Jana N.

I had a good experience at Mara. We met some friends for dinner and shared everything family style. What really stood out to me was the decor that reminded me of a summer house, the amazing service and the emphasis on seafood. It is located in the Renaissance Hotel and has options for valet or self-parking and street. If felt like we pretty much ordered the whole menu so I will point out my favorites: Trio of spreads with freshly baked pita bread, And the Octopus. While it is in the pricier side, the seafood is quality and presented nicely. Overall I would say that the food was good but nothing exceptional.

Bob S.

If you want to dine at Mara at the Renaissance Hotel, you have only a few weeks to do so. We learned last night over dinner that the restaurant will be renamed Sera, but continue with its Mediterranean cuisine. Apparently a management company change led to the name change. We had a wonderful dining experience, which was made even better by our superstar server, Makana. Beyond her friendliness, she was totally focused on ensuring we had an amazing meal. We started with the Trio of Spreads, which was delish. The Pita was tasty, but hard to pull apart. With four of us dining, we decided to dine family style. Here's what we ordered: *Pistachio Crusted Ahi - Good *Prime NY Strip - AWESOME! *Brussels Sprouts - AWESOME! *Eggplant- Good *Caccio E Pepe - AWESOME! *Baklava - AWESOME! Mara is very proud of its craft cocktails. My wife tried the Mama Mia, which is supposedly a signature and she wasn't a fan. The huge Spanish G&T brought back memories of a restaurant I dined at in Napa last year. We had an early reservation on Friday night and the restaurant wasn't more than a quarter full. You also can't tell how many diners are simply guests at the hotel, as Mara serves as the hotel's primary restaurant. The new management company is behind the amazing CINO, where we dined at on Thursday evening. Can't wait to see the improvements they introduce at Sera!

Li Y.

Simple Mediterranean fare at lunch. Salads, kebabs, a sandwich. The tastes are fresh and clean. Today a group of seven gathered at 11:30am. Since the offerings were few, 4 of us opted for the fresh fish plate, 2 for the prawn kebab plate, and 1 for the chicken. Everything the same except the kebab choice which included seasoned rice, pita bread, tzaziki and chopped vegetables. The star of the show was the citrus beet salad (entree portion). Salad consisted of golden and red beets, pickled red onions, mandarin oranges, and a housemade feta, shared by the table. Seasoned with a light vinegarette, black peppercorns, and cumin, I would come back for that salad alone! Service excellent as one would expect from a place of this caliber. Self parking at lunch was validated and free of charge. Located in the Renaissance Hotel on Kapiolani Blvd, the property is convenient and right across the street from Ala Moana Shopping Center. A cute little coffee shop sharing a wall. Am looking forward to trying that place soon.

Kristen S.

I have been hearing about Mara since it's opening about a year ago, and the family decided to go for my mother's 65th birthday! We were thrilled to be seated right next to the open kitchen, where we got to see dish after dish leave the cooktops and shuttle to their respective tables. Yelp had warned me that service here was a bit hit or miss, but we had several attentive servers for our table of 6 and enjoyed our tapas style dishes coming out quick and empty dishes leaving promptly. Our main server was helpful in choosing dishes to share and pick from their list of 20+ housemade cocktails. The food itself was fabulous. Every bite was fresh and well prepared. Our favorites include the Mediterranean trio, beet salad, and seafood platter, but all of the dishes were completely shareable. I thought the best bite was the beet spread from the trio, paired with a fresh hot pita, which were bottomless! The renaissance hotel hosts self parking and valet, which is validated by the restaurant. The space is on the ground floor of the hotel, which while upscale is not pretentious at all, and highly accessible for folks with assistive devices and wheels!

Michael N.

Delicious spot in Honolulu and great for groups or a nice dinner for two. The staff were friendly and attentive. Menu had something for everyone and a lot of flavorful dishes. My only complaint is I wished the server was a bit more honest about the portion sizes...they're huge and we ordered way too much Favorite dishes were Grilled Octopus (mezze), Whipped Burrata (spread), Brussels Sprouts (side), and Kabocha (side). I'm still dreaming about that Whipped Burrata dish and how it incorporated the roasted beets. So so good and the unlimited pita bread too!

Ric C.

