First look: Heritage breathes life into the National Triangle’s café scene

Posted on 5 June, 2025

A new café has opened in Parkes, claiming one of Australia’s most powerful addresses. Meet Heritage.

Breathing life into the newly refurbished West Block Building in the National Triangle, Heritage Café has opened as part of the massive $45 million renovation announced in 2022.

Snagging the space is the team behind Symonston’s Red Baron, a hidden gem in the area with an “if you know, you know” reputation, protected by their dedicated and loyal customers.

And while they follow the same ethos of serving top-quality, locally sourced food and proudly pouring OTHERSKY Coffee, Heritage is distinctly different.

While Red Baron might be the cool older sister with lush and electric interiors, Heritage is fresh, elegant, and gives a masterclass in earthy minimalism.

Keeping and paying tribute to the West Block’s heritage aesthetics, from arched windows that look out on the al fresco deck to the warm tan and brown colour palette echoed throughout (thanks to the design team of Capezio Copeland), you can’t help but admire the original architecture while enjoying the modern café offerings.

Attracted to the building itself, Dimitri Damianakis – one of the many faces behind the business – says when the opportunity presented itself to open a café in the space, they decided to take on the challenge to create something they could proudly call ‘Heritage’, and mean it.

Open from 7 am until 4 pm during the week, perfect for public servants in search of caffeine or food to refuel, the food at Heritage caters to many tastes. Explaining that everything is made in-house daily from produce delivered that morning, the concept is simple: keep everything as fresh as possible.

“We have daily displays of wholesome food, available for both dine-in and takeaway, with menus driven by seasonal produce and boutique suppliers,” he says.

“Our offering aims to deliver fresh, local produce across an array of cuisines. We have an abundance of sandwiches, nourishing hot meals, grab-and-go cakes, and even a fresh juice bar and our own twist on matcha!”

The list sounds endless. Add in housemade sushi and plenty of options for dietary requirements (including vegan and gluten-free) and it’s hard not to be impressed.

But this extensive ready-made selection is just the beginning. Heritage is also launching an à la carte menu, complete with café classics, burgers, bowls, and more.

“We specialise in corporate cafes and eateries – whether you’re ready to settle in for a working lunch or just grabbing a quick bite to eat, we have something to suit. The redevelopment of Westblock and Heritage Café embraces that versatility and we can’t wait to welcome more people through” says Dimitri.

And with overflowing sandwiches, soups, curries, and more cakes than you can poke a fork at available, it sounds like the ideal space for any kind of catch-up – personal or professional.

Sitting at the base of Parliament House and surrounded by national institutions, Heritage has been quietly welcoming visitors since Easter while Dimitri and the team found their feet, but now they’re ready to open themselves up to the broader community – and it already sounds like the beginnings of another legacy café in Canberra.

Photography: Pew Pew Studio.