RADAR: Going Out

In the world of hospitality, there is a magic formula that guarantees a fun night out: excellent vibe + great food + comfortable seats + awesome music = “Table for two, please!” With such a simple theory available to every restaurateur, it’s amazing how many get it wrong. It’s all very well having a mouthwatering menu, but if your dining chairs could double up as an interrogation aid at Guantanamo, then you’re unlikely to get repeat business. Similarly, you might be a superb host with equally impressive playlists, but not everyone wants to share their meal with Vibey House Mix on volume 11.

Luckily there are some talented folk who have adhered to the magic formula and given us Mara Mara, a restaurant and cocktail lounge in Harare that is the very definition of a hotspot. And while we’re on definitions, we don’t use the word “talented” lightly either: behind this operation is property whizz Jovan Ilic and executive chef Connor McIntyre, AKA Chef Mac – a man who doesn’t allow any plate to leave his pass unless it’s absolutely perfect.

Mara Mara scores top marks for geography too: tucked away in Belgravia, it’s slap bang next to Sam Nujoma Street, one of Harare’s main arteries, so it’s a great pit stop between downtown and suburbia. But don’t think that just because its location is accessible you’re going to be chugging combi fumes with your chips: Mara Mara is blessed with a lush, tree-filled garden in which you can dust yourself off, take a (very comfortable) seat and make the most of Zimbabwe’s world-beating weather.

Sure, you can sit in the garden to warm your bones, but it’s in the cocktail lounge that you get a real sense of what this place is about. Bold and bright green and pink walls teamed with tropical prints and lush velvet furnishings, reflect Africa’s true love of colour; it’s such a refreshing change from the myriad bars and clubs on this continent that try so hard and fail so hard, to be London and LA. With so much inspiration on our doorstep, who needs chrome and mirrors and directional design? This venue has embraced the aesthetic heritage of its hometown, and judging by its popularity, Mara Mara has got it just right.

Getting it just right has been a major focus for the Mara Mara team. Not only did it try every shade of pink in Harare to get the walls just so, but the squad also spent time gathering artists and creatives to put together an eclectic mix of events and club nights. “We host Irish bands and live music during the week, with a jazz night every Thursday and DJs at the weekend,” says Connor. “There’s salsa on Sundays, and always an art exhibition on our walls. We want Mara Mara to be somewhere people can gather and experience great music, art and food all in one place.”

Ah, the food. This is the finest of fine dining but without all the fuss and faff and foam. It’s a true reflection of its creator who presents picture-perfect plates without fanfare, but with his heart and soul in every bite. Much in demand on the Harare food scene for some time, it’s at Mara Mara that Connor now has the space to show his true culinary colours. Every item on the menu is a win because Connor understands what people want. If you’re in the mood for comfort, there’s slow-cooked lamb and beef tagliata; if you want bite-size, there’s pulled pork sliders and crispy butternut. There are one-plate wonders, snacks for sharing and chocolate lava cake for the late-nighters. Mara Mara’s menu is a masterclass in getting it absolutely right.

“If you’re looking for something different, something new, you might find it at Mara Mara,” says Connor, in his trademark self-deprecating style. Might? No, we have found it. Mara Mara is something new, something different and something we are very proud to have here in Harare.

Milly McPhie

Mara Mara, Corner Sam Nujoma St and Maasdorp Ave, Harare.
Call: +263 782 507 994.
IG: @maramara_restaurant

SETTING

THE BAR