Mariposa

When you first walk in you notice how open airy and CLEAN this restaurant is! The bar is incredible and they have a wide range of wine, spirits and specials! The bartender was attentive and funny - thank you Celeste the popovers are to-die-for & it’s obvious the manager Pam is invested in their Brand. I am so down with the NMCafe!

My favorite place with the popovers and the delicious strawberry butter. The chicken salad is sooo good in everything.

rated by maryam • food critic

What an unexpected find! You take the escalator up three floors and suddenly you’re in this tucked-away spot that feels calm and relaxed, a world apart from the mall below. Perfect place to sneak away for a peaceful lunch. They start you off with a complimentary puff pastry and warm chicken broth. The pastry is golden and flaky, and dipping it into the broth makes it even better. The broth itself is light and refreshing, the kind of thing that wakes up your palate without being heavy. Such a thoughtful touch and not something I expected at all. For lunch, I had the Green Goddess salad with salmon—a good 4–5 ounces, perfectly grilled with just salt and pepper, flaky and clean. The lettuce was crisp and fresh, a healthy but elevated option. The asparagus was another favorite, creamy with fresh chives on top, just the right balance of richness without being heavy. The warm bowl was outstanding too, with portobello mushroom, grilled chicken, quinoa, mango, avocado, a lightly dressed coleslaw, and a fried egg with a soft yolk. Slightly Asian flavors, light and fresh, and every bite so well put together. Dessert turned into a whole experience. I couldn’t resist ordering the chocolate soufflé, the pineapple upside-down cake, and the warm chocolate chip cookie—all served warm with scoops of ice cream. The soufflé takes about 35 minutes, made by the chef from Bistango, and it was absolutely worth the wait—tall, rich, and oozing. The pineapple upside-down cake was a dream, finally a great version close to home. The cookie was gooey and decadent, the perfect comfort. And I have to give the biggest shout out to Marcelo. He was on top of everything from start to finish—attentive, warm, and just genuinely thoughtful. He even brought out a birthday cheesecake for the kiddos, which completely made their day, and sent me home with a complimentary pastry and soup sample. That kind of service is rare and honestly what made the whole experience unforgettable. I’m so glad I finally discovered this spot, and I can’t wait to go back.

Vanessa C

This was a very special visit. My aunt used to take me here with my mom and sister when we were young. I came on a whim with my husband and the food brought back all the special memories. We came for lunch and were served their special popovers with strawberry butter and consommé. It was just as delightful as I remembered. My husband was really impressed. Did I mentioned that both items come with the meal? For lunch, I ordered the pecan crusted salmon and he ordered the chicken Milanese. Both were delicious! My salmon was a great piece of quality fish. It was cooked perfectly and the pecan crust was a light and crispy compliment to the stellar fish. My husband was very happy with his chicken. It came with arugula in a savory a very light dressing. It was an impressive compliment to the chicken. Lastly, we ordered pumpkin pie and coffees. Our lunch was under $100, and well worth it. Everything was fantastic. We had the sweetest server-I can’t recall her name but she was an older woman who made us want to come back and dine with her again and again. If you have not been here, you need to! It’s located on the 3rd floor of Neiman Marcus. They have holiday decorations up, so it’s a fun pit stop in the mall.

Cheryl Nasser

Enjoyed Mariposa for drinks and appetizers during late lunchtime. First you always get their signature consommé and delicious warm popover with strawberry butter to start (compliments of the restaurant) It’s the best part of the meal service! Their appetizer portions were larger than we expected. The spinach artichoke dip was delicious served with light crispy warm tortilla chips. The yellowfin sashimi was delectable and fish was top quality. Drinks were fun with the Bloody Mary came a good stalk of celery, French 75 was a special that day. Finally check came with chocolates. Inside and outdoor seating available. This restaurant is a hidden gem at the top of Neiman Marcus. Just follow the Mariposas or butterflies up the escalator. Service was prompt, friendly and excellent!

Paul B

Ate a delicious lunch here whilst in town for the weekend. The sashimi was fresh, plentiful and delicious. The sea-bass was cooked to perfection and the Bloody Mary was on point. Service was friendly and fast, even as the restaurant got busier.

C M

A lovely place - it was clean, modern, quiet, and elegant restaurant. In the middle of a busy shopping day, this is a sanctuary that closes around 1500. I wished we could have tea coffee or drinks here in the afternoons. The service was impeccable and professional. The menu was short simple but enough. The food was tasty and elegant.

Elena Lyutik

Hidden place with Beautiful view , the best tables on the balcony, broth and owen baked croissant with strawberry butter for entry. Food and services are good. Will return with my friends!

David Bradshaw

Came here for dessert and drinks and it was a great experience. The staff were all super friendly, the food was delicious and the place was gorgeous. The drinks were amazing. Not a bad price and great flavor. The bread and sweet butter thing was amazing. That was quite a surprise. We got the pecan ice cream thing and the soufflé which was delicious. It was perfectly baked and just perfect. This is a great place to chill and enjoy the atmosphere. We will definitely be back and can’t wait for the cooler weather to enjoy the outside seating. Highly recommend this! It’s on the top floor in mens section in Neiman Marcus. It seems tiny from the store but was surprisingly spacious once we got in.

Teresa Tims

Never had a bad meal here!! I just always forget about it🥲 today I had the chicken milanese . It was prepared perfectly, and I loved the arugula salad with capers and shaved Parmesan Delicioso.💪💯🥳

Davis Nardi

Mariposa is a wonderful restaurant at the top of Neiman Marcus. It gets pretty packed so a reservation is recommended but not required. You start every meal with a small glass of complementary chicken broth and popover pastry with strawberry butter. It is one of the most incredible starts to a meal and hints at the quality to come. The dishes are delicious and healthy, with the salmon tacos, the tuna tartar, pasta puttanesca, and the seafood tower being clear standouts.

Lynn Maui

Love sitting outside on the patio. The $12 white bean chicken chili bowl with no cheese is the perfect size. Love the peach tea.

Paula Amico

When you first walk in you notice how open airy and CLEAN this restaurant is! The bar is incredible and they have a wide range of wine, spirits and specials! The bartender was attentive and funny - thank you Celeste the popovers are to-die-for & it’s obvious the manager Pam is invested in their Brand. I am so down with the NMCafe!

Marnie Lux

My favorite place with the popovers and the delicious strawberry butter. The chicken salad is sooo good in everything.

Delicious food with delicious popovers and chicken broth. Waiter Rigoberto was very nice, the burgers and fries were very yummy. My family and I have been coming here every time we visit California.

My mother took me here when I was a toddler. I had popovers with strawberry butter... 40 years later and they're still serving their popovers... I now come from out of state and it's such an unbelievable treat to experience this once again.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Unforgettable Dining Experience at Mariposa, Newport Mariposa in Newport is a true gem, and every visit reminds us why we keep coming back. The service here is consistently outstanding — warm, attentive, and polished from start to finish. I started with their new tuna tartare, beautifully paired with mango purée and fresh mango slices. This was not just a dish; it was a work of art — the presentation could have been in a designer food magazine, and the flavor matched its beauty. My husband had the burger, and it was exceptional — juicy, flavorful, perfectly cooked. The French fries deserve their own mention: crispy, golden perfection, truly to die for. My jasmine tea arrived in a gorgeous sachet, served in an elegant teapot — such a thoughtful, refined touch. Dessert was nothing short of heavenly. I had the berry dessert, bursting with fresh flavor, while my husband had the peach cobbler — warm, comforting, and topped with some of the most amazing vanilla ice cream we’ve ever tasted. A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Reza, the manager, who is always the epitome of a gracious host. We spoke briefly on the phone before arriving, and in person, he was just as kind and attentive. Our server — the same wonderful gentleman we usually have — once again delivered exceptional, top-notch service. From the flawless hospitality to the designer-level cuisine, Mariposa is in a league of its own. We love it here and will most certainly be coming back. Thank you to everyone at Mariposa for making each visit so special.

Reza is the best!! The service here is always first class and they really treat their customers like family. Not the mention the food is amazing here too! Get the salmon tacos or the seabass. 5 stars in every category. Will always be back. Thank you Reza and Eric!

A lovely modern restaurant with amazing, fast service. I order the same thing every time...Mandarin Orange Shuffle. Healthy and delicious. Glass of wine to go with, relaxing lunch, then off to shop. Ben O. is usually my server and he is an added bonus to my lunch. Professional and so friendly. Our favorite place in Fashion Island Mall for dining.

The real star of Mariposa is the service, specifically our server Richard. More on that below. Food options and quality were standard for the area, but we were started with complimentary popovers with strawberry butter and consommé which impresses from the start. Outdoor seating on the balcony was exactly what we were looking for, understated, quiet and away from the hustle and bustle of Fashion Island. Our server Richard was a rare gem. He is clearly an actual professional server who understood the perfect balance of helpfulness and ability to give diners space. He was able to anticipate our needs and made our dining experience exactly what we wanted it to be. We had a party of just two, an adult and child, we were not wearing flashy designer clothing and had a modest meal, yet Richard chose to provide us with service I would hope to get (but sadly am not guaranteed) while spending quite a bit more at finer restaurants. This kind of service just isn’t standard anymore and when it is provided it is worth calling out. I would definitely come back here for Richard’s service alone. One minor gripe, the interior is undergoing some construction so there are very large screens to hide the dust. The result is an atmosphere that is less than elegant if you’re trying to impress your dining partner. Easy solution, eat outside which was our intention anyway.

