[Bartender Profile] Maria Escobia, Penrose (Kuala Lumpur)

Maria may look serious behind the bar, but don’t be fooled — when martinis are involved, Maria can quite literally drink anyone under the table.

She is the bar manager of Penrose, and while she may be relatively new to the bar world, her rise has been nothing short of remarkable. Formerly a professional dancer — and a Miss Universe Malaysia 2018 finalist — she brought discipline, stage presence, and grace into bartending, where she underwent rigorous training under Jon Lee when he first opened Penrose.

Today, Maria is not just a cocktail savant behind the bar, but a well-rounded bar manager overseeing far more than what’s in the glass, proving that talent, focus, and hard work can fast-track excellence in hospitality.