Our Story
Inspired by a New York icon, designed to be unique
Café Maud draws inspiration from The Coffee Shop (the beloved Union Square institution), then makes it our own — an extensive breakfast menu, a health-conscious kitchen, and two locations, each holding something hidden behind an unmarked door. Look closely.
Est. June 2024 · East Village
All day, every day
Café Maud opened its first location in the East Village in June 2024, with a second following on the Upper East Side shortly after. Both are all-day neighborhood cafés and bars, open from the first coffee of the morning through to a late-night cocktail, with a kitchen that runs the full stretch.
The inspiration is The Coffee Shop: the Union Square institution known for an extensive breakfast and a health-conscious menu that brought people back day after day, not just for special occasions. That spirit (generous, unfussy, built for regulars) runs through everything we do.
Look closely at either location and you'll find a little more than a café. Each holds its own hidden speakeasy, tucked behind an unmarked door. Keep a keen eye and you might find the entrance.
The Name
A nod to Maud
The name Maud is a quiet nod to Maud Gonne, Irish revolutionary, actress, and the great unrequited love of the poet W.B. Yeats. Her influence runs through the brand in subtle ways: the mascot on the cups and napkins, the literary spirit behind the hidden rooms.
Yeats founded a real secret society of poets in the 1890s called The Rhymers’ Club, the name behind the hidden door at our East Village location. The Domino Room on the Upper East Side takes its name from the room where the real Rhymers’ Club used to meet. Two speakeasies, named for a 19th-century poets’ society, hidden inside two NYC cafés.
What We Believe
Fresh, open, and genuinely glad you're here
Made Fresh, Daily
No shortcuts: coffee roasted properly, produce sourced often, kitchens that cook to order.
Open All Day
Breakfast, brunch, dinner, and drinks under one roof: come for coffee, stay for cocktails.
Neighbors First
Two neighborhoods, two teams who know your order. Walk-ins are always the plan, not the exception.
Our Group
Part of the Host Restaurants family
Host Restaurants is a hospitality group rooted in storytelling, inspired by our Irish heritage and the lyrical spirit of W.B. Yeats. Each of our venues is a reflection of place and poetry, designed to bring people together through unforgettable food, cocktails, and atmosphere.
From the cozy charm of Jackdaw in the East Village, to the sunlit all-day vibes of Café Maud, the lively Soho elegance of Odd Sister, and the refined ease of Dear Maud. Our spaces span neighborhoods but share the same heart.
“At Host, we believe hospitality is a craft, and every moment shared at our tables is a story worth telling.”
Join the team
We're always looking for people who like coffee, good food, and talking to strangers. Baristas, servers, bartenders, kitchen staff: both locations are hire year-round.
Learn more →
“Cafe Maud is wonderful! The food is always delicious no matter what you order, and the staff is super friendly.”
Miho, Customer