The Story of

Luis Martin, born in Santander, Spain, is the passionate Chef-Owner behind Mara. After honing his skills in the kitchens of Cenador de Amós, a three-Michelin‑starred establishment in Cantabria under Jesús Sánchez, he moved to Ireland, working in several five-star hotels before settling in Waterford

In 2023, he took over The Old Couch Café, reimagining it as a six‑table tasting‑menu venue and, a year later, rebranding it to Mara. His cooking blends modern international flair with deep respect for local produce and sustainability—emphasising hand‑crafted dishes, waste reduction, foraged ingredients, and partnerships like that with Barefoot Farm in Dunhill.

Signature dishes such as cod buñuelo, ajo blanco, and the now‑famed cep tiramisu showcase his Spanish roots while celebrating Irish coastal and seasonal flavours. In March 2025, he was named Best Chef for Waterford at the Munster Regional Irish Restaurant Awards—highlighting his rising prominence in the Irish culinary scene.

Luis Martin continues to push culinary boundaries at Mara, marrying tradition and innovation and inviting diners on a memorable global-flavoured gastronomic journey in an intimate setting.