A new waterside cafe opens in Maryville

A fresh new cafe from the Praise Joe team has landed on the edge of Maryville’s Throsby Creek. 

Hayl Mary is setting a new benchmark for Newcastle’s cafe scene with its chef-driven menu, house-made pastries, and elevated interiors – quickly positioning itself as one of the city’s newest local favourites.

Taking over the former Elementa cafe site at 74 The Lane, the venue is the latest venture from Praise Joe owners Phillip Gameson and Hayley Sinkinson – the well-known hospitality duo behind Praise Joe Tighes Hill and Praise Joe Kotara. 

The concept for Hayl Mary has been years in the making. Both chefs by trade, Phil and Hayley had long dreamed of creating a larger-scale cafe where they could expand the menu and shape an experience that felt entirely their own. 

“We wanted to create a venue that gave us the freedom to pour more of our creativity and passion as chefs into the menu and overall dining experience, rather than operating primarily as a production or takeaway space like we have with our other businesses,” Hayley said. 

When the Maryville site became available, the opportunity was too good to pass up – even if getting the doors open came with a few challenges. 

“There were talks for a while, and at one point we nearly thought it wasn’t going to happen,” Hayley said. 

Still, the pair have stayed committed to the cafe throughout its two-year journey to opening, with Hayley saying their path as owners – starting back at Praise Joe Tighes Hill in 2019 – has taught them to simply pivot when challenges come up along the way. 

That same mindset continues as they settle Hayl Mary into the Maryville community. After signing the lease in September last year, renovations began, with construction officially kicking off in February.

Working with Newcastle-based studio After Dark Design, the interiors step away from Praise Joe’s pink tones and the often timber-heavy cafe aesthetic, and take on a fresher feel. 

“We didn’t want it to feel overly timber-heavy, pink, or have that Bali-inspired style you see everywhere,” Hayley said. 

Instead, curved details flow throughout the venue, from a layered ceiling that weaves overhead to rounded countertops finished in glossy pastel-blue tiles, making the space feel closer to an upscale gallery or luxury spa than a traditional brunch spot. 

Natural light fills the venue throughout the day, while soft glowing bulbs bring warmth even on grey mornings. The result is a cafe that feels fresh and calming.

While the design is undeniably impressive, food remains at the centre of Hayl Mary’s identity. With Phil and Hayley’s chef backgrounds leading the way, the menu balances creativity with comfort, stepping away from their usual frosted croissants and sweet-heavy offering.

Elevated brunch dishes anchor the menu, each carrying the playful, nostalgic touch the pair are known for.

The Spiced Yolk has been an early favourite, pairing garlic labneh, poached eggs, pickled red onion, paprika flatbread, and lemon herb salad. Then there’s The Hayl Mary itself – a loaded combination of savoury mince, speck, fried egg, cheddar, sour cream, chives, and fried potatoes stacked inside a fried potato bun.

For something sweet, Strawberry Fields combines bircher muesli, strawberry compote, puffed wild rice, coconut foam, and strawberry jelly, while the banana bread arrives topped with whipped candied walnut butter, Biscoff crumb, and banana crisps.

Fans of Praise Joe’s pastries will also be happy to hear the baked goods have made the move across too, with rotating pastries arriving fresh from the team’s production kitchen.

Coffee remains a major focus, with Pablo & Rusty's pouring alongside rotating batch brew options and a signature ‘Barista Breakfast’ tasting flight designed to kick-start the day. 

For those settling in for lunch, Hayl Mary also offers a curated selection of beer and wine, bringing a more relaxed, lingering feel to the waterfront venue.

“We never wanted to follow the pack,” Hayley said. “We just wanted to create the kind of food and experience we’d want to go out for ourselves.”

Open daily from 6am until 2pm, Hayl Mary already feels perfectly suited to Maryville life – whether that’s a morning coffee and pastry, a post-walk brunch along Throsby Creek, or a long, unhurried meal by the water. 

And while the team is still finding their rhythm, their approach remains simple. 

“We’ll open, see how people respond, and pivot where we need to.”

For now though, Hayl Mary feels like exactly the kind of venue Maryville has been waiting for – thoughtful, welcoming, design-led, and centred around genuinely great food and coffee.