at one of the Deco District's more eclectic venues. Expect expanded hours and more vendor weekends as the owners fine-tune the concept heading into late May.
