A new Indian dining experience is coming to the Triangle this fall. Malli — Indian Reimagined will celebrate its grand opening at 131 Oakview Commons Drive, Suite 109, Holly Springs, NC 27540, introducing guests to an elevated yet welcoming approach to Indian cuisine centered around food, hospitality, connection and celebration.
Founded by Arunkumar Vijayakumar, Rajesh Arumugam and Bharath Pepaala, Malli was created to bring the authentic, full flavors of India into a refined, contemporary dining experience while remaining warm, generous and approachable. The approximately 5,000-square-foot restaurant features multiple distinct dining and gathering spaces, each offering a different way to experience Malli.
Long before Malli became a restaurant, its story began around a table.
The three founders first met in 2007 while separately volunteering at a charity cricket match in the Triangle. After the event, they found themselves sitting around the same table, sharing food and stories. Three strangers became friends and, eventually, business partners.
Today, Vijayakumar, Arumugam, and Pepaala have each called North Carolina home for more than 20 years. They’ve raised families here, coached youth sports, cheered from the sidelines at school events and spent two decades gathering around tables across the Triangle with friends who became family. Malli is their way of setting a table for the community they now call home.
That friendship became the foundation for Malli’s approach to hospitality: show up to give, not to get.
“We believe food has an incredible ability to bring people together,” said Arumugam. “Malli grew from our own experience of connecting, and we want every guest who walks through our doors to feel that same sense of generosity, celebration and belonging.”
The restaurant’s name reflects that philosophy. “Malli” means “jasmine” in both Tamil and Telugu, while in Telugu it can also mean “come back,” connecting the jasmine flower’s role in celebrations and gatherings with the founders’ hope that guests leave already thinking about their next visit.
Indian Flavors, Reimagined
At the heart of Malli is a commitment to honest, full-flavored Indian food. The culinary experience honors traditional flavors while reimagining their presentation through a contemporary lens, with an emphasis on thoughtful preparation, artful presentation and dishes designed for both exploration and sharing.
Guests can experience Malli in several distinct rooms throughout the restaurant. Dahlia, inspired by the energy of street markets and cafés, centers around small plates and shared dining, while Tulip serves as the heart of Malli and the fullest expression of its elevated culinary experience.
The Jasmine Bar extends that philosophy to the beverage program with craft cocktails inspired by Indian ingredients and flavors. The bar team has explored ingredients including curry leaf, saffron and cardamom to thoughtfully incorporate them into cocktails alongside a selection of wine and spirits.
For guests interested in wine, Bailey Wine Tasting offers a dedicated experience inside Malli’s wine cellar, where guests can explore curated wines paired with Indian flavors. The intimate setting creates an opportunity to discover unexpected pairings while learning more about the relationship between wine and Indian cuisine.
Designed for Gathering and Celebration
Malli was designed not simply as a place to dine, but as a destination for gathering. Magnolia offers an intimate private dining space for business dinners, family celebrations and smaller gatherings, while Gardenia provides a larger event space for weddings, birthdays, corporate gatherings and milestone celebrations.
Guests are welcomed through the Lotus Patio, coming Spring 2027, where greenery and jasmine create a sense of arrival and set the tone for the experience ahead.
Together, the restaurant’s distinct spaces allow Malli to transform from an evening over cocktails and dinner to an intimate wine tasting, private gathering or larger celebration.
Global Inspiration, Local Craftsmanship
Malli’s design reflects both the founders’ Indian roots and the North Carolina community they call home. Tiles were individually selected and sourced from Rajasthan, India, while lighting fixtures were handmade specifically for the restaurant.
Closer to home, Malli worked with Triangle-area craftspeople and businesses throughout the project, including Gateway, the construction company of Pete Zseleczky, with Tom Smith, a Marine veteran, and Fuquay-Varina resident Marina; Andy Dreier of Raleigh-based CNC Design Solutions for custom metalwork; Caroline Brown of Copper Top Contracting for interior design; Kevin Lee of Raleigh-based K&S Supply for the kitchen; and Zak and Justin of Cordinal Consulting on the bar. From India, the Malli team worked with Siddanth Priya with the company, Sthala Architecture.
Together, these global and local design elements create a space intended to feel sophisticated and transportive while remaining warm, welcoming and distinctly Malli.
The founders hope that local connection will continue well beyond opening day. Malli plans to grow alongside its community through support of local schools, PTAs, charities and other community causes.
Ultimately, Malli is built around the same idea that brought its founders together in the first place: the table has the power to turn strangers into friends and meals into memories.
Malli will celebrate its grand opening this fall at 131 Oakview Commons Drive, Suite 109, Holly Springs, NC 27540.
