Where should I stay in Parramatta for SOUND WEST?

Parramatta boasts a large range of accommodation options from five-star hotels to budget hotels and motels, and everything in between.

There are many accommodation options close to the conference venue CommBank Stadium like the Novotel Parramatta and Urban Escape.

Also within easy walking distance of the Stadium is the official hotel partner of SOUND WEST, the Parkroyal Parramatta. It’s also located near the popular ‘Eat Street’ restaurant precinct. 

Find out more information about the range of accommodation and facilities available in Parramatta.

Where can I eat in Parramatta?

Parramatta is fast becoming a food mecca with cuisines from dozens of countries and something to suit every budget.

The logical place to start is the famous Church Street, which is also known as ‘Eat Street’ with the highest concentration of restaurants in Parramatta. A few popular eateries include:

• Restaurant 317 started as an eatery focused on gluten-free diets but has evolved to offer a range of modern dishes.
• What do Champagne, fried chicken and sneakers have in common? They're all on the menu at Butter.
• Alex & Co serves modern Australian cuisine set in an expansive, open-plan venue with indoor & outdoor areas to take in views of the Parramatta River.

Testament to the growing popularity of Parramatta as a food destination, some of Sydney’s biggest names in food have joined the established names including:

• Bourke St Bakery offers an excellent selection of bread products.
• Coco Cubano is inspired by the flavours and culture of Cuba.
• Gelato Messina is a destination all of its own with 40 flavours made from unique recipes.

The next stop on your culinary tour should be the recently established Parramatta Square. Here you’ll find some of the best-known global restaurants and various cuisines from around the world. From Asian cuisine at LILYMU, to European vibes at Ruse Bar and Brasserie and Italian cuisine at CicciaBella Trattoria + Bar. 

If you enjoy Indian or south Asian food you need to head south from the Parramatta CBD where you’ll find Harris Park, otherwise known as Little India. There’s an impressive selection of Indian restaurants along Wigram Street, offering some of the most authentic meals outside the subcontinent. People come from all over Sydney come to enjoy the range of south Asian cuisine.

Where to drink in Parramatta?

In recent years Parramatta has also become the home of great coffee as well as a place to enjoy a social drink with friends.

Places you can get a great coffee include:

Circa Espresso in Wentworth Street offers high-quality coffee and food in a quirky setting.

Mr Phillips is a hole in the wall, but it serves some of Parramatta’s best coffee from its two separate locations both on Phillip Street.

For drinks, there are plenty of large pubs and bars in Parramatta that you can find all across the CBD but if you’re looking for somewhere a little different try Nick and Nora’s, a stylish rooftop bar on the 26th floor of the new V by Crown development.
 

Where can I shop in Parramatta?

Parramatta CBD is home to Westfield Parramatta, a major shopping mall with over 400 retail stores including popular fashion labels and lifestyle brands.

If you prefer to explore more unique retail experiences when you’re visiting a new place Parramatta has some great destination stores including:

• Guitar Factory - originally opening in the early 1960s, the Guitar Factory has grown to become an establishment in its own right and now offers a full line of music supplies including, guitars, drums, keyboards, PA, recording equipment, computer-assisted music and more. It’s located at 255 Church Street.
• Beatdisc Records - where locals have been coming since 1995 for vinyl, CDs, DVDs and music memorabilia, both new and second-hand. It’s located in the far corner of Centenary Square — opposite St Johns Church.
• Culture Kings Streetwear – has hundreds of sneaker brands, and even more caps, accessories and clothing from your favourite brands. As well as its retail offerings it has a DJ, half a basketball court and arcade games. It’s located on the corner of Church and Macquarie Streets.

Find out more about shopping in Parramatta.

Get active in Parramatta

Close to the conference venue for SOUND WEST is Parramatta Park. Within the historic 85-hectare park is a 3.2 km loop walk which is an easy and enjoyable stroll.

Another popular walk in the Parramatta CBD is the Riverside Walk. It’s a 3.5 km walking path on the northern side of the river featuring murals depicting indigenous history. The murals begin at Heritage and Visitor Information Centre.

Watch a show at Riverside Theatres

A stone’s throw away from CommBank Stadium is Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres. Come to the theatre to watch a show or a film. Find out What’s On. 

Learn about colonial history

Parramatta is home to many historic buildings. As the oldest inland European settlement in Australia, built on the land of the Dharug people, Parramatta's heritage buildings are an important part of Australia’s history.

Popular historic sites, many of which are an easy walk from the centre of Parramatta are:

• Old Government House
• Experiment Farm Cottage
• Elizabeth Farm
• Parramatta Female Factory
• Lancer Barracks
• Lennox Bridge
• Hambledon Cottage
• St John’s Cemetery
• St John’s Cathedral, Church Street
• Parramatta Town Hall.

