Places I love and I would recommend !
Essentials
Don't feel like cooking? At Papa Joe's you get home made Minestrone, Pasta to take home and warm it up. It's all made by Mama and you can taste the love in there! Also available all sort of fruits, ham, cheese, dairy, etc.
Papa Joe & Co
196 Darling StDon't feel like cooking? At Papa Joe's you get home made Minestrone, Pasta to take home and warm it up. It's all made by Mama and you can taste the love in there! Also available all sort of fruits, ham, cheese, dairy, etc.
Woolworths Balmain
276 Darling StIt's the usual supermarket
Balmain East Laundrette
129 Rowntree StClosest supermarket and liquor shop
Getting Around
Tips for public transport!
Can you imagine a better way to visit or return home than on an iconic ferry? After a hard days of sightseeing there is simply no better way to relax than being on the water. And the trip from Circular Quay is only about 10 minutes so its the perfect day trip.
Ferry to Balmain East Wharf
43 locals recommend
Balmain East Wharf station
Can you imagine a better way to visit or return home than on an iconic ferry? After a hard days of sightseeing there is simply no better way to relax than being on the water. And the trip from Circular Quay is only about 10 minutes so its the perfect day trip.
Ferry to Balmain East Wharf
Move around Sydney Harbour in style and comfort with Water Taxis Combined.
Water Taxis Combined Pty Ltd
Circular Quay WestMove around Sydney Harbour in style and comfort with Water Taxis Combined.
Arts & Culture
The Rocks
The Balmain Watch HouseA police lockup built in 1854 to the design of Edmund Blacket.A National Trust heritage building managed by the Balmain Association. A sandstone building requiring conservation work.
Balmain Watch House
179 Darling St The Balmain Watch HouseA police lockup built in 1854 to the design of Edmund Blacket.A National Trust heritage building managed by the Balmain Association. A sandstone building requiring conservation work.
Sightseeing
Famous Sydney places
Climb the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge & enjoy the Best Views of Sydney Harbour.
14 locals recommend
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge & enjoy the Best Views of Sydney Harbour.
Sydney Opera House
Drinks & Nightlife
Barangaroo
East Village Hotel Balmain
82 Darling St
The London Hotel
234 Darling StA classy drink can be found at The Lodge, where leather booths accompany an extensive wine list and impressive liquor cabinet. A seasonal menu keeps the hungry happy who can pair wines with shares plates of cheeses, olives and gnocchi. Stop by for a wid-week nightcap otherwise their Sunday long lunch is hard to pass.
3/415 Darling Street, Balmain
The Long Goodbye
83 Stanley StA classy drink can be found at The Lodge, where leather booths accompany an extensive wine list and impressive liquor cabinet. A seasonal menu keeps the hungry happy who can pair wines with shares plates of cheeses, olives and gnocchi. Stop by for a wid-week nightcap otherwise their Sunday long lunch is hard to pass.
3/415 Darling Street, Balmain
Food scene
My favourites
Euforia Balmain East dishes up impressive views along with its tasty menu, great coffee and friendly service. Euforia Balmain East is known for its breakfast dishes, with Belgian waffles and French toast on the must-try list.
18 locals recommend
Euforia Espresso
58 Darling StEuforia Balmain East dishes up impressive views along with its tasty menu, great coffee and friendly service. Euforia Balmain East is known for its breakfast dishes, with Belgian waffles and French toast on the must-try list.
It may be small, but the sandstone walls are the backdrop to delicious gourmet pizza and Nonna-style pasta dishes. Popular among families, Cappello Pizzeria has a cosy but vibrant atmosphere, but hold out until a little later and you will have the perfect setting for a romantic dinner for two.
9 locals recommend
Cappello Pizzeria
79 Darling StIt may be small, but the sandstone walls are the backdrop to delicious gourmet pizza and Nonna-style pasta dishes. Popular among families, Cappello Pizzeria has a cosy but vibrant atmosphere, but hold out until a little later and you will have the perfect setting for a romantic dinner for two.
Harbourside dining at its finest, Balmain East's The Fenwick is the latest inner west restaurant you need to try. Relaxed café dining vibes combined with beautiful interiors allow diners to focus on the well-curated culinary offering. Its historical setting, picturesque views across the harbour and refined menu make it the perfect place for a decadent weekend lunch with the girls.
The Fenwick
2-8 Weston StHarbourside dining at its finest, Balmain East's The Fenwick is the latest inner west restaurant you need to try. Relaxed café dining vibes combined with beautiful interiors allow diners to focus on the well-curated culinary offering. Its historical setting, picturesque views across the harbour and refined menu make it the perfect place for a decadent weekend lunch with the girls.
