Maru Rooftop Nikkei - Tampa, Florida

Frank R.

We visited on a Tuesday night to celebrate a birthday. we went after having dinner so we did not purchase any food. Lets start with the buzz on the high minimum spend if you make a reservation - we walked in did not have a minimum spend.( Please see response to my review below for clarification on reservations). There were tables available when we arrived around 7:45. We had a party of 2. Apparently, Mondays & Tuesdays are slower than the rest of the week so we did not have a wait.
The service is absolutely top notch, from start to finish. This is a real high point. Staff is friendly and well trained. Outstanding!!!
The drink menu has a good selection and prices are what you would expect to pay at an upscale place in Tampa. The picture in my review is their specialty gin martini - excellent choice and the most expensive cocktail on the menu.
The atmosphere is nice but i must admit that I like several other Tampa places a bit better. Maybe a weekend visit with the DJ would make me feel different. The views are ok in some directions but not great all around. If you look at one of my sunset pictures, there are wires and poles in the line of sight.
Overall, it was a pleasant evening. I will come back and update my review as it is definitely a great addition to Tampa.
My review is updated to reflect the response, as my facts on the reservation spend is not exactly correct.

Samuel

As locals to Tampa, we enjoy dining out 2-3 times over the weekend at many of the local spots, so we were genuinely excited to visit the new rooftop bar after seeing some videos on Instagram. We arrived on the second week of its opening and called ahead to inquire about reservations, only to learn that it was first come, first serve. Undeterred, we arrived at 8:30 PM on a busy Friday night, eager to enjoy a drink and some small bites.

Upon arrival, the restaurant security kindly assisted us in taking the elevator to the rooftop. However, we were surprised to find no host present and no signage indicating we should wait to be seated, so we made our way to the bar area. We noticed an open table near the lounges and decided to take a seat. Just five minutes later, a host informed us that we needed to move because she had a “reservation” for that table. This was a bit frustrating since we had been told earlier there were no reservations, and the couple seated there had just shared the elevator with us, indicating they didn't have one either.

We were then moved to a quieter table by the water, which, while a bit removed from the bar atmosphere, was still pleasant. Our new host took my partner's drink order, a Hefeweizen beer, and mentioned that our server would be with us shortly. Unfortunately, after a 10-minute wait with no drinks in sight, a second waitress came to take my order for a lychee martini, but after another 20 minutes with no drinks arriving, we decided to leave. Something we’ve never done due to poor service.

Encouraged by the potential for a better experience, we returned the following Sunday afternoon. This time, our waiter was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, which was a great improvement. Although they were out of the beer my partner had wanted, he helped find a suitable alternative, and I gave the lychee martini another try. Both drinks were enjoyable and reasonably priced compared to other bars in the area.

We ordered the lobster roll and Civiche Classico, but unfortunately, the lobster bao bun was a bit disappointing. It was a single bao bun that wasn’t really sharable, and at $19, it felt overpriced. The Civiche portion was more reasonable, but the corn (cancha) was rather dry and chalky.

Overall, we appreciate the effort that goes into a new establishment and hope to see these areas improved in the future

We probably won’t be racing back

Jacqueline S.

Took us an hour and a half from the time we were seated to get the drinks we initially ordered when we sat down. Additionally, the wine glass brought out was extremely dirty. Fair warning as well that the food- listed as small plates- took an hour to come out and for what you get, it is overpriced in my opinion. I recognize that it is new and therefore extremely busy, but our bill was not comped in any sort of way and nor were these issues properly addressed during the time we were waiting for food/drinks.

Marin Y.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Maru, and while the food was absolutely delicious, what truly elevated the experience was the exceptional service, especially from our server, Mocha.

From the moment we were seated, Mocha made us feel genuinely welcome. She was warm, attentive, and had a remarkable ability to anticipate our needs without ever being intrusive. Whether it was helping us navigate the menu with thoughtful recommendations or ensuring our table was never without water or anything else we might need, Mocha handled everything with a calm confidence that made the evening feel seamless.

Maru already sets a high bar with its beautifully plated dishes and amazing views, but with service like Mocha’s, it becomes a place you’ll want to return to again and again. I can’t recommend it enough—be sure to ask for Mocha if you can. She’s a gem!

John V.

Ambiance was perfect, view was amazing and service exceeded expectations! Perfect spot to grab drinks for happy hour. Drinks looked great and were plenty strong, prices as expected for the area. Food presentation was great but everything we sampled was just short of our expectations, not bad but nothing worth writing home about. Prices for food were high for what you get and how small the portions were. It’s tapas/small plate style but didn’t expect getting a single small serving for some of the plates for the cost.

That said, definitely recommend this spot. It can only get better as they just opened a couple weeks ago.

John H.

Maru Rooftop is hands-down one of the best spots in Tampa right now. The views are incredible, the vibe is classy but not pretentious, and the drinks were genuinely really good (which isn’t always the case at rooftop bars).

The service was absolutely exceptional and i need to mention our server by name, Mocha. She was absolutely amazing. Super friendly without being over-the-top, knew the menu inside and out, and just had this way of making everyone at the table feel taken care of. You could tell she actually enjoys what she does—and it made a huge difference.

If you're going to Maru, do yourself a favor and ask for Mocha. She's a total pro and honestly made the whole experience even better.

Already looking forward to the next night out here.

Trisha G.

We travel a lot and love to find great cocktails so we stopped by Maru Rooftop. The space is stunning and the view is great!! The real stars of the show were the cocktails and food. The Maru Martini was absolutely phenomenal, especially with that fun little sidecar it comes with. Staff was amazing! We will definitely be coming back. Highly recommend!!!

Jordan M.

Maru absolutely blew me away! From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is elevated yet inviting, with a stunning view that is perfect for night out with friends. The cocktails are beautifully crafted and delicious! I especially loved the Red Flags and Maru Martini. Every dish was flavorful and unique, try the Tamakis! Maru is a standout in Tampa’s dining scene. I will definitely be back!