Cà Phê Mai

Overview

Cà Phê Mai, a contemporary Vietnamese cafe and wine bar, has arrived in Sydney to shake up the Vietnamese dining scene. Set within Forum Double Bay, a luxury coworking space, Cà Phê Mai will move seamlessly from day to night, with an offering that transitions from Vietnamese breakfast and coffees, to pho, low-intervention wines, and modern Vietnamese dishes. 

Cindy Mai and Ed Loveday are responsible for the new spot, bringing a deeply personal connection to Cà Phê Mai, which they say has been four generations in the making. Mai's great-grandmother arrived in Australia as a refugee and went on to work in various bakeries and restaurants, passing down her skills and passion to Mai's parents, who opened their own restaurant in Canley Heights. 

"Growing up, Vietnamese food was comfort and identity; it was home. But like a lot of us raised here, I was also shaped by everything around me. There's a whole generation of Việt Kiều reinterpreting traditional food through the places and cultures they've grown up in, and Cà Phê Mai is for them, the Vietnamese kids, the multicultural kids, who love bún bò huế just as much as an anchovy toast or a good glass of wine. It's deeply respectful of where we come from, but an honest reflection of who we are and how we actually eat," says Mai. 

The star of the show is the nourishing and comforting signature pho gà, developed around Mai's family chicken broth recipe, which has been passed down through generations. There are also fresh vermicelli bowls, bánh mì and Hanoi-style spring rolls. Find a playful take on a Vietnamese sausage-and-egg muffin, and a breakfast bánh mì stuffed with hash browns, eggs, and Vietnamese pickles. 

"I've always loved venues that work at any hour. You come in for a coffee and a bánh mì in the morning, then come back that night for a glass of wine and a few plates, and it still feels like the same room looking after you. That's what Cindy and I set out to build, whether it's 7am on a Tuesday or late on a Friday," says Loveday.

Designed as a vibrant all-day venue, Cà Phê Mai draws inspiration from the energetic street food stalls of Vietnam and elevated, modern wine bars. Loveday's curated wine list showcases fresh, low-intervention drops, highlighting small, independent producers, and even features a Vietnamese sparkling rice wine from Sông Cái. Fruit-forward cocktails include a passionfruit and dragonfruit margarita, and the Fruit Cart, a playful blend of vodka, watermelon, green chilli, lime and chilli salt. However, Mai and Loveday are most excited about their Cà Phê Muôi, a salted Vietnamese coffee that will have you craving another.

Images: Parker Blain.

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