A spotlight on sustainability: Maray

Maray: Representing working sustainability efforts in a delicious way

Obtaining two spots in the coveted hospitality scene of Liverpool, Maray stands out not only for its tasty dishes but also for its absolute commitment to its sustainability mission. The acclaimed restaurant has garnered a reputation inside and outside of Liverpool, for their contemporary take on Middle Eastern, North African, and Mediterranean-inspired small plates, as well as the epic cocktail list, but it’s their sustainability mission that truly sets them apart.

Founded by a trio of passionate food enthusiasts, Maray was built upon the pillars of quality, creativity, and responsibility. Their story started in the summer of 2014, sparking inspiration from their adventures in Le Marais, Paris. The vibrancy and atmosphere of the district ignited a flame for the want to create a cocktail bar or restaurant just like the ones they had been visiting in Le Maras.

Thus, Maray was born. A small plates restaurant, with flavours and dishes inspired from the regions of the Mediterranean, Middle East, and North African, with casual but attentive service, delectable cocktails, and fantastic wine.

The menu is a tapas-lover’s dream, with the likes of warm pitta, hot dips and pickles, whipped goat’s cheese, smacked cucumbers, lamb skewers, fried chicken, a falafel platter, halloumi, roasted broccoli, and an entirely separate vegan menu alongside. Although they try their best to keep fan-favourites and signature dishes on a permanent basis, Maray’s commitment to sustainability means the menu is everchanging to suit the seasons and what can be sourced from local suppliers. We sincerely hope the baklava cheesecake never leaves the menu, however.

From the very beginning, the team behind Maray envisioned a dining experience that not only excited and comforted diners, but also left a positive impact on the environment and community.

At the core of Maray’s sustainability mission is a dedication to sourcing ingredients ethically and locally whenever possible. The kitchen works closely with local farmers, fishermen, and artisans to ensure that the produce is not only fresh but also sustainable. Meanwhile, they also take the time and effort to ensure their suppliers, such as Karma Drinks, Brew Tea Co., Turncoat Gin, 92 Degrees Coffee, Carnival Brewing, Love Lane, Hallcarten & Novum, and Legs Wine share some degree of the same ethos and passions when it comes to their sustainability mission.

Their water supplier is a huge testament to the lengths Maray goes to. Working closely with EauVation filtered water systems, they’ve managed to reduce their water packaging waste, saving each bottle from a 450-year decompensation journey. So you can stay sipping happy, knowing even the water at Maray is doing good things for the world.

Seeing sustainability as not only a purpose but a responsibility in the hospitality scene, the team worked hard to become certified carbon neutral in November 2021. This was their first big step towards their end goal of becoming a carbon net zero company. Working with Carbon Neutral Britain, they’ve been able to monitor, measure, and offset their emissions through the Woodland Fund, supporting global reforestation, deforestation prevention, and woodland management projects with a strong focus on positively impacting local wildlife, ecology, and biodiversity. All in all, you’re contributing towards the bigger picture when you’re dining at Maray.

The working clogs of their sustainability mission are quieter than you may notice with a visit to one of their two locations. A visit offers a wonderfully well-polished dining experience, in a cosy, fun atmosphere. The food is simply divine, perfectly executing simple flavours and ingredients and elevating them to the nth degree. But during your deluxe experience, Maray is working hard behind the scenes to ensure their fish is caught responsibly, they’re serving up more vegetables and higher quality meat, running green energy, reducing food waste, and upping their recycling efforts. And we think all of this makes the food taste that much better.

For a night out, rid of environmental-guilt, we highly recommend contributing to Maray’s sustainability efforts with a visit. Between unbelievable flavours and unique dishes, friendly service and a focus on fixing the earth, Maray is the place to be.

You’ll find Maray at 91 Bold Street, Liverpool, United Kingdom, L1 4HF and Britannia Pavillion, , Albert Dock , Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom, L3 4AD. Book your table for Dockside and Bold Street and get ready to experience something new.