Reece Hignell’s newest cafe brings heart to Mayfield
Photography courtesy of Issy Conway
The Mayfield community has a new reason to celebrate with the opening of Sonny & Betty launching on Saturday, February 1, 2025.
Nestled adjacent to the rather iconic (and long-standing) Coliseum Antiques on Maitland Road, this latest venture is the brainchild of former Masterchef contestant Reece Hignell, who also runs Cakeboi on Beaumont Street, Cakeboi X QT high tea at QT Newcastle, and Acacia Dining in Maitland.
Reece Hignell
For Reece, the decision to launch this newest venture was driven by a passion for delivering something unique to the Mayfield community rather than necessity.
“I live around the corner, and I’ve always really loved this space. It’s often been talked about in the Mayfield community page and that it’s operated as a bit of a revolving door for cafe owners. I chimed in and put my hand up,” Reece said.
His goal? To create a cafe that would become an integral part of Mayfield’s vibrant and growing community.
“I want this to succeed for the residents of Mayfield and become a part of the Mayfield scene. One of the biggest things I’ve learned from running Cakeboi and Acacia isn’t necessarily the food that you serve up or the coffee that you pour, but it’s how you integrate with the people that frequent your business.”
Stepping inside, you’ll notice that the venue’s interior has been carefully considered to reflect the charm of the neighbouring antique shop.
“I got the keys in December and other than giving it a good clean, we repolished the floors, brought in some new equipment, started collecting furniture online, and that was pretty much it. I wanted the space to complement next door, to almost feel like an extension of Coliseum Antiques.”
Having only been open less than a month, Sonny & Betty has already made quite the impact with opening day seeing over 400 coffees walk out the door. And with Reece continuing with his loyal coffee roasters, Newcastle-based Floozy Coffee Roasters, that’s a lot of high-quality coffee to go alongside the venue’s welcoming atmosphere.
The menu has been crafted by Colombian-born chef Julio Velez Perez, who’s bringing a fresh take on classic brunch dishes with a Colombian twist.
The menu is designed to change frequently, but right now highlights you have to check out include the bacon and egg roll served on Two Bobs sourdough with fried free-range eggs, local bacon, green Latin relish, and rocket; Colombian baked eggs in Hogao sauce, arepa corn flatbread, crumbled feta, and fresh herbs; and the Cuban grilled sandwich with Darby Street Butcher smoked ham, Swiss cheese, house made pickles, and mustard on grilled garlic bread served with a side of fries.
Additionally, Reece and Jordan O'Donohue (known for his Swedish cardamon scrolls and cinnamon scrolls) also bakes fresh cakes and pastries every day with no offering the same as the day before.
“At Cakeboi, our savoury options are really limited. At Acacia, the menu is huge. But here, we’ve kept it simple but loaded with quality. I think we’ve found a real sweet spot.”
In keeping with Reece’s tradition of naming his businesses after meaningful family connections, Sonny & Betty is named after his grandparents.
Looking ahead, Reece envisions Sonny & Betty as more than just another cafe, but a place that feels like home for locals. With plans to introduce rotating art displays, the cafe will feature work by local artists and has the potential to become a space for pop-up events in the future.
Whether you’re stopping by for a cup of Floozy Coffee, indulging in a fresh pastry, or simply soaking in the atmosphere, Sonny & Betty invites you in.