Bar-tailed Godwit

A small migratory shore bird that arrives in August each year to feed along the waters of the Parramatta River, the Bar-tailed Godwit is recognised as a feature and symbol of our city. These birds are total winners in the air — they have been known to travel 11,000 km from Alaska in eight days, flying at an average of more than 50km/h without sleep or eats! According to Bird Life Australia, between 2008 and 2011, over 300 Godwits were recorded in the Parramatta River estuary. We can help protect them by keeping our dogs on leashes near shorebird habitat – when chased by dogs, Godwits stop feeding and may not eat enough to fly back to the Arctic Circle to breed.

Red-Crowned Toadlet 

A species of Australian ground frog, this easy-to-spot fella is unique to the Sydney Basin. Found only around sandstone escarpment areas around Sydney, from Ourimbah in the north, Nowra to the south and the Blue Mountains areas to the west, the stunning orange-red triangle or ‘T’ shape on its head makes this frog very distinctive. If you’re curious to spot a red-crowned toadlets, be sure to tread carefully around rocky areas – they love sheltering under rocks and amongst masses of dense vegetation or thick piles of leaf litter. To help protect this species we need to focus on improving our water quality and maintaining natural water flows wherever possible.

Grey-headed Flying-fox

It’s as magical as it is eerie – walking along the Parramatta River at dusk just as the pink sky fills with hundreds of flying foxes and microbats. There are around 15,000 flying foxes and microbats living in Parramatta Park, and a good place to spot them is along the eastern side of the river. Head down there just before nightfall to see them take flight in search of food, or catch them in the daytime hanging upside down in the trees. Want to take steps to help protect this species? Consider volunteering to work with a bushcare group that is planting food or roost trees for a local flying-fox colony.
 

Powerful Owl

The Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) is Australia’s largest owl with a mighty wingspan of up to 140cm. Despite the fact that it’s a threatened species, the Powerful Owl does live in cities.  During the daytime they are usually found roosting among dense leafy foliage of trees and shrubs, but a keen eye may spot a Powerful Owl on the hunt for prey in the forests and woodlands along the Parramatta River. The best way to work out if the owls are about is to listen for their calls after dusk or very early in the morning. They have a soft but resonant whoo-hoot, which can be heard up to a kilometre away!
 

Green and Golden Bell Frog

The Green and Golden Bell Frog is a truly beautiful creature. They come in an extraordinary range of colours – from a vibrant pea green splotch with metallic brass brown, to almost completely green and even golden. In the 1960s, the presence of this frog was fairly widespread but it is now considered a threatened species. The best place for spotting a Green and Golden Bell Frog is the southern bank of the Parramatta River. Other smaller areas of habitation occur at Merrylands around the Holroyd Gardens estate, was formerly the Goodlet and Smith Brickworks. To protect this species, consider creating green and golden bell frog habitat in your own garden!
 

Top 6 Unique Study Spaces in Parramatta

Sometimes, a change of environment is all you need to prevent burnout and continue productive studying. If you’re looking for a unique space to study in Parramatta, you’ve come to the right place!

There are many reasons why you should study in Parramatta, with our unique study spaces being one of them. Parramatta is home to many unique study spots, all with their own quirks and benefits. Keep reading to find your next study spot and enjoy the change of pace at one of the study spaces recommended below.

Circa Espresso

Circa Espresso is a unique cafe in Parramatta, ideal for long study sessions over a hot drink. Located on Wentworth St, Circa Espresso is one of Parramatta’s most celebrated cafes with refined specialty drinks and a seasonal coffee menu with a Middle Eastern influence.

The cafe is elaborately decorated with antique lamps, the staff’s favourite books, and vintage wall accessories. Filled with small two-person tables and tucked away on the quieter side of Parramatta, the cafe is perfect for solo studying sessions and private reading.

Wistaria Gardens

Studying indoors at the same stale desk can get boring fast, so what better way to get out of your studying rut than by exploring the outdoors? Head over to Wistaria Gardens, spread out your picnic rug and start reviewing your notes in the healthy glow of the sun.

There’s lots to enjoy at Wistaria Gardens, from flowering cherry blossoms to soft, thriving grass, and of course, the blooming wisteria. Study while surrounded by the best of mother nature and find yourself being more productive working outdoors in Parramatta’s parks than cooped up inside.

Dymocks Tutoring

For students looking to improve their academics while also having a space to study quietly and productively after school, Dymocks Tutoring is the place to be. Dymocks Tutoring is part of Australia’s legacy Dymocks Group and offers education services for students looking to improve on their school grades or simply learn at a quicker pace.

