The Parlour

Overview

One building, four different places to grab a drink: that's what the space lurking behind a 132-year-old facade on Brunswick Street now serves up. Already home to rooftop bar Cielo, restaurant and bar La Costa, and wine bar and bottle shop La Valle, the location that started its life as Foresters' Hall back in 1889 has now welcomed yet another new watering hole, all thanks to the opening of The Parlour.

Just like its sibling venues, The Parlour takes its cues from the Italian riviera. It has a specific far-flung destination in mind, though: the Gulf of La Spezia. Also known as the Gulf of Poets, the region has links to literature greats such as Ernest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf and Lord Byron. It's also where Percy Bysshe Shelley, husband of Frankenstein author Mary Shelley, drowned — although that's probably not the kind of tidbit you'll want to discuss while you're sipping cocktails.

Instead, you might prefer to chat about The Parlour's drinks list itself, which has been curated by the folks at Sydney's acclaimed Maybe Sammy. Cielo can claim the same, too, so you now have a couple of choices if you want to knock back beverages by a venue that was named one of the top bars in the world last year (ranking 11th on the 2020 World's 50 Best Bars list).

From the 'signatures' section of the cocktail list, you can enjoy the Fenhurst ($23) — a mix of Tanqueray No. 10, Massenez Crème De Pêche, Lillet Rouge, citrus and coconut that also comes topped with a citrus bubble. Or, from the literary-inspired 'Classics', The Tilted World ($23) pairs Johnnie Walker Black, Domaine De Canton ginger liqueur, citrus, egg white, pear and spiced red wine ice. Every cocktail has been crafted to provide a multi-sensory experience, but you can also opt for wine, beer and spirits if you're after something a little less theatrical.

Open evenings until late from Wednesday–Saturday, the bar also serves up a small range of bites, such as beef carpaccio with parmesan, pine nuts and truffle oil ($21); cheese ($32) and charcuterie ($21) boards; and arancini specials ($14), which change daily.

Decor-wise, The Parlour favours a glam retro look; think: dim mood lighting, marble tiles, framed vintage photos, curved booths and cocktail trolleys. And if you head by on a Saturday night, DJs will soundtrack your drinks.