The Matriarch

The Matriarch is an opulent, French-inspired restaurant and cocktail bar inside a converted warehouse. The entranceway is decked out with ornate black-and-gold gates that open onto a cocktail garden with olive trees. The grandeur continues inside, with more than 150 velvet chairs, stools and banquette seats gathered around marble tables. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling. The stand-out feature is a textured gold wall behind the venue’s long bar.

Co-owner and chef Matthew De Wacht's share-plate menu is inspired by both the Mediterranean and Asia, with nods to other co-owner Jimmy Truong’s Vietnamese heritage. There are goat’s cheese balls, duck spring rolls, spicy chicken skewers, pulled pork pancakes and four different cheese boards. Mains include a beef fillet and a fisherman’s basket. There’s also a brunch menu from Friday to Sunday.

There’s a tight cocktail and each drink is inspired by Asia in some way. You can also opt to ask your bartender for a classic cocktail. It’s worth ordering a bottle of rosé to have in the courtyard area: it's a great way to while away an afternoon.