Heritage Lounge named best bar in Parramatta

A chic bar that boasts some of the world’s rarest whiskies has been voted the best in Parramatta.

Despite opening less than a year before COVID-19 hit, the Heritage Lounge at Parramatta has managed to attract plenty of loyal regulars who have voted it the best bar in Parramatta.

The Church St venue, which occupies the former Bank of NSW and Westpac Bank constructed in 1927 after World War I, has overcome the light rail construction and lured in a mostly 30-something crowd keen to sample some of its cocktails, a tempting grazing menu and whiskies since it opened in August 2019.

Managing diretcor Louis Arida says it was the venue’s class and character that led to the acquisition of the Glenfiddich 50 whisky, making it the only pub in NSW to serve the drop after it applied for “one of the world’s most precious liquids” through Glenfiddich owner William Grant & Sons.

The Heritage Lounge at Parramatta.

“We used that based on Parramatta as a new, upcoming city,’’ the former King’s School student said.

The Heritage even trumped the Crown at Barangaroo for the top drop.

The whisky has spent 50 years maturing in oak casks to give it “complex and sensual flavours’’. Just 500 bottles of the whisky have been created and are released on a strict global allocation of 50 bottles a year for the next 10 years.

The other scoop is the Dalmore 45, also only one of 500 bottles produced. It has an aroma of coffee beans, candied orange peel and baked ginger bread while the taste is described as toffee apples, figs and pistachios, with an English marmalade, Manuka honey and cranberry finish.

Dalmore whisky is some of the ‘precious liquid’ at the Heritage Lounge.

One of the sophisticated cocktails to tempt patrons.

As sublime as that sounds, not all patrons go for whiskies, and Heritage has it covered.

“Parramatta is a very diverse city and so we have a massive range of gin, rum, tequilas and I think we have 28 cocktails so we try to cater the best of gin cocktails, the best of rum, the best of tequila,’’ Arida says.

“We really don't attract the younger crowd with the Red Bull, it’s more a sophisticated cocktail bar.

“We’ve gone for that speakeasy vibe.’’

He said he loathed restaurants serving minuscule portions, so Arida makes sure Heritage customers’ options don’t shy away from the carbs and include pizzas, nachos, wedges and charcuterie boards.

“Our market isn’t food but when they come in and order, we are very generous,’’ Arida says.

“They don’t want a piece of meat the size of a 50c coin.’’

One of the generously-portioned grazing boards served with wine at the Heritage.

On the dance floor, a DJ spins retro tracks on weekends and enjoy the heritage feel.

“The whole business is built around the heritage nature,’’ Arida says.

“That’s not the only selling point but that’s the ambience we create.’’

When the lockdown is lifted, Heritage can’t wait to welcome back patrons who have made it their “home away from home’’.

“It’s a very nice to community to be in,’’ Arida says.

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