By Lisa Sevajian, Realtor · Published August 25, 2026 · Last updated October 14, 2026 · 6 min read

Parlay in Methuen MA: Is There Really a Restaurant on Top of a Golf Course?

This is what Methuen MA feels like on an ordinary Saturday, not a listing day.

You want a real night out. You're tired of the same three spots. You'd love a view. You just don't want to sit in traffic to Boston to get one.

If you feel stuck in a dinner rut, you aren't alone. I hear it all the time from clients in Andover MA, North Andover MA and Salem NH.

So here's my secret. There's a restaurant sitting on top of a golf course in Methuen MA. Most people drive right past it. Locals will probably be mad I told you. I can't keep a secret this good.

Sure, you could drive to Boston for a view. You don't have to.

Where is Parlay in Methuen MA?

Parlay is on the top floor of the clubhouse at Merrimack Valley Golf Club, 210 Howe St in Methuen MA.

You park at the golf club and head upstairs. The Eagle-Tribune covered the opening in 2023. It has a bar, an indoor lounge and a rooftop deck over the course.

If you've played the course, you may have eaten downstairs. Upstairs feels like a whole different place.

What's the view like from the Parlay deck?

You look right out over the fairways, the greens and the homes that line the course.

The photo at the top of this post is my own shot from the deck. Golf carts roll by. The trees go on and on. At sunset the whole sky turns pink and gold.

My tip: get there about 45 minutes before sunset and ask for the deck. You'll thank me.

Is the golf course really that old?

Yes. Merrimack Valley Golf Club dates to 1906, and its design is credited to Donald Ross, per the course listing.

Ross is one of the best known golf course designers in the country. So you're having dinner over more than a century of local golf history. That's a fun fact to bring to the table.

What should you order at Parlay?

Start with the tuna tartare. It's my order every time.

The last time I went, our bowl came back scraped clean. We also tried the caviar, and the steak tips with a wedge salad. The bartender took great care of us all night.

Menus change with the season. Check their website before you go so you know what's on it that night.

Who is Parlay good for?

Almost anyone who wants a night out with a view.

• Date night
• Girls night out
• Guys night out
• Drinks after work with your team
• A quiet dinner at the bar with a good book

It's a great spot to show off to friends visiting from out of town. They'll never guess it's up there.

Can you live near Merrimack Valley Golf Club in Methuen MA?

Yes. Look back at the photo from the deck. Those homes along the fairways are real neighborhoods.

Toll Brothers built homes near the course, including Regency at Emerald Pines, a 55 plus community. If you're downsizing, that's worth a look.

Want to know what a home near the course costs to own each year? Start with the tax rate. The state posts every city's FY2026 tax rate, and the average single family tax bill too.

Why does a dinner spot matter when you're picking a town?

Because the house is only part of your life. The rest is where you go on a Tuesday night.

I always tell buyers to spend a night out in a town before they buy there. Order dinner. Watch who comes in. You'll learn more in two hours than in ten listings.

Places like Parlay are a big reason people fall for Methuen MA once they see it.

This is general information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Check with your attorney, lender and CPA before you decide.

I'll guide you home.

Lisa Sevajian