The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement

Malena Cucina & Bar

Southern Italian hot spot on Martin Street.

Tomas Telegramma

Malena Cucina & Bar in Brighton focuses on southern Italian flavours.
1 / 7Malena Cucina & Bar in Brighton focuses on southern Italian flavours.Kate Pascoe
Arrosticini (grilled lamb skewers).
2 / 7Arrosticini (grilled lamb skewers).Kate Pascoe
Crispy calamari.
3 / 7Crispy calamari.Kate Pascoe
Inside Malena Cucina & Bar.
4 / 7Inside Malena Cucina & Bar.Kate Pascoe
Squid ink spaghetti with crab meat, cherry tomato confit, lime & chilli.
5 / 7Squid ink spaghetti with crab meat, cherry tomato confit, lime & chilli.Kate Pascoe
Outside the Brighton restaurant.
6 / 7Outside the Brighton restaurant.Kate Pascoe
Perfect for sharing.
7 / 7Perfect for sharing.Kate Pascoe

Malena Cucina & Bar

Italian$$

The team behind new southern Italian spot Malena will likely be familiar to Brighton residents. Between them, they run the similarly Italian Aromi and Cucina & Co, on either side of New Street.

Former Cucina & Co head chef Domenico Fazzari, who grew up in Calabria, leads the kitchen, focusing on specialty dishes from Italy’s southern regions.

Start with a trio of arrosticini (grilled lamb skewers), progress to cavatelli with a rich pork-sausage ragu, and add a side of zucchini alla scapece, flavoured with a garlicky, minty marinade.

Advertisement

And to finish? A nutty tiramisu, layered with pistachio cream as well as mascarpone.

Want to visit this venue? Save it in the Good Food app.

Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.

Sign up
Tomas TelegrammaTomas Telegramma is a food, drinks and culture writer.

From our partners

Advertisement
Advertisement