Meet Nick and Nora’s: Parramatta’s new rooftop bar

CAVIAR, champagne and cocktails: the newest kid on the Macquarie St, block oozes sophisticated cool.

Anthony Le makes a cocktail at Nick and Nora's. Pictures: Justin Sanson

CAVIAR, champagne and cocktails: the newest kid on the Macquarie St block oozes sophisticated cool.

The art deco themed bar Nick and Nora’s opened on the 26th floor of the V By Crown building on Macquarie St last Friday.

The sixth venue from The Speakeasy Group, which also owns city haunts Eau De Vie and Mjolner, Nick & Nora’s offers a luxe interior space along with 270 degree views across Parramatta from its outdoor terrace.

The bar is well stocked with a range of spirits.

Named after the main characters from Dashiell Hammett’s novel The Thin Man, the bar aims to recreate the atmosphere the owners imagined from the fictional couple’s soirees.

The Speakeasy Group co-owner Sven Almenning said the concept behind the bar was “to create a space that made you feel as you’ve arrived at a great private party at someone’s home”.

Fellow co-owner Greg Sanderson said the aim was a “fun and upbeat environment”.

“Picture a private party at an awesome New York penthouse with art deco flourishes, complete with numerous champagne towers, trays brimming with Martinis and crowds of well-dressed people dancing to upbeat and eclectic funk as the sun sets in the distance,” he said.

The bar takes design inspiration from the party scene of the 1920s and 1930s.

Caviar, oysters, and charcuterie boards fill the “raw” food menu, designed to nibble on with a drink or two from the extensive bar, which stocks hundreds of spirits and more than 50 champagnes.

Creative cocktails are laid out in themes, named after classic detective noir characters, and include new takes on classics like their take on a Bloody Mary; the Bon Vivant Breakfast ($19), made of gin or vodka with tomato, chipotle cherry and lemon.

The Asta Martini ($22) combines vodka, vermouth and pickled jalapeño juice, while the Cafe Noir ($21) brings an espresso martini to the next level with coffee, sherry and rum topped with a saffron, tonka and vanilla mousse snap frozen with liquid nitrogen.

The bar has an extensive champagne menu, including 1.5 litre bottles of Dom Perignon.

Venue manager James Carlin said the drinks menu aimed to showcase the spirits on offer without overpowering their flavours.

“We let the spirits speak for themselves,” he said.

The Details: Open on Mondays to Thursdays from 5pm until midnight, Fridays from 3pm until midnight and weekends from noon until midnight, at Level 26/45 Macquarie St, Parramatta, nickandnoras.com.au.