Iftar
A warm-hearted welcome awaits at Iftar, a modern Middle Eastern restaurant in the Western Sydney culinary hotspot of Merrylands. Tucked within the new Mason & Main precinct, the 75-seat venue by Killing Matt Woods highlights local craftsmanship and layered, natural materials that make for an inviting and refined dining experience.
The restaurant’s owner and chef, Jeremy Agha, envisioned a space that would embrace guests with generosity, like being at his own home. “The client’s brief focused on creating a warm, reflective space that fostered shared dining experiences and honoured the ritual of breaking fast – iftar,” says interior designer Matt Woods. “The design aimed to balance tradition with a contemporary sensibility, drawing on subtle cultural references and layered textures to evoke a sense of familial warmth within a refined yet intimate setting.”
Iftar’s menu draws on Agha’s heritage and from recipes passed down from his mother Rita – often updated with a playful twist, such as wagyu kofta dumplings and lamb shawarma wrapped in tortillas. The design reflects this spirit of reinvention, paying homage to cultural references without veering into cliché. “I wanted to evoke tradition through the way the space feels – how it flows and how it holds people,” says Woods. “Middle Eastern design has an unmistakable warmth and depth, built on texture, repetition and a deep sense of togetherness.”
Inspired by the robust, geometric watchtowers of Saudi Arabia’s Aseer region, Woods foregrounds an earthy palette and natural materials. “We used clay-rendered walls, natural timber, brushed brass and travertine,” he explains. “It was important that the materials felt honest and had a sense of history to them, even if used in a more contemporary way.” Terracotta accents sit alongside gold-veined marble tabletops, cork joinery, tactile clay walls and a gently undulating cylindrical ceiling – one of the restaurant’s most distinctive features.
When combining this diverse range of materials, Woods aimed to balance “the rough with smooth, the matte with polished”. The rose and burgundy hues of the marble and travertine bar are echoed in the mosaic travertine floor tiles, bringing continuity to the space, while the use of recycled spotted gum and local handmade bricks in the kitchen speak to his eye for sustainability and craftsmanship.
Through this rich sensory palette, Iftar radiates sophistication and invitation, honouring Agha’s cultural roots while confidently stepping into the future of hospitality design.
Interior design Killing Matt Woods. Build by Regera.
