Wine, cheese, art, music. More wine. Mmmm. Lovely. Ambience, smiling faces, conversation, inspiration. Nice.
Wailuku’s favored hangout, Café Marc Aurel, is now open for breakfast and expanding into bigger and better things. The café has a new deli counter, to-go area, and new menus throughout the day, featuring high quality cheeses as demanded by faithful customers. Starting in July, there will be wine tastings every Saturday with Marc Aurel.
Co-owners Aurel and Adrianne Martinez promote their slogan, “living the good life” with flowing wine and great company. “‘Organic espresso, fine wine, gourmet food and a bohemian ambience’ is the café’s motto and has kept us growing,” said Martinez. Aurel added that the new hours and breakfast menu was a response to the growing crowd. “We are not changing our core philosophy, just improving where we can,” he said.
The changes include a morning sit-down breakfast, as well as a designated take-out area to keep the flow throughout the space. “It is important to not be intrusive to the diners at the café, so we will be milking the space we already have,” said Aurel. “New loveseat benches, doubling the wine storage, more outdoor seating as well as a sit down bar, and the to-go line will help the function while keeping the ambience.”
Aurel opened the café in 1999. About two years ago, the wine came—and so did the people. “Once people visit, they always come back,” said Martinez. “We remember our guests,” added Aurel. “As the car drives by, I am already making their double latte with vanilla.”
The Café Marc Aurel family is constantly asking how they can make it even better. Food Manager David Whitney offers “rustic simplicity” throughout the menu. The new breakfast choices are Bistro European.
The finest quality specialty brewed coffees are still available, as well as organic espresso drinks, organic herbal teas, iced teas and cold brewed iced toddy coffees. Each week, the feature is an exotic new flavor from around the world, as well as 100 percent pure local varietals. Mimosas and the like will be available soon to help jumpstart the day. For lunch, there are refreshing salads, sandwiches, bagels, gourmet cheeses, pizzas, deli meats, real fruit smoothies and Haagen Dazs ice cream. Cafe hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon-day–Saturday.
After 4 p.m., Cafe Marc Aurel becomes a wine bar with its casually elegant menu, over 80 different wines by the glass or bottle, beers, ports, spirits, gourmet cheeses and appetizers, handmade chocolates and other delicious desserts.
Aurel’s travels throughout his life have definitely influenced the worldly feel of his café. It is also the reason for such elegant offerings, no doubt. Recently, the café received the runner-up Maui No Ka Oi Ipono Award for “best kept secret.” Aurel and Martinez took employees to the banquet. “We were a colorful bunch that night,” said Martinez.
A big part of the success of the wine bar and café is the art. Both Whitney and Martinez have an extensive background in fine art and were the two owners of Wild Banana, an art gallery formerly located in Wailuku. When Martinez became a business owner with Marc Aurel, she brought the art. “It is important to bring in the music and art,” Martinez said. “We are exposing a huge group of people that may not otherwise get to see alternative work like this on Maui. Alternative art is modern, expressive art, which has a strong sense of the artist and their modern world in its content. Content is very important. What we show is not decorative. It is not meant for tourists. No whales or dolphins.”
There are themes every month that force artists into a contemplative state, out of the normal realm. Recent shows at the café, including Biodegradable, Boundless Love, the T-shirt show, Out of This World, and the present show, Movement, display works by artists such as David Hamma, Heidi Nelms, Nancy Skrimstad, Patrick Dunne and many more.
“Another creative soul to add to the artistic perspective on opening nights is DJ Boomshot,” said Martinez. “Openings are always a good time.”
“We try to take away the pretentiousness by showing works at a smaller scale and lower price, where artists can actually buy pieces as well,” stated Martinez. “It is not juried, it’s open to everyone, but retail must be no greater than $200.”
Café Marc Aurel features live jazz, acoustic folk, bluegrass, Open Mic Night on Mondays, belly dancing, and art openings once a month, all for no cover charge.
This place also has people that you will want to talk to. Many intellectual and philosophical conversations have originated sitting back with a glass of wine in hand. Always uplifting and upbeat, the café is the real place singles on Maui should know about. There are great people to meet. You may go home with your cheeks hurting from laughing too much.
Stop by Café Marc Aurel, 28 North Market St., Monday through Saturday. For more information call 244-0852 or visit www.cafemarcaurel.com.