Close
Cavaliere Modesto Marini, the founder and owner of The Marini’s Group, has been on an extraordinary culinary journey where his passion for food and dedication to his craft has taken him from humble beginnings to great heights.
Born in Italy, Cav. Modesto grew up being involved in the family vineyards and vegetable and fruit farms and he learnt his culinary skills from his family. His upbringing instilled a love for and contributed to his understanding of food and fresh produce. He later honed his cooking skills at one of Italy’s leading culinary schools where he graduated from with high honours as a chef. He then spent much of his earlier years at some of the most prominent fine dining restaurants in Italy, London, and Singapore before finally making Malaysia his home in 1995.
He has been creating award-winning luxury brands in the dining and entertainment industry for over 30 years, putting his passion for food and cooking into his businesses. Each milestone in Modesto’s career has helped raise the bar for him and has contributed to making him one of Asia’s key entrepreneurs in the industry, to the point of being hailed as “The King of Italian Cuisine” by The Star, Malaysia’s leading English language daily.
Cav. Modesto Marini was awarded the prestigious Ordine Della Stella D’Italia (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy) in October 2016, which carries the title “Cavaliere”, and is regarded as one of the highest civilian honours of the Italian Government. It recognises Italians living abroad who have been instrumental in the preservation and promotion of national prestige, and including but not limited to philanthropic activities, commercial enterprises and promotion of Italian food and wine.
The Marini’s Group – acclaimed by many in the industry to be the finest dining and entertainment group in the country – has been a catalyst for putting Kuala Lumpur on the global map for contemporary fine dining and trailblazing entertainment experiences. The jewel in the crown of Malaysia’s King of Italian Cuisine is the multi-award winning Marini’s on 57 located on Level 57, Petronas Tower 3. Established in June 2012, Marini’s on 57 is Malaysia’s most iconic rooftop destination comprising a rooftop bar, Italian restaurant and whisky lounge with a close-up view of the Petronas Twin Towers and panoramic views of the city skyline.
In May 2014, Cav. Modesto opened Marble 8, a premier steakhouse specialising in dry-aged beef where the signature cuts are treated in a custom-built dry-aging cellar. The restaurant first opened within the Kuala Lumpur City Centre precinct and relocated to Level 56, Petronas Tower 3 in 2017. It is also listed as a Michelin Select restaurant.
The elegant M Marini Grand Caffè & Terrazza is the city’s first champagne and caviar establishment, where Italian elegance meets casual comfort to give guests a taste of Italian Caffè culture. It opened at Suria KLCC in 2014, nestled alongside international fashion brands within the mall. The establishment later relocated to its current bigger space at One KL in 2017.
The year 2019 saw the addition of the MariGin Gin Bar to the group. MariGin is a traditional gin parlour with a twist and it offers a dedicated gin menu and concoctions that capture the cosmopolitan spirit of gin but with a local touch.
It’s all about food, fashion and passion at the Maristar caviar, seafood bar and fashion lounge. A unique space designed unlike any of the other The Marini’s Group establishments, Maristar opened in December 2021 at The Starhill in Kuala Lumpur’s Bukit Bintang area.
Over the years, The Marini’s Group has partnered with some of the world’s most recognised names, especially for Marini’s on 57. These include former Formula One driver Jarno Trulli for wines, and music greats such as Jose Padilla, Chris Coco, Afterlife, and Simon Mills to become the only luxury F&B venue in Malaysia to have released their own Sunset Hours compilation albums. Since its opening, Marini’s on 57 has attracted numerous international celebrities, tourists, and socialites, including David Beckham, Lewis Hamilton, Max Biaggi, Benedict Cumberbatch, Priyanka Chopra, Ed Sheeran and Bon Jovi.
For the latest press release and other media inquiries, please contact our Public Relations team at [email protected]