Experience some of the best coffee on Darby St at Baba Yaga!

Owners Oscar and Senem, originally from Turkey, moved to Newcastle recently after living in Sydney since the 90s. Ready for a lifestyle change and a slower-paced area to raise their young family.

“My parents decided to move from Turkey to Australia, and back then we didn’t have much choice, we just said ok, wherever you guys go we’ll come with you. But I think we made a great choice to move, and now I’m really glad my parents made that decision to come here…Newcastle is a nice place for your family with beautiful beaches surrounding you and you don’t need to drive for hours trying to find a parking space.”

They bought the shop in January, 2018 and have made a slow transition into Baba Yaga; a reflection of their personality.

“We’ve been working hard for it, and I think it’s always good to have your own thing. Makes you feel like you’re more comfortable.”

The name Baba Yaga originates from Slovak literature; a witch who lives in a hut and flies through the air in a mortar, using the pestle as a rudder.

“It’s a very famous story in Slovak literature, but we have a different variation in Turkish as well, and the story is still very much alive.”

My recommendation from the menu is their special Turkish iced tea.

“It’s a traditional Turkish apple tea, but we’ve made it an Iced Tea. It’s quite a different taste with the rose water, fresh mint, and lemon juice.”