For over 20 years Maya has been among Charlottesville’s best and most innovative restaurants. Located in the true center of West Main Street, equidistant from The Grounds and The Downtown Mall, Maya offers cocktails and a sophisticated menu served on an enclosed patio outdoors and on two levels inside.
With proper respect to its predecessor — the legendary 1990’s eatery, Southern Culture — Maya serves a blend of French inspiration, local ingredients, and Cville eclectic. The menu is unique and combines serendipity with something surly. Clearly there’s an artist in the house. Proprietor and UVA graduate Peter Castiglioni is a senior veteran on Charlottesville’s dining scene. He’s also a painter. And a critic. Outspokenly so, which means what goes on the menu better be right.
Try the fried green tomatoes and the pumpkin seed dusted squash. Try the mushroom lentil cakes and the blackened catfish.
The bartenders at Maya are among the city’s best. Castiglione demands that, and they have a loyal following. They, along with the setting, the art, the experience in the heart of what’s becoming Midtown, ensure a visit to Maya will happily endure in your consciousness.
Parking:
Parking on West Main Street is available in the 11th Street Garage (117 11th St SW), Water Street Parking Garage (200 Water St E), and at the Charlottesville Train Station (810 W Main St).