HOT SPOTS in Balmain, Sydney (inner west)

Pretty Bird - 207 Darling St - clothes, beauty salon and very friendly service. www.prettybird.com.au

Strelitzia - 327 Darling St - upmarket clothes for non-teenagers. Ph: 9810 7290

Elkington Park - Glassop St. Views, playground, rotunda, Dawn Fraser Baths, walking path.

Bertoni Casalinga – 281 Darling St – a really good café popular for its coffee and cakes

Victoire - 285 Darling St - for great French cakes and sourdough breads. It’s not cheap but it is yummy

Balmain market – 223 Darling St - Saturdays 8am – 4pm at St Andrews Church

TJ’s Butcher – 319 Darling St - for its ethical organic meats

Emile’s Fruit and Vegetables – 321 Darling St – very colourful display and good selection of fruit and vegetables

Kazbah – 379 Darling St - for its Middle Eastern inspired cuisine. Bookings are vital for weekends. Ph: 9555 7067

The Gourmet Grocer - Darling St - deli/foodhall/cafe

Romana's - Darling St - popular for breakfast on weekends

Our Place - 225 Darling St - courtyard dining. Popular for breakfast.

Ciao Thyme - 212 Darling St - deli, breakfast, lunches

Pomegranate Thai - 191 Darling St

Trojan's - 237 Darling St - kid friendly

Rawcast Cafe - Darling St - near Strelizia - great city views.

Balmain Bakehouse - Darling St - good bread

Nood Noodle Bar - 388 Darling St - popular with locals

Poppy's Cafe - Darling St - the quiet end towards Rozelle

The Orange Peel – Beattie St – great for weekend breakfasts

The Exchange Hotel – Beattie St - for its great architecture and themed rooms. Bloody Mary Sunday breakfasts. If you want to meet professionals in their 20’s and 30’s, hang out here on Friday nights. If you can’t be bothered with that scene, check out the complete opposite - Dick’s Hotel - across the road. It’s got a good beer garden.

Sir William Wallace – 31 Cameron St – good food and atmosphere


For information on directions: go to www.whereis.com/whereis/directions.do