Maranto’s Reopens On Lark Lane With New Upstairs Bar ‘The Gathering Place’

A family-run restaurant that has been part of Lark Lane life for more than four decades has reopened its doors, marking the start of a new chapter.

Maranto’s has unveiled a refreshed look alongside a brand-new upstairs bar, The Gathering Place, following a period of closure to update the much-loved venue.

Since opening in 1983, Maranto’s has become more than just a place to eat. For many, it is where birthdays have been celebrated, where families have gathered,and where familiar faces return time and time again.

Now led by Anna Maranto Babel and her husband Joe, the latest changes have been made without losing what people already love about the place.

Anna said: “This place means so much to so many people, and that’s something we’ve always been aware of. We didn’t want to change it for the sake of it. Everything we’ve done has been about looking after what’s already here, while making sure it still has a future.”

At the heart of the update is The Gathering Place, a reimagined upstairs bar created with the idea of a neighbourhood restaurant at the centre of its community.

Anna said: “In Italian American culture, there’s always a neighbourhood restaurant that becomes the hub. Somewhere you take family, meet friends, and spend time together.

“When Maranto’s opened in the eighties, we described it as a restaurant and gathering place. That phrase has always stayed with us, and now it feels more relevant than ever.”

The new bar has been designed around how people use Maranto’s today, offering a more relaxed, social setting that works across the week.

Guests can expect Sicilian style pizza alongside interactive darts, shuffleboard and a drinks offer that includes beers, cocktails, coffees and no and low options. The Gathering Place has been created to work just as well for casual drop-ins as it does for longer visits.

Anna added: “It’s somewhere you can come for a full evening or just pop in, grab a drink and spend time together.

“That’s what this place has always been about, and The Gathering Place gives that idea its own home.”

The wider refurbishment has been approached carefully, keeping hold of the details people recognise, from the Tiffany lamps and original features through to theoverall feel of the space.

Much of the work has involved local suppliers and long-standing partners, including Aigburth Tiles, whose family first worked on the restaurant in 1983, and Traditional Flooring, who have been part of Maranto’s for more than 30 years. 

The refurbishment was led by main contractor Charles Evans, a Liverpool family-run business with more than 130 years of experience in fit-out and construction, alongside design by IMD, a commercial architectural and interior design practice specialising in hospitality spaces.

For Anna and her family, the reopening is as much about continuity as it is about change.

She said: “There are people who have been coming here for decades, and now they’re bringing their children and grandchildren. That’s something very special.

“This next chapter is about making sure Maranto’s is still here for all of that in the years to come.”

The restaurant is located at 57-63 Lark Lane, Liverpool, L17 8UP. Opening times are Monday to Thursday from 1pm to 10pm, and Friday to Sunday from 10am to 11pm.