This Maitland bar-cafe, a popular pit-stop for locals, delivers river views, party tunes and all-day eats with an Indigenous focus that extends to the killer cocktails.
Set between Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, Maitland is an eclectic mix of old and new, and Coquun embodies the very essence of both. Coquun – meaning “fresh water” – is what the Indigenous people of Maitland, the Wonnarua, called the Hunter River. So, it’s fitting that it’s also the name of this laid-back bar and eatery on the banks of the beautiful river, with a firm focus on native ingredients.
Co-owner Daniel O’Leary, who’s originally from nearby Morpeth and Bundjalung Country, heads up the buzzy little bar-cafe. He’s had a decade’s experience in hospitality, including owning and running a small inner-city bar in Sydney called The Dock, before moving back to Maitland to open Coquun in 2018.
“We’re establishing a meeting ground for people to enjoy what the Hunter Valley has to offer by carefully selecting and preparing an offering sourced predominantly from local farms, wineries, breweries and distilleries,” Daniel says.
It’s a popular pit-stop for locals to get their java fix on their daily run or sink a sneaky beer on their lunch break. And it’s a pretty special spot for a sundowner, too.
It’s a neighbourhood bar that’s welcoming and unpretentious. The staff are super-friendly and not snooty about wine, so if you like to quaff your wine rather than sniff, swirl and sip, you won’t get a side-eye here.
There’s live music on Thursday afternoons and a party vibe on Friday nights with upbeat tunes and mirror balls hanging from the outdoor umbrellas, so if you’re in the party mood, snag a spot downstairs. It’s a sought-after outdoor seating area where you can pull up a stool or take a seat on the brick wall (there are pillow pads to cush your tush).
For a romantic date, book a table in the upstairs dining space where the music’s more muted. It’s a beautiful room with a lofted ceiling and full-length windows overlooking the river, so you don’t miss out on those killer views.
Coquun’s compact drinks list has just over a dozen wines – all local drops – with a cracking Hart & Hunter Chardonnay and very moreish Dirt Candy Shiraz Cabernet, if you prefer red. The fridge is stocked with independent craft beers like New England Brewing Company from Uralla, Shout Brewing from Newcastle and Maitland’s own Dusty Miner.
On weekends, meanwhile, it’s the cocktail shaker that really gets a workout. The dozen cocktails feature Australian craft spirits and native ingredients, and while some claim Coquun makes the meanest Espresso Martini around, the Davidson Plum Cosmo and Lemon Aspen Gin Sour with Applewood Finger Lime Gin also get big ticks. If you can’t decide, many locals trust the Coquun team and go with the “dealer's choice”.