A stand out in the Kapiolani Corridor jungle. The area was slated many, many years ago for renewel. Slowly but surely, the Kapiolani corridor is being developed. Over the last couple of years I didn't even notice a condominium hotel complex going up on the property just ewa of the Keeaumoku/Kapiolani corner. As others have said, you enter from either Makaloa street or Kapiolani blvd. You can valet or self park on the second floor. Pay attention to pillar signs designating the self parking stalls. They are generally the first stalls you see on the makai end of the second floor. With Mara validation you get three free hours. There is an elevator to the first floor on the makai-ewa corner of the parking area that will take you to Kapiolani Blvd. Just exit the door on the ground floor and turn to your left as you face the street. Mara will be on your left through a glass door. This first opportunity was with former colleagues from work, we met there for breakfast on the weekend. Mara is located on the first floor of the Renaissance Hotel. The restaurant is not large, but quite actually spacious. Very clean, friendly servers. My review is of course based on the dish I had, which was Shakshuka. A baked egg, chick peas and urfa greek yogurt dish with a tomato sauce type base. It is served with freshly made pita bread, straight from their oven. A most unusual breakfast, but a delicious and filling dish. This dish is definitely worth sharing. Breakfast options are more what is typical of what one would expect for breakfast. We saw many diners ordering egg/meat breakfast plates- they looked good. This first experience with Mara was a winner and will definitely be back to try their lunch and dinner offerings.

Ryan S.

We ate at Mara with a party of four with a 6:45 reservation on 01/20/2025. This was my first time at this restaurant, located in the Renaissance Hotel. Overall, our service was great. We had a very attentive server, as well as a in training server, and there were no complaints about service The atmosphere is nice, and it is as dressy or casual as you want it to be. Our table started with the tasting trio which included Hummus, Tzatziki and Burrata. It was so yummy. For my entree, I had the scallops prepared Moroccan style, which was a generous portion for the price (particularly in Hawaii). I also had some of the sprouts, which was shared by the table. Overall, I give this experience a 5 out of 5, and I would return again.

Rachelle T.

Went to Mara for a special holiday meal with family. First off the food was delicious! There was not one thing we did not enjoy. The bad, as many other reviewers have mentioned, is the service. We had to wave down our server a few times for water, to remind him of orders, and finally to order dessert and get the bill. The scallops were surprisingly small for the price, but others were well sized. It was very odd. Great food but overall the experience was pretty meh, so likely would not be back.

Megan P.

1/5 service 5/5 food 2/5 price We had the pleasure of trying Mara's Mediterranean brunch menu, and it was a flavorful journey! For just $46, the prefix brunch menu offers an appetizer, main, and dessert--a fantastic deal that left us absolutely stuffed. Here's what we tried: Appetizers: Beef kibbeh nayeh (so fresh and flavorful) and abi crudo (delicate and bright). Mains: Shakshuka (perfectly spiced and hearty) and a crispy, satisfying fish sandwich. Desserts: Greek yogurt soft serve--tangy, creamy, and the perfect end to the meal. We also couldn't resist the tasting trio to sample even more! While the service was a bit slow (likely due to understaffing), the quality of the food made up for it. If you're considering a visit, the prefix menu is definitely the way to go for value. Otherwise, be prepared for higher prices with the à la carte options. Worth it for a flavorful Mediterranean experience!

Alysia D.

Where to start because all of it was absolutely amazing from the ambiance to the food to the service. Park in the hotel parking and parking is validated. Entrance to hostess stand is near the hotel entrance. It's quite a cozy waiting area with plenty of seating. The high top booth my friend and I sat at was quite comfortable, very chic and mid century meets contemporary. Our server gave great recommendations. Between two people we had plenty of food, actually more than enough and needed many to go boxes. We came during brunch time on a weekend. The menu changes depending on the time of the day you go. I am all for a good mocktail. Hands down be returning even though this place is a bit pricey. It's perfect for a date night or lunch date with a friend.

Peter C.

Mara serves up one of the best Mediterranean dishes in town. The are located in the Renaissance Hotel & Spa. I love the ambiance and décor. Five star service with a smile. Our server made recommendations, frequently checked on us, and was friendly. You must order the tasting trio. It comes with hummus, tzatziki, and burrata. Both the shrimp linguine and the Mara burger were good. Parking options are valet, self garage park or street parking which is free after 5pm. Mara is a place to go to for an outstanding dining experience or to simply enjoy a cocktail.

Lyla D.