You can learn in the private classes offered by Dymocks Tutoring or catch up on schoolwork in the building’s reception and dedicated study lounges. You can even ask some of the tutors for assistance on a particular piece of homework or for general study advice. Dymocks Tutoring is a great study environment for primary and high school kids looking to improve their academics.

WSU Owen Library

Western Sydney University’s Owen Library is a cosy, accessible study area in Parramatta. Intended for science and engineering students, the library is open from 7:30am to 8:45pm on weekdays with slight opening hour adjustments on Fridays and Sundays.

One of the biggest positives about studying in Owen Library is its quiet and private environment. Due to being one of the older buildings on the WSU campus, the library is often empty and thus, also study-friendly. You can grab a study table for yourself and start working on your projects with the university’s speedy guest Wi-Fi, printing system, and other amenities. If you’re a WSU student, you can also book a study room at Owen Library.

Westfield Parramatta

Westfield Parramatta is one of the unique public areas in Parramatta that you can visit to study. Typically less busy in the early mornings, you can find a lounge or comfy seating area in the shopping centre to study in.

Some of the lounge areas also have power points where you can plug in your laptop (or any other electronic device) while studying. You can also spend your study breaks in the shopping centre window-shopping, people-watching or simply relaxing.

Spice Up Your Study Sessions in Parramatta

Spice up your studying ventures in Parramatta by visiting some of the unique spots listed above. From specialty cafes to luscious parks to hired desks, there are many study spots you can check out in Parramatta that make it a great place to study.

A Harris Park Indian Grocer Shopping List by Fabbrica’s Aniruddha Bhosekar

Check out our pick of the best things to buy when shopping at Radhe, as told by Aniruddha Bhosekar, baker at Sydney’s Fabbrica and Thane native. There’s always time for a quick spot of shopping pre- or post-dinner! 

Aniruddha Bhosekar grew up in Thane, a city just outside of Mumbai, home to vast, tree-lined lakes, a Cadbury Dairy Milk factory and vendors selling spiced kokum sodas. He now heads up all things baking at Sydney's Fabbrica, perfecting recipes for crusty, chewy sourdough and Italian doughnuts. What about in his downtime, when he's craving food from home? Ani heads to Harris Park grocery institution, Radhe, and he's whittled his top 10 shopping list down to a fine art.

Harris Park is home to many excellent grocers — from dedicated spice shops to sweet shops and fully-fledged grocery stores. Whether you know your way around, or are new to the area, consult Ani’s hit list of what to grab when you head to Radhe Supermarket on Station Street East — it’s just a three minute walk from Harris Park Station (and right next to the Harris Park Chatkazz!), is a go-to for Indian groceries and snacks. 
 

Haldiram's Aloo Bhujia: Haldiram makes a lot of different types of bhujia — a lot! Ani recommends the Aloo Bhujia — a comforting, spicy snack of potato and besan noodles. “My brother-in-law prefers the Bhujia Sev which is a completely different product but he's missing out,” says Ani. It’s a delicious work or study snack, or crunchy salad or curry topping.

Amul Ghee and Butter: Amul Butter is unlike anything you've tried, Ani believes. It’s tricky to find in Australia but the Amul ghee is readily available at Radhe and equally worthy of your pantry! 

MDH Spices: According to Ani, MDH have achieved an excellent standard of Indian spice mixes. MDH spice mixes are essentially ready-to-go, mixed for almost every curry. Chaat masala, chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, Goan fish curry — you name it. Simply grab the mix you like and follow the instructions on the box for an incredible curry each time. 

Kasuri Methi: Kasuri methi are dried fenugreek leaves, and for many, including Ani, a curry can’t be made without them. Use kasuri methi to fragrant your rice, as a curry or flatbread garnish or curry base — the addition of kasuri methi imparts flavour and aroma to any dish.

Parle-G: These no-cream, flat-baked sweet biscuits are the quintessential chai accompaniment. Stash a pack or two in your cupboard to ensure your next coffee or tea has a sweet sidekick.

Good Day (cashew): If you’re going to grab any Good Day biscuits from Radhe it’s got to be of the cashew variety. Good Day biscuits are buttery, like shortbread, and come in three different varieties — butter, cashew and pistachio. A great dunking option.
Mango pickle: A good mango pickle is a pantry essential. Ani likes the Priya's or Mother's Recipe varieties. Use liberally as a sweet-tangy condiment with curries, bread and yoghurt — even in an oozy cheese toastie.

