Maray Albert Dock

Review by Stephanie Heneghan: 

Maray is the darling of Liverpool. It’s pointless trying to pretend otherwise. In the five years since they took over a charity shop at the top of Bold Street they have charmed everyone who has stepped over their mosaic-tiled doorstep, Jay Rayner included. They’re in the Good Food Guide, their Allerton Road branch is going strong since opening in 2016, and they’ve introduced us to the Disco Cauliflower.

And now, they’re at the docks! A few years ago this would have been quite the misstep – the Royal Albert Dock was seen very much as a tourist attraction – but a lot of hard work has gone into enticing local businesses to the area. Currently, you’ll find Lunyalita, Rough Hand Made and Lost Soles (a very popular Liverpool clothing brand), and now they can add Maray to the mix.

Maray Dockside is both very obviously Maray and also a taste of something different from them. High vaulted ceilings and huge windows ensure the ground floor is light and airy and a great place to eat and watch the world go by. Upstairs is more intimate, wooden tables and candles lending itself to the perfect date venue.

As expected their launch week was overwhelmingly popular and such a prominent position in one of Liverpool’s most famous landmarks will no doubt mean that more people than ever leave the city with a new favourite place to eat. The menu remains relatively unchanged; they excel in seasonal updates but always with a space for their classic choices.

Maray No. 3. Give it a go.