Mara Steak, Wok & Wine: Phnom Penh Travel Guide

Three kitchens in one name

The name tells you the plan. Steak, wok and wine are three different ways to spend an evening, and Mara puts them under one roof. You can choose a seared cut from the grill or something fast and hot from the wok, with a wine list behind both.

This is Phnom Penh’s upscale, urban-chic end of dining, not a street-side noodle stall. Treat it as a proper dinner: a place for a birthday, a date or the last night of a trip.

What the makeover changed

Mara recently went through a transformation, and the new version is drawing attention. The draw is a reimagined menu. The specifics change as the kitchen settles in, so read the current menu on the restaurant’s own pages rather than trusting an older review.

The item people keep mentioning is the Pacific oysters. They aren’t a common sight in a city better known for river fish and Khmer curries, which helps explain the interest. Ask your server where the current batch comes from and how it is prepared that day. A good kitchen will be glad to tell you.

The happy hour worth planning around

The signature cocktail happy hour is the easiest way to try Mara. A drink at the bar or table, perhaps with a plate of oysters, costs less commitment than a full steak dinner. You’ll get a feel for the room before you decide to stay.

Happy hour windows at restaurants like this tend to move once a reopening settles. Check the current times on Mara’s official social media or website on the day you go. Don’t rely on a screenshot from last month.

• Start with: a signature cocktail from the happy hour list
• Pair with: the Pacific oysters
• Then decide: steak, wok dishes, or a bottle from the wine list

Getting across the city

Phnom Penh runs on ride-hailing apps and tuk-tuks. Grab and PassApp both work well here. The app shows the fare before you confirm, so there’s no haggling on the kerb. That matters at night, when you want to leave the restaurant without a negotiation.

The verified details we have don’t include a street address. So search the restaurant’s full name in your maps app, then check the pin against Mara’s own listing before you set off. Street numbers in Phnom Penh can be confusing, and many streets have similar numbers. Drivers find a place far faster from a dropped pin than from a spoken address.

Booking, paying and ordering at Mara

A newly relaunched restaurant with this much buzz fills its best tables first, especially on weekend evenings. Reserve ahead through whatever channel Mara currently lists, and mention if you’re coming for happy hour, since bar seats and dining tables are sometimes handled differently.

On paying:

• Currency: US dollars and Cambodian riel are both used across Phnom Penh. Small change often comes back in riel, so expect a mix.
• Cards: upscale restaurants in the city generally take cards, but ask when you book if you plan to rely on one.
• Tipping: tipping isn’t required in Cambodia. In sit-down restaurants, leaving something for good service is normal and welcome. Look at the bill first, because some venues add a service charge.

When ordering, the steak-and-wok setup makes it natural to share. A few wok dishes in the middle and one steak split two ways gives you a fuller sense of the kitchen than everyone ordering a main each. Ask the staff to suggest a wine for the table. That’s the point of the third word in the name.

Turning it into a full evening

Mara fits well in the second half of a Phnom Penh day. The afternoons are hot, so many visitors save sightseeing for the morning and head out again once the heat drops. Sisowath Quay, the riverside promenade along the Tonle Sap, is the classic place to watch the city wake back up at dusk.

From there, a short Grab or tuk-tuk ride takes you to happy hour, then dinner. Allow around two hours if you’re staying for both, and less if you only want a cocktail and a round of oysters.