Cadbury Dairy Milk: Every time Ani would pass the Cadbury factory he could smell the chocolate in the air. According to Ani, every Indian abroad loves this brand simply because the Toblerones, Milky Ways, Mars Bars and all the rest, weren't as easily available as they are today, but Cadbury always had a chocolate bar for every occasion. Indian Cadbury tastes different to the variety you’ll find in Australian grocers, so it’s a must try.

Brook Bond Taj Mahal Tea: There are many, many, many tea brands out there, but for Ani, Brook Bond is the best. There are two ways to brew chai: either brew the tea leaves, sugar (and spices if you want) in water, heat the milk separately and then combine, OR, combine water, tea and milk all together and boil to your liking. Ani prefers the former but each to their own!

Paneer: Frozen or fresh — according to Ani, it doesn’t matter. Paneer is great to have in the fridge at home to use in curries, appetizers, desserts and cake. It’s very versatile and soaks up flavour impeccably.

Ani's Radhe shopping list is a great place to start, but nothing beats heading to Harris Park to browse shelf-upon-shelf with your own eyes (and stomachs) before snacking your way through this food-filled neighbourhood.
 
A quick shop in the famous Radhe Harris Park is essential when visiting Harris Park. From fresh produce to meal-base spice mixes, it’s got all your Indian cooking needs covered — from experienced chef to curry amateur! Happy cooking and snacking! 
 
Radhe Harris Park is located at 8/10 Station Street East, Harris Park. It’s open from 9:30am to 10:30pm on weeknights, and 11pm on the weekend. It’s located a short distance from Harris Park train station and is a 10-minute walk from Parramatta. 
 

A Look Inside Harris Park’s Beautiful Saree Shop

We dropped into The Saree Shop to get the low-down on these beautiful pieces of clothing, their origin and what to look out for when choosing your own.

It’s argued that The Saree Shop in Harris Park is the best in the business for sarees, accessories and Indian menswear. This Harris Park institution has been operating for over 30 years — the first decade from the former owner’s house, and the proceeding two from its current address, 42 Station Street East.

For the unacquainted, the saree is the oldest type of women's dress in India. It is, in essence, a vast stretch of cloth, typically five and a half meters long, that’s wrapped over an underskirt and top. Wrap styles vary greatly, with region, culture and personal preference — how someone wraps their saree in India will differ to a person in Sri Lanka.

For the past six years The Saree Shop’s been owned and operated by Chandrasekaran Shanmugam, a man after the hearts of any saree-loving person and keen advocate for all people to wear and enjoy them. We dropped into his shop to get the low-down on these beautiful pieces of clothing, their origin and what to look out for when choosing your own.
 

How are sarees made?

Sarees are made by machine and hand, and The Saree Shop offers both. A typical saree is woven on a machine from a variety of different fabrics such as cotton, silk, chiffon, crepe or khadi. Machine-made sarees are often more affordable than those handmade, making them a good option for everyday wear.

Bridal sarees are often handmade by one person – the person who began making the garment has to be the same person to finish it. They can take up to a month to make and are often woven from silk and heavily embroidered with different coloured threads and beads. 

How do you choose a saree?

Choosing the right saree is determined by three factors.  

Budget: how much do you have to spend? This will affect the type of fabric your saree will be made from and the way it will be made — by machine or hand. 

Preference: what do you like? Saree fabric and colour choice is broadly a personal choice, especially when it comes to everyday wear. 

Occasion: where are you wearing your saree? A special occasion will generally call for a more premium fabric, while a saree to be worn every day should be more comfortable and versatile, made perhaps, from a breathable cotton. 

Is it ok for non-Indian people to wear sarees?

When asked if it was appropriate for a non-Indian person to wear a saree, Shanmugam’s response was, “Of course! The saree is universal. Haven’t you seen Jodi McKay?” He was referring, of course, to the NSW politician who often wore a saree in parliament and is not Indian but owns more than 70 sarees, a celebration of her affinity with India and her belief in celebrating multiculturalism in all its forms.
 

What should guests wear to an Indian wedding? 

If you’ve had the honour of being invited to an Indian wedding, firstly, congratulations! They’re wonderful, grand (they are days-long!), colourful, food-filled affairs. Secondly, you’ll need to get your attire in order. Women-identifying are welcome to wear a saree or lehenga and Shanmugam would encourage you to drop into a shop such as his for advice on what will suit you best. Men-identifying can wear a coat and suit or a simple dhoti. It should be noted that while Hindu ceremonies don’t have rules regarding men’s clothing, there are some for women’s. 

Sarees are a wonderful, colourful, inclusive piece of clothing. The Saree Shop on Station Street East, Harris Park, is your one-stop-shop for sarees and other Indian garments. Drop in on your next trip to Harris Park for a special occasion outfit or to try something new!