A place to drink natural wine
With its Parisian wine bar vibes, we take a look at Byron Bay's latest wine bar, Bar Heather.
@heather.bar
The team behind Lo-Fi wines and Byron Bay's Luna Wine Store have opened a new place to drink and it's named Bar Heather. The Parisian-inspired, natural wine-focused restaurant and bar features a snack-heavy, wine-friendly menu that chef Ollie Wong-Hee (previously Ester, Sixpenny and Franklin) has created, that draws inspiration from a strong focus on local produce sourced from organic suppliers around the Northern Rivers of New South Wales.
Bar Heather interiors (top); small plates of seasonal produce (pictured white asparagus from the spring offering).
Behind the wine list is James Audas and Tom Sheer, sommeliers-turned-wine importers (ex Noma, Oscillate Wildly and LP’s Quality Meats) of Lo-Fi Wines who have curated their own cellar into the Bar Heather list. “Over the years we’ve collected some very special bottles and always thought that if we ever opened a drink-in venue this is where they would go” says owner Tom Sheer. Alongside sommelier Ollie Smith (previously 10 William St) they both search out rare and characterful wines from around the world and rotate the wine list as frequently as Wong-Hee’s seasonal food menu.
The interiors at Bar Heather. Potato chip, manchego custard and shiitake, clever bar snacks from Ollie Wong-Hee.
Find Bar Heather in Byron Bay's town centre on Jonson Street. It's likely to be very busy over summer, so make sure you book ahead.
Photography Jess Kearney
