I have been to Kings Heath fairly often as late and, as a result, tried most of the coffee shops in the area. On my last trip down (Friday Morning), I was meeting Yelper Dave M. and couldn't think where to go. The trusty Yelp app told me that there was indeed a cafe I hadn't yet tried, and that cafe was Maison Mayci.
This little cafe is situated just off the High Street, on Poplar Road. Now, you might be a little confused if you look at a map or the address without walking down Poplar Road as it's set back against the Street. You won't see if by glancing down, but it's the first unit you will come top; so it's nice and easy to find.
The cute pastel exterior gives you an idea of what you can expect inside. You enter via the front of the cafe (by the till), which is kitted out in dark wood and you can get a real feel of the hustle and bustle of a busy cafe. I situated myself to the back of the shop (by the powerpoints) to quietly get on with some work whilst I awaited Dave's arrival.
There are 3 areas to this cafe. The front area (described above), the back area (which has a few larger tables and is bright and airy) and the garden area (perfect for enjoying a croissant in the sunshine). On a Friday morning at 8:30am, this cafe was buzzing with people grabbing a coffee and meeting up with friends to celebrate the beginning of the weekend. I imagine this is a popular hangout for the parents dropping their children off at the school (which is just down the road).
The waitress came to see me promptly and offered me the menu. I opted for a Cafetiere of coffee (knowing I would be there a while) and it was bought over within 5 minutes of my order. The coffee was hot, strong and fresh; definitely in-fitting with the Parisian style this venue is trying to recreate.
When Dave arrived, I had finished my coffee (having gotten a good 3 cups out of it) and we both went for tea. Peppermint for me and English Breakfast for him. We had a lovely catch up over our beverages before calling it a day after about an hour and a bit (we both had other meetings to attend). I was very pleasantly surprised when I went to settle the bill! For two pots of tea and my Cafetiere, the whole bill was £5.50. At first I thought this might be a mistakes, but no, they had charged us for everything.
What more can I say? Chic, reasonably priced, great service and a lovely atmosphere. I can recommend a visit to Maison Mayci in Kings Heath. read more