What to Expect from The Parlor at Heights House

The Boylan Heights mansion will host Italian-inspired cocktail hours in its lounge , open to non-hotel guests starting in June
by Addie Ladner | photography by Forrest Mason

The Heights House Hotel opened nearly a year ago to much fanfare— but if you haven’t scheduled a staycation or been invited to an event there, you may not have had a chance to visit yet. But starting this month, you can visit the beautifully restored boutique hotel even if you aren’t an overnight guest. 

Come June 1, owners Sarah and Jeff Shepard will host the Raleigh community in The Parlor, their first floor lounge space, for “an intimate cocktail experience.” To complement this Italianate mansion, the menu features a curated selection of Italian inspired cocktails, an all-Italian wine list and local craft beer alongside cheese and charcuterie boards. Raleigh native Will Bryant – formerly of Charlotte’s Fin & Fino – was tapped as the manager and mixologist responsible for the Parlor’s cocktail program, designed to celebrate the spirit of the home.

“Our goal has always been to share Heights House Hotel with the Raleigh community,” explains co-owner Sarah Shepherd. “With the opening of The Parlor at Heights House Hotel, we’re thrilled to now offer non-hotel guests — and especially our neighbors and Raleigh residents — an opportunity to enjoy this historic property in a casual and relaxed way.”

The Parlor will be open by reservation only Sunday from 2pm to 7pm and Tuesday through Thursday from 4pm to 9pm; seating is limited, and available for groups up to six only. Once ordering drinks, guests can enjoy them in The Parlor, Drawing Room, Library, Dining Room or the two covered first-floor verandas and fire pit area. 

This is the first step in the Shepherds’ plans to make Heights House a friendly gathering place for the community.  “We are also exploring the idea of offering live music once a month — something jazzy and appropriate for this lovely setting,” she says.