Close to the city center but a little world of its own, the Balmain Peninsula is a truly unique aspect of Sydney. With restaurants, cafