Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Petronas views, Italian tasting menus, book ahead.
Marini's on 57 is the strongest case for Italian fine dining in Kuala Lumpur, combining two consecutive Michelin Plates with a direct Petronas Towers sightline from Level 57. The wine list runs to 450 selections with Italy-forward depth, and the kitchen delivers enough technical ambition to justify the $$$ price point beyond the view alone. Book two to three weeks out for weekends.
If you want Italian food at altitude with the Petronas Towers filling your window, Marini's on 57 is the clearest choice in Kuala Lumpur. The comparison you should actually be making is not between Marini's and another Italian restaurant — it's between Marini's and a hotel rooftop bar that happens to serve food. Marini's wins that contest because the kitchen is serious: a Michelin Plate in both 2024 and 2025 confirms the cooking earns its keep independently of the view. At $$$, it costs more than most meals in this city, but you're paying for a combination of verified culinary quality and a location that no other Italian address in KL can match. Book it — but be deliberate about when and how.
Marini's on 57 sits on Level 57 of Menara 3 at KLCC, which means the Petronas Towers are not in the distance , they are directly outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, close enough that the geometry of the facade becomes the room's dominant feature at night. For a food-focused visitor, the question is always whether a view restaurant can justify its price on the plate alone. Here, the answer is yes, with qualifications.
The kitchen under Chef Paolo works an Italian framework: tasting menus alongside an à la carte selection built around imported beef, artisan pasta, and composed dishes with enough technical ambition to earn Michelin recognition two years running. One signature worth noting is the tiramisu served in a tin designed to resemble a caviar container, where the coffee element is rendered as caviar spheres rather than the conventional sponge preparation. It is the kind of detail that signals a kitchen thinking beyond crowd-pleasing and into technique , and it gives you something concrete to anchor a return visit around.
The wine program is a genuine asset, not an afterthought. With 450 selections and an inventory of approximately 3,100 bottles, the list is weighted toward Italy (Tuscany and Piedmont in particular) and France, with Australian representation as well. Wine pricing sits at the mid tier , a range of bottles rather than a list dominated by trophy prices , which is more generous than you would expect at a venue with this kind of address. If you are a wine-focused visitor, this alone is a reason to consider Marini's over a competitor with a shorter, more generic list.
Marini's rewards a deliberate multi-visit approach more than most restaurants at this price point. On a first visit, the tasting menu is the right call: it gives you the kitchen's range, lets you assess whether the pasta and the beef sections are equally strong, and delivers the tiramisu signature in context. The view at sunset , roughly 7 to 7:30 PM depending on the time of year , is at its most dramatic on a first visit, and arriving for that window before full dark is worth planning around.
A second visit is where the à la carte format earns its place. By then you know which sections of the menu interested you most and can build a meal around two or three specific courses rather than the full arc. The wine list depth also makes more sense on a second visit, when you have time to read it properly rather than deferring to a sommelier recommendation under time pressure. Consider arriving later , after 9 PM , when the room has settled and the towers are fully lit against the dark sky, which is a different and arguably more cinematic version of the same experience.
A third visit, if you are based in KL or return regularly, is a bar-focused call: Marini's has a bar component that functions independently of a full dinner reservation. This is the most accessible and lowest-commitment way to use the venue, and it works well if you are entertaining guests who want the view experience without committing to a $$$-tier dinner.
Reservations: Book at least two to three weeks ahead for weekend dinner; mid-week has more flexibility but the Michelin recognition means walk-in risk is real. Leading time to arrive: Sunset, roughly 7 PM, for a first visit; late evening, 9 PM or after, for a return. Budget: $$$ for food (two courses plus), $$ wine pricing , plan for a meaningful spend per person but not the highest tier in the city. Dress: Smart casual at minimum given the price point and setting; no confirmed dress code in our data, but this is not a venue where shorts and sandals will feel right. Getting there: KLCC is directly accessible by LRT (KLCC station), which removes any parking complexity and is the practical choice for a dinner where wine is involved.
See the comparison section below for how Marini's sits against KL's broader high-end dining options.
For the full picture of what to eat, drink, and do in the city, see our full Kuala Lumpur restaurants guide, bars guide, hotels guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide.
If you are building an Italian fine dining itinerary across Asia, the closest comparisons in the region are 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong and cenci in Kyoto , both operating at a higher Michelin tier but useful benchmarks for what serious Italian cooking in Asia can look like. Within Malaysia, the dining scene extends well beyond KL: Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery in George Town, Christoph's in Penang, The Planters at The Danna in Langkawi, The Datai Langkawi in Kedah, Bee See Heong in Seberang Perai, and Lavo and Lavo Gallery in Petaling Jaya are all worth knowing if you are spending time in the country.
Groups are manageable here, but the format works leading for parties of four to six. The floor-to-ceiling window tables are the draws, and larger groups may find it harder to secure the most view-facing positions. For private events or larger corporate dinners, contact the venue directly to confirm private dining arrangements , the space and price point suggest this is supported, but our data does not confirm specifics. Budget at $$$ per head for food and factor in the wine list, which adds meaningfully to the per-person cost at this tier.
The tasting menu is the right entry point on a first visit , it gives you the kitchen's full range, including the artisan pasta courses and the imported beef section, which are the structural strengths of an Italian menu at this level. The tiramisu served in a caviar tin with coffee caviar spheres is a signature that justifies ordering for itself: it is technically interesting and specific to this kitchen, which is exactly what you want from a dish at a Michelin Plate restaurant. Chef Paolo leads the kitchen, and the Michelin recognition (two consecutive years) confirms the cooking is consistent. On a return visit, the à la carte format lets you focus on the courses that stood out.
Two to three weeks ahead is a safe window for weekend dinner. The venue holds Michelin Plate status and a 4.5 Google rating across over 3,000 reviews, which means demand is steady rather than occasional. Mid-week dinners have more availability, but do not assume you can walk in. If your priority is the sunset window around 7 PM , which is worth experiencing on a first visit , book that time slot specifically rather than leaving arrival time open. Booking difficulty is moderate: not as pressured as KL's leading tasting-menu destinations like Dewakan or DC. by Darren Chin, but not casual either.
Smart casual is the practical answer. No confirmed dress code appears in our data, but the combination of a $$$-tier price point, a Michelin Plate kitchen, and a Level 57 address in a landmark building sets a clear expectation. Dress as you would for a business dinner or a special occasion meal. Trainers and casual shorts will feel out of place. If you are coming directly from a day of sightseeing at KLCC, plan for a quick change before your reservation.
Yes, but with a caveat on format. Solo diners get the full benefit of the view and the tasting menu without compromise, and the wine list is deep enough to be interesting by the glass if the sommelier supports that option , though we cannot confirm glass pour availability from our data. The setting skews toward couples and small groups, so solo dining here is a deliberate choice rather than a casual one. At $$$, solo dining at Marini's is a meaningful spend, but it is a more practical solo venue than a counter-only tasting room, and the KL location means the KLCC LRT connection makes arrival and departure direct. For solo diners who want the Malaysian fine dining experience at a lower price point, Beta at $$$ is a direct comparison worth considering.
| Venue | Price | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marini's on 57 | $$$ | Moderate | — |
| Dewakan | $$$$ | Unknown | — |
| Beta | $$$ | Unknown | — |
| Molina | $$$$ | Unknown | — |
| DC. by Darren Chin | $$$$ | Unknown | — |
| Ah Hei Bak Kut Teh | $ | Unknown | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Groups of four to six work well here, and the floor-to-ceiling window seating makes larger bookings a natural fit for celebrations or corporate dinners. For parties of six or more, check the venue's official channels well in advance — at $$$ per head with Michelin Plate recognition, demand is consistent and peak weekend slots fill fast. The tasting menu format also suits groups who want a shared, structured experience rather than individual ordering.
Start with a tasting menu on a first visit — the à la carte is available, but the tasting format showcases the kitchen's range across imported beef, artisan pasta, and innovative Italian technique. The tiramisu served in a caviar tin, made with coffee caviar rather than fish eggs, is the most talked-about dish on the menu and worth ordering regardless of which format you choose. The wine list runs to 450 selections with depth in Italian regions (Tuscany, Piedmont) if you want to match the cuisine.
Book two to three weeks ahead for weekend dinner; mid-week slots have more flexibility but the 2024 and 2025 Michelin Plate recognition has tightened availability across the board. Walk-in risk at Level 57 KLCC is real — this is not a venue where showing up on spec works reliably for prime sunset sittings. If a specific date matters, lock it in early.
This is a $$$ Italian restaurant on the 57th floor of a prestige KLCC tower, so dress accordingly — smart attire is the sensible baseline. Think collared shirts and tailored trousers for men, evening separates or a dress for women. Beachwear, shorts, and sports shoes will likely be turned away at a venue operating at this price point and profile.
It works for solo diners, particularly at the bar or counter if available, where the Petronas Tower views carry the experience without requiring conversation. The tasting menu format is well-suited to solo visits — structured, self-contained, and no decisions beyond wine pairing. At $$$ per head, solo dining here is a considered spend, but the combination of Michelin Plate cooking and the KLCC backdrop makes it defensible if the occasion justifies it.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