Mara Mediterranean Restaurant opened in March 2024, with the Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa opening in the Kapi'olani corridor. Within a few months, this new restaurant won the prestigious 2024 Hale 'Aina Silver Award for Best Mediterranean Cuisine by late August. We've had Mara Mediterranean Restaurant on our radar since its signage went up along the Kapi'olani corridor across from the former space of one of our favorite dim sum houses, Yung Yee Kee. Our friend and realtor, who we usually keep in touch with but haven't seen for over 6 months, invited us to meet with her. She left the meeting destination open, so I excitedly chose Mara and made a reservation through the OpenTable dining reservation app. I perused Mara's various menus on the OpenTable app as they offer breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and dessert. In addition, Mara posted about their bar, bar bites, and beverage menus. However, I zeroed in on the Lunch Menu since we agreed to meet after 1 PM. When the three of us met, we each selected our prix fixe ($34 pp) Mediterranean Lunch, which includes your choice of Mediterranean dip or spread with flatbread, main course (sandwich, salad w/grilled kebab, or grilled kebab w/flatbread), and Greek soft serve with your choice of topping(s). FOOD: -Flatbread with Mediterranean dip or spread: My husband chose the hummus, generously drizzled with olive oil and topped with roasted eggplant and crispy chickpeas. I chose the whipped burrata in roasted beet spread and topped with walnuts and pomegranate molasses. Each flatbread was served freshly baked and hot from the oven. The bread was airy, delicious, and enough to mop up every spot of dip without stuffing ourselves before our meals were delivered. -8 oz Mara Burger: Served on a toasted brioche bun, our friend requested her burger to be done medium-rare or about 130° F-135° F, and indeed, she received a perfectly done burger. She asked for French Fries instead of her usual lighter salad choice. She showed us her burger, and I was impressed by the slab or slice of Feta cheese. The slice of cheese was unlike the more aged, briny, and crumbly Feta we're used to seeing and tasting. Instead, the cheese was compact, smooth, and mild-tasting. Crunchy Jidori Chicken Sandwich: I ordered this fried chicken sandwich, which was also served in a toasted brioche bun and with Greek salad. The crunchy, well-breaded, boneless Jidori chicken piece was tender, moist, and tasty. A spicy-sweet drizzle of Turkish Aleppo Hot Pepper Honey enhanced the flavors without distracting from the crunchy crust surrounding the boneless chicken piece. Additional crispy crunchiness and tongue-cooling came from the Athenian slaw and the Greek salad. -Phyllo-Crusted Snapper Sandwich: Because my husband and I agreed to share sandwiches, he ordered this baked phyllo-crusted fish sandwich. Surprisingly, my husband, who I call a "fried food fiend," said he was more in the mood for eating seafood anyway. The crisp baked phyllo-crusted fish fillet was sandwiched between a toasted tender brioche bun. The buns were spread with caper aïoli to compliment the fish and the Athenian slaw dressed in citronette sauce brought additional texture and flavors to the sandwich. We ended our meals with a dish of Greek Yogurt soft serve that was smooth, creamy, and mildly sour. My husband and our friend chose the Baklava Crumble topping whereas I selected the sour cherry. This dessert made for a wonderful finish to our lunch meal. Since we ordered different sandwiches and shared among ourselves, we returned several weeks later with my eldest sister where I ordered the Mara Burger since I was impressed seeing our friend's order and my husband chose the Crunchy Jidori Chicken sandwich. Although the lunch menu seems limited to only three or four items per category, we think their prix fixe Mediterranean Lunch is generously portioned, tasty, and is the best value. Service was professional and attentive. We've returned to enjoy lunch here a couple of times since this dine and look forward to enjoying their more seafood-forward dinner menu.

Kinga H.

Since its opening earlier this year, Mara has consistently been a great option for meeting up with friends or having a date night. Located in the new Renaissance hotel, Mara serves up Mediterranean island inspired food in a bright, chic, well decorated space. The cocktail menu offers a variety of signature drinks, where taste and presentation are spot on or get a wine recommendation from the in-house sommelier. Happy hour is in the bar, 4-5pm Monday - Friday with live music on Friday nights. My favorite time to visit though is for dinner. Shareable plates of fresh seafood, colorful dip trio with fresh baked bread (a must!!), and heartier entrees. I haven't had a dish here that I didn't love. Besides one poor experience at brunch, the service is typically fantastic- Friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable on the menu and with suggestions. Parking options now include valet for $10 with validation or 3 hours free for self parking.