Danny Finan

Delicious food with delicious popovers and chicken broth. Waiter Rigoberto was very nice, the burgers and fries were very yummy. My family and I have been coming here every time we visit California.

Julia Simmons

My mother took me here when I was a toddler. I had popovers with strawberry butter... 40 years later and they're still serving their popovers... I now come from out of state and it's such an unbelievable treat to experience this once again.

Greg Simmons

Reza is the best!! The service here is always first class and they really treat their customers like family. Not the mention the food is amazing here too! Get the salmon tacos or the seabass. 5 stars in every category. Will always be back. Thank you Reza and Eric!

M M

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Unforgettable Dining Experience at Mariposa, Newport Mariposa in Newport is a true gem, and every visit reminds us why we keep coming back. The service here is consistently outstanding — warm, attentive, and polished from start to finish. I started with their new tuna tartare, beautifully paired with mango purée and fresh mango slices. This was not just a dish; it was a work of art — the presentation could have been in a designer food magazine, and the flavor matched its beauty. My husband had the burger, and it was exceptional — juicy, flavorful, perfectly cooked. The French fries deserve their own mention: crispy, golden perfection, truly to die for. My jasmine tea arrived in a gorgeous sachet, served in an elegant teapot — such a thoughtful, refined touch. Dessert was nothing short of heavenly. I had the berry dessert, bursting with fresh flavor, while my husband had the peach cobbler — warm, comforting, and topped with some of the most amazing vanilla ice cream we’ve ever tasted. A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Reza, the manager, who is always the epitome of a gracious host. We spoke briefly on the phone before arriving, and in person, he was just as kind and attentive. Our server — the same wonderful gentleman we usually have — once again delivered exceptional, top-notch service. From the flawless hospitality to the designer-level cuisine, Mariposa is in a league of its own. We love it here and will most certainly be coming back. Thank you to everyone at Mariposa for making each visit so special.

gail barager

A lovely modern restaurant with amazing, fast service. I order the same thing every time...Mandarin Orange Shuffle. Healthy and delicious. Glass of wine to go with, relaxing lunch, then off to shop. Ben O. is usually my server and he is an added bonus to my lunch. Professional and so friendly. Our favorite place in Fashion Island Mall for dining.

Ben Orooji

The real star of Mariposa is the service, specifically our server Richard. More on that below. Food options and quality were standard for the area, but we were started with complimentary popovers with strawberry butter and consommé which impresses from the start. Outdoor seating on the balcony was exactly what we were looking for, understated, quiet and away from the hustle and bustle of Fashion Island. Our server Richard was a rare gem. He is clearly an actual professional server who understood the perfect balance of helpfulness and ability to give diners space. He was able to anticipate our needs and made our dining experience exactly what we wanted it to be. We had a party of just two, an adult and child, we were not wearing flashy designer clothing and had a modest meal, yet Richard chose to provide us with service I would hope to get (but sadly am not guaranteed) while spending quite a bit more at finer restaurants. This kind of service just isn’t standard anymore and when it is provided it is worth calling out. I would definitely come back here for Richard’s service alone. One minor gripe, the interior is undergoing some construction so there are very large screens to hide the dust. The result is an atmosphere that is less than elegant if you’re trying to impress your dining partner. Easy solution, eat outside which was our intention anyway.

Great food Poor service. Starter bread comes with a unique strawberry cream spread. Seabass was excellent with risotto base and soft asparagus. Service, well, if you look carefully at the lobster roll, the content mostly sits on one side of the plate, the waiter must have tilted the plate too much on one side. There was a period of more than 5 mins when we couldn't see a single staff on the entire floor. I had to get up and look for them and eventually found them in the kitchen. The folder for the bill comes crumpled and greasy....

Come for the pop over bread only (served at the beginning of the meal; it’s so good I forgot to take a photo of it before eating it all). Raspberry butter comes with it and it’s great. Food is average, nothing special. Tastes good but feel like could make it at home easily.

Wye Tan

Great food Poor service. Starter bread comes with a unique strawberry cream spread. Seabass was excellent with risotto base and soft asparagus. Service, well, if you look carefully at the lobster roll, the content mostly sits on one side of the plate, the waiter must have tilted the plate too much on one side. There was a period of more than 5 mins when we couldn't see a single staff on the entire floor. I had to get up and look for them and eventually found them in the kitchen. The folder for the bill comes crumpled and greasy....

Kylie Dan

Come for the pop over bread only (served at the beginning of the meal; it’s so good I forgot to take a photo of it before eating it all). Raspberry butter comes with it and it’s great. Food is average, nothing special. Tastes good but feel like could make it at home easily.