CHEF CHRISTIAN MARTENA
Born and raised in Puglia, Christian Martena discovered his passion for cooking in his family’s restaurant kitchen. His talent for technique and innovation took him through some of Europe’s most celebrated kitchens before bringing him to Asia, where he served as chef at award-winning restaurants and luxury hotels including Sensi in Bangkok, The Strand in Yangon and Six Senses Koh Samui. Drawing on that experience across two continents, he opened his own restaurant in Bangkok together with his wife Clara, for whom it is named. CLARA has won critical acclaim for its contemporary approach to Italian fine dining: listed in the Michelin Guide since 2021, named the 22nd Best Italian Restaurant in the World by TOP50 ITALY in 2026, and awarded Tre Forchette by Gambero Rosso since 2025. Chef Martena also received TOP50 ITALY’s Dish of the Year 2023 for his Spaghetti Bruschetta.