The name says it all really, and Kafeine is a reliable morning pitstop. Serving Campos coffee (win!) and freshly-squeezed juices (double win!), the cafe offers enough health food to make you a morning person. Kale continues over to lunch, but for those wanting to indulge a little it’s hard to go past their burgers.
260 Darling Street, Balmain
26 locals recommend
Kafeine
260 Darling StThe name says it all really, and Kafeine is a reliable morning pitstop. Serving Campos coffee (win!) and freshly-squeezed juices (double win!), the cafe offers enough health food to make you a morning person. Kale continues over to lunch, but for those wanting to indulge a little it’s hard to go past their burgers.
260 Darling Street, Balmain
A darling of Darling Street, Contessa Balmain is a local favourite. Italian meets American here with lunches of burgers and pasta. Serving coffee from The Grounds of Alexandria and sweets by Luxe, breakfast brings in equally appreciative crowds. Order the breakfast bruschetta or concede to order envy.
371b Darling Street, Balmain
21 locals recommend
Contessa Balmain
371A Darling StA darling of Darling Street, Contessa Balmain is a local favourite. Italian meets American here with lunches of burgers and pasta. Serving coffee from The Grounds of Alexandria and sweets by Luxe, breakfast brings in equally appreciative crowds. Order the breakfast bruschetta or concede to order envy.
371b Darling Street, Balmain
Hidden in Darling Street’s Institute Arcade, Alegrias Spanish Tapas does both ends of dining well. A quiet, cosy haunt for couples on weeknights becomes a bustling establishment on weekends with live bands accompanying paella and sangria-filled dinners. Stop by for your Spanish fix, but pick your day wisely.
9/322 Darling Street, Balmain
6 locals recommend
Alegrias Spanish Tapas / Currently closed for Renovations. Re-opening September
124 Terry StreetHidden in Darling Street’s Institute Arcade, Alegrias Spanish Tapas does both ends of dining well. A quiet, cosy haunt for couples on weeknights becomes a bustling establishment on weekends with live bands accompanying paella and sangria-filled dinners. Stop by for your Spanish fix, but pick your day wisely.
9/322 Darling Street, Balmain
A beautiful cottage on Darling Street turned bar-slash-restaurant, The Cottage has a Grandma’s farmhouse kinda feel with a vintage chic vibe. From the courtyard and garden to the modern Australia share plates and cocktail menu, there is much to love about this humble, local hangout.
342 Darling Street, Balmain
53 locals recommend
The Cottage Bar & Kitchen
342 Darling StA beautiful cottage on Darling Street turned bar-slash-restaurant, The Cottage has a Grandma’s farmhouse kinda feel with a vintage chic vibe. From the courtyard and garden to the modern Australia share plates and cocktail menu, there is much to love about this humble, local hangout.
342 Darling Street, Balmain
Neighbourhoods
Beautiful and interesting suburbs in Sydney
A place where sweet macaroons, Sunday brunch and trendy beer gardens go hand in hand, Balmain and Birchgrove form a pocket of Sydney that’s steeped in history. Having evolved into a stylish village enclave that’s renowned for its pub, café and shopping culture, this peninsula locale has embraced its new identity whilst remaining true to its industrial blue-collar roots.
66 locals recommend
Balmain
A place where sweet macaroons, Sunday brunch and trendy beer gardens go hand in hand, Balmain and Birchgrove form a pocket of Sydney that’s steeped in history. Having evolved into a stylish village enclave that’s renowned for its pub, café and shopping culture, this peninsula locale has embraced its new identity whilst remaining true to its industrial blue-collar roots.
Watsons Bay is located on the southern head of the entrance to Sydney Harbour. To the east is the Tasman Sea and to the west is the Harbour with a glorious view of the city of Sydney in the distance.
Catch a ferry from Balmain East, have a nice trip to the very last stop and then you will see why I recommended it.
332 locals recommend
Watsons Bay
Watsons Bay is located on the southern head of the entrance to Sydney Harbour. To the east is the Tasman Sea and to the west is the Harbour with a glorious view of the city of Sydney in the distance.
Catch a ferry from Balmain East, have a nice trip to the very last stop and then you will see why I recommended it.
Barangaroo is a place to meet, work, live, eat and simply relax.
Barangaroo was once a bustling container terminal, but thanks to a big urban renewal project this suburb on the edge of Sydney Harbour now has something for everyone.
128 locals recommend
Barangaroo
Barangaroo is a place to meet, work, live, eat and simply relax.
Barangaroo was once a bustling container terminal, but thanks to a big urban renewal project this suburb on the edge of Sydney Harbour now has something for everyone.