Maray Manchester

After becoming a huge hit in Liverpool, Maray made the short jump to Manchester in 2022, opening its biggest site yet right next to Albert Square. It’s a lovely, clean cut space, lifted by neutral tones, natural light, abundant foliage and a bustling bar area and open kitchen pass. The main part of the dining room feels extremely open - you could fit lots more covers in here comfortably, but we appreciate Maray’s commitment to keeping the space breezy and open.

Part of Maray’s allure is the flexibility of the menu. Dietaries are incredibly well catered for here - there’s a dedicated vegan menu and the team are excellent at advising what to order. The vast majority of the a la carte is vegetarian, but don’t be fooled - Maray delivers on bold flavours across the board.

‘Big, accessible Middle Eastern cooking’ would seem to sum things up nicely. Maray’s dishes are all tightly balanced, often weaving sweet, salty and sharp elements and different textures. Perhaps the best example of this is the signature disco cauliflower - a whole cauli, doused in angry scarlet harissa sauce, tempered with yoghurt and tahini and scattered liberally with pomegranate seeds, almonds and chopped parsley. There’s a lot going on, but it all comes together, anchored by the deep roast on the cauliflower.

Elsewhere you’ll find more clever combinations, especially veggie renditions of meat-centric dishes. We love Maray’s oyster mushroom shawarma, which manages to pack most of the maillard boldness of the real deal, cooled off by a whack of tzatziki. Accompanying pittas are excellent too, and necessary for mopping up the myriad sauces on each plate.

If you need a dose of protein, don’t fret - there’s solid cooking in the meat and fish department too. Maray’s fried chicken has a serious dredge on it, which results in a proper crunch when you get stuck into it. Crispy sea bass is nicely cooked too - crisp and golden, flaking on the inside, married with the crunch of a broccoli slaw. On top of all that, Maray remains thoroughly affordable too. We reckon there’s a place for Maray in every city in the country.

Inspired by the cultural melting pot of Le Marais in Paris, Maray is an explosion of bold Middle Eastern flavours. Having made a name for itself with three locations in Liverpool, the Manchester venue has taken the city by storm.

Hugging the edge of Lincoln Square, the restaurant has a sunny terrace for al fresco dining and a bright, airy space indoors. Founders Tom White, Dom Jones and James Bates came up with the idea for Maray after trying some of the “best falafel in the world” on the streets of Le Marais. In fact, the restaurant’s branding is taken from the street Rue Des Rosiers in Paris which translates to “street of rosebushes”, hence Maray’s rose emblem. The interiors embrace French cafe culture with chic curtains and frosted glass partitions which are modernised by exposed ceilings and a semi-open kitchen.

Their vegetarian-forward menu includes falafel made from scratch every day, which turns out to be well worth it following a rave review by Jay Rayner back in 2016. In keeping with their warm, welcoming hospitality, an offering of small plates encourages a relaxed and social experience. The menu is split across mezze, veg and meat and fish, including everything from whipped goat’s cheese with pickled watermelon to rump steak with béarnaise aioli. Their signature dish is the disco cauliflower, which arrives as a whole, almost caramelised cauliflower smothered in tahini, harissa and almonds. Dietaries need not worry, there’s a full vegan menu and plenty of alternatives for allergies or preferences.

Maray is a certified carbon-neutral restaurant and they take steps to make their restaurant as eco-conscious as possible, including partnering with EauVation to reduce water waste. Their take on a traditional Sunday roast has become highly-sought after in the city and their cocktail menu is pretty impressive too.