A new café concept is headed to the Starland area, bringing something different to Savannah’s food scene.
Maizal, a gluten free Colombian café and event space, is planned to open in Fall 2026 at the corner of Habersham and 37th Street. The project comes from the team behind Big Bon Bodega, with owners Kay Heritage and Shahin Afsharin expanding into a new concept centered around Colombian cuisine.
The idea for Maizal was developed by Bogotá native chef Marisol Borrego, who first introduced it through a local ghost kitchen pop-up. Now, the concept is moving into a permanent space as part of The 912, a mixed-use development in the area.
The menu will focus on traditional Colombian staples, with handmade arepas expected to be a central offering, along with bowls, pastries, and coffee made with Colombian beans. The entire menu will be gluten-free, making it one of the few spots in Savannah fully dedicated to that approach.
The space itself will include both indoor and outdoor seating and is also being designed to host private events, including smaller gatherings and celebrations.
Maizal adds to the continued growth of new food concepts in and around Starland, where a mix of smaller, independent restaurants continues to shape the area into one of the city’s more active dining corridors.
While the opening is still a ways out, the concept introduces a new type of cuisine and format that has not been widely represented in Savannah so far.
