SAUCY SEDUCTION

Say ciao to Sabato’s, Malaysia's first and only retro-inspired 1970s Italian-American ‘red sauce joint’ restaurant.

- Words: WILLIAM KC KEE

Kuala Lumpur has no shortage of polished dining rooms, moody cocktail bars and concept restaurants promising the next big thing.

But every now and then, a place arrives with enough personality to cut through the noise entirely. Enter Sabato’s, the new signature opening at Kimpton Naluria Kuala Lumpur, and perhaps the city's most entertaining new dinner reservation.

Perched on the 25th floor of the hotel in the heart of Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), Sabato’s is being billed as Malaysia’s first and only retro-inspired 1970s Italian-American red sauce joint. Translation: giant bowls of pasta, swaggering meatballs, plush nostalgia, classic cocktails, old-school hospitality and enough disco-era charm to make you want to stay long after dessert.

It officially opened on April 1, but Sabato’s feels less like a new restaurant and more like stepping into a glamorous memory you somehow never had.

Named after the Italian word for Saturday, Sabato’s channels the golden age of old-school New York Italian-American dining—when restaurants were loud in the best way, portions were unapologetically generous, tomato sauce simmered all day and dinner often turned into a full-night affair.

This was the era of celebratory eating. Families crowding around long tables. Couples lingering over wine. Friends splitting platters and ordering “just one more round.” It was food as theatre, connection and comfort.

At Sabato’s, that spirit returns with modern polish.

“The 1970s brought a fresh vibe to Italian kitchens, blending the love of music and dance with heartfelt traditions that included red-and-white checkered tablecloths, large portions and heavy tomato-based sauces,” says Bruno Vengadabady, Director of Restaurants and Bars at Kimpton Naluria Kuala Lumpur.