marimbar
Independent
restaurant reviewsGetting High in PJ
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CHAD MERCHANTONTHEWHOLE, Kuala Lumpur may have
been a little late to the rooftop bar party
when compared to the city’s Thai counterpart.
Bangkok pretty much sets the regional standard
for high-altitude drinking, and KL has only
started to really get on board in a meaningful
way in the last few years. Arguably the place
that really made it cool to board an elevator for
a lengthy jaunt skyward before ordering your
cocktail was Marini’s on 57, which kicked off
its well-known rooftop bar/lounge/restaurant
concept some six years ago. Today, Marini’s is
still serving up drinks on the 57th floor, but
what about the poor souls in Petaling Jaya who
want that rooftop vibe without having to drive
into the city and pony up the big bucks for
parking and everything else?
Once again, the team at Marini’s has come to
the rescue with their just-launched PJ venture
called Marimbar, The Rooftop Bar. Sitting 35
floors up at Pinnacle Tower, just next to the
Sheraton PJ, Marimba exudes a laid-back
welcoming atmosphere as soon as you walk
in. Prices are friendly, the space is open and
inviting, and it goes without saying that the
view is remarkable. The tropical jungle theme is
alive and well, so there’s plenty of lush greenery
and accents of wood and metal throughout,
but what’s really special about Marimbar
might just be the eclectic nature of its location.
From high atop Pinnacle Tower, guests can
look down and take in what might be called a
catch-all panorama of ‘Malaysiana.’Gleaming
towers reach for the sky on the horizon, while
nearby, traditional old neighbourhoods endure.
There’s the LRT line, with the Asia Jaya station.
A huge mosque is just beyond that. There’s a
shopping mall. A sprawling night market. Tracts
of greenbelts amid shophouses and semi-d
homes. And if the weather is being kind, avail
yourself the experience of going outside onto
Marimbar’s vast open“garden space”to enjoy
your drinks and food. Whether you’re inside or
outside, looking out from Marimbar gives you a
real sense of the locality, something that’s often
missing in the heart of KL.
And the signature drinks here are crafted
to reflect that sense of place, bringing
together classic cocktails with a local twist,
along with an array of fully original creations.
We were on hand recently to sample some
of the funky libations, both those which
have taken their place on the menu and
those which were still being auditioned. One
favourite was a Malaysian take on the classic
Pisco Sour, bringing in notes of lemongrass
and lychee, which worked beautifully with the
Peruvian favourite.
The food is largely tapas-style, the
presentation and quality of the food was never
anything less than excellent, and the prices
were, for the most part, PJ-friendly. Thin crust
pizzas are always a welcome menu item when
they’re done right, and that’s certainly the caseFACT FILE :
MARIMBAR:THE ROOFTOP BAR
Level 35, Pinnacle PJTower A,
Lorong Utara C
PJS 52, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
T: 603-2386 6030
W: http://www.marimbar.com
Opening Hours:
Daily 3pm until latehere. If you’re more than peckish, a menu of
mains is also available to satiate your cravings.
Of course, true to Marini’s Group form,
music plays an integral part of the ambiance
at Marimbar, with a free-form DJ music
scene lending itself to different vibes on
different nights, rather than locking in to one
specific style. Be sure to check out PJ’s latest
and highest gathering place; you’ll be sure
enjoy the food, the drinks, and the sprawling
suburban view!