Mara Minneapolis Review: Prices, What to Order and Is It Worth It?

The short version: Mara is one of the best restaurants in Minneapolis, in the Four Seasons downtown. Mediterranean food from Gavin Kaysen, a hip, classy room, excellent service, and about $72 a person. Get the mafaldine and the tuna crudo. It’s one of my new favorites in the city.

I had dinner at Mara on October 14, 2026, a little going-away dinner with family before I left Minneapolis. The meal was not sponsored. Prices below are for one person, my share of the bill.

Pros

• Excellent food: the mafaldine and the tuna crudo are both 9s
• A hip, classy room with an open kitchen, and a moody red bar off to the side
• Excellent, fast, knowledgeable service
• About $72 a person with tip, a fantastic value for this quality
• Easy to book on a weeknight

Cons

• Lighting on the dim side, and it can get a little lively
• No view, if that matters to you
• Valet is $21, though street parking is a few blocks away

Getting there

Mara Restaurant and Bar, to give it its full name, is in the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. It serves Mediterranean food, and it’s led by Gavin Kaysen, a James Beard Award-winning chef who was executive chef for Daniel Boulud in New York before coming home to Minneapolis. It’s a hotel restaurant, but honestly, it doesn’t feel like one. It’s trendy, always popular, and full of locals. As a Minnesotan, I’ve heard about it many times, and people here consider it one of the best restaurants in the state. It pairs well with a day downtown: the Mill City Museum is nearby, and you can walk along the river.

There’s valet parking for $21, or you can park a few blocks south of the hotel and walk over.

Walking in, the first impression is classy and modern, and it looks global, like it could be in any big city. When they seat you, they ask whether you’re a local, and a lot of the people here are.

The setting: 8 out of 10

It’s a cool place. The main dining room has an open kitchen at the back, green glass pendants, green banquettes and rust velvet chairs. Off to the side is the bar, in deep red with candles on the tables, which is the more intimate option.

The lighting is a little dim, and it can get a little lively, which may be exactly what you want. There’s no view. Dress is smart casual; you don’t need to dress up.

The food: 9 out of 10

The food is excellent, and the Mediterranean angle comes through in dishes like the crudo and the pasta. Portions are fair, and the plates come out one course at a time.

The bread: 8 out of 10

The sesame bread comes with olive oil and a little cream on the side, and it’s very good. We kept asking for more.

Bluefin tuna crudo: 9 out of 10

Avocado, cucumber, Calabrian chili, Kalamata olive and opal basil. Excellent. The thickness of the cut is just right, and it pairs well with the chili, which gives it a little bit of spice. One of the two dishes I’d tell you to order.

Mafaldine arrabbiata: 9 out of 10

Nduja, red onion, tomato and basil. Excellent pasta, and one of my favorites anywhere. The chew is excellent, properly al dente, and it’s all made in house, every day at 4 p.m. If you’re staying at the hotel, you can go down and watch them make it. This is the other dish to order.

Niman Ranch striploin: 8.5 out of 10

Sliced over polenta, with corn, broccolini and a black garlic jus. Very nice flavor, and a good portion.

We also had the dry-aged duck breast on the table, though I didn’t try it myself, so I won’t score it. We skipped drinks and dessert.

Service: 8.5 out of 10

The service is excellent. The manager, a very friendly guy, knows all the food inside out, and I really enjoyed talking with him. Our server was good too, and everything comes out fast.

What it cost

All prices here are for one person: my share of the bill.

The total came to $216.21 including a 20% tip, which worked out to $72 a person. That covered the crudo ($26), the mafaldine ($33), the striploin ($65) and the duck breast ($43), plus the bread, with no drinks or dessert. There’s also a four-course prix fixe for $98, with an optional wine pairing for $75.

Value: 8 out of 10

For a cool Minneapolis restaurant with food this good, it’s a fantastic value: $72 a person with tip, at one of the best restaurants in the city.

Vs. Spoon and Stable

Spoon and Stable, Kaysen’s other big Minneapolis restaurant, is excellent too, but as a local I’d say it’s more of a celebration restaurant, more for couples. Mara is more well-rounded, and I think the food is a little bit better. I’ll have a full Spoon and Stable review up soon.

Vs. RH Rooftop

If you’re deciding between Mara and RH Rooftop in Edina: objectively, Mara may be slightly better, with a little better food and service, and it’s easier for tourists downtown. But RH has the more beautiful setting, and it’s easier if you live in the area, with easy parking in the suburbs.

Who it’s for

Honestly, a lot of things. It works for a date night, for a family celebration, and for a business lunch. And during the week, it’s not terribly hard to get a reservation.

Tips if you go

• Order the mafaldine arrabbiata and the bluefin tuna crudo.
• Staying at the Four Seasons? Go down around 4 p.m. and watch them make the pasta.
• Ask for more bread. They’ll bring it.
• Anywhere is good to sit. The main room for the kitchen and the buzz, the red bar for something quieter.
• Valet is $21. There’s parking a few blocks south of the hotel.
• Book a weeknight if you want an easy reservation.
• Sunday lunch is a buffet, and it’s usually very popular. Book ahead for that one.
• Make a day of downtown: the Mill City Museum and the river walk are nearby.

Verdict: 9/10

Mara is one of my new favorite restaurants in Minneapolis. Excellent food, a cool, classy setting in the Four Seasons, great service, and a fair price for what you get.

Would I go back? Definitely.

FAQ

Is Mara in Minneapolis worth it?

Yes. For about $72 a person with tip, you get one of the best restaurants in the city, in a very cool room.

Where is Mara?

In the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. Valet is $21, or park a few blocks south and walk.

What should I order at Mara?

The mafaldine arrabbiata and the bluefin tuna crudo. The bread is very good too.

Is Mara expensive?

Mains run about $40 to $65, pastas $33 to $38, and starters in the $20s. There’s a four-course prix fixe for $98. We spent $72 a person with tip, without drinks.

Do I need a reservation?

On weekends, yes. On a weeknight, it’s not terribly hard to get a table.

Does Mara have a brunch?

There’s a lunch buffet on Sundays, and it’s usually very popular, so get a reservation.

What’s the dress code?

Smart casual is fine.

Mara or Spoon and Stable?

Mara, for me. The food is a little better, and it’s more well-rounded. Spoon and Stable is more of a celebration restaurant for couples.

Is it good for families?

Yes. We went as a family, and it works just as well for a date night or a business lunch.

Would you go back?

Definitely.