Maíz y Cacao

About Us

Chef Miguel Rios and front-of-house partner Cassandra Ortiz run this Mexican cafe-restaurant in Shop 1 of the Adina Hotel on Queen Street, celebrating maíz and cacao through Oaxacan moles, Mexico City street snacks, and a Mexico-meets-Melbourne brunch. After opening in Southbank in 2022, the venue relocated to the CBD in late September 2025 with a broader breakfast-to-dinner menu: wedding-style mole negro on tamales, lamb tacos dorados from Rios's Acapulco upbringing, guajillo-dunked pambazos, cochinita pibil tacos adapted with local citrus, and fusion brunch plates such as Mayan Benny. The dining room pairs hotel bones with hand-painted Oaxacan hats and murals of maize and cacao deities. Official all-day menu spans share plates, tacos, ceviches, enchiladas, and desserts; bookings via the site widget, with mezcal cocktails and aguas frescas at the bar.