Situated on the top floor of a new development opposite the infamous Pier Head buildings in Liverpool is Matou, a modern pan Asian restaurant and cocktail bar. Opened in 2010, this remarkable venue offers extraordinary views over the river Mersey, and also comes with its own outdoor patio area which makes it popular in the summer.
The décor is very modern, and the whole area very well kempt. There are several luxurious couches which run along the walls of glass windows. It is nice to see seating areas in bars which don’t try and cramp too many people in like other bars in the city which can be claustrophobic. The lighting is also strength – the bar is dimmed, but it isn’t too dark that you can’t see what you are doing. At the time of day that I visited Matou, the atmosphere was very relaxed; with people taking a break from the hectic city centre Christmas rush. One can imagine a vibrant atmosphere in the evening with the Liverpool glitterati and the sound of clinking glasses and chatter.
The list of drinks on the menu is very impressive – they seem to have a vast selection of wines, champagnes, spirit and cocktails – although perhaps there is too much choice. The cocktails are competitively priced and affordable; with the majority setting you back £7.
The waiting staff was extremely friendly and very clued up with the process of how to make the cocktails, and able to provide recommendations based on individual tastes. Thus, a chocolate martini arrived, which is made up of dry martini, chocolate cream and vanilla syrup. The combination of flavours was lovely, with the vanilla coming through, but not overpowering the chocolate. For cream cocktail lovers, this is a good choice!
This was followed by a chilli and passion fruit martini, which was billed as a perfect winter warmer. The passion fruit comes through, but it is the chilli that makes this drink, combining beautifully with the alcohol to warm the back of your throat, in a sensation that lasts for a few minutes.
For the festive season, Matou have designed a few special drinks which we also sampled. The Christmas Cheer cocktail was a revelation, definitely one we’ll come back and try again. With a blend of raspberry vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and Grenadine, this exquisite, pink drink certainly lives up to its name.
The other Christmas cocktails are just as lovely in flavour, particularly the potent Snowball (above), which comes without a mixer, and combines Baileys, Ammaretto, Kahlua, Bacardi and Frandelito. A slight concern is that these festive drinks, which are being served until the New Year, are not on the menu, so you can only try these hidden gems either by recommendation or by being offered them by the cocktail waiter, which is a shame as they deserved to be tried by everyone!
This is a lovely little Liverpool gem of a cocktail bar which needs supporting. If you are in the area, then pop in. Leave your worries at the door and just enjoy the relaxing atmosphere, the friendliness and the views to die for.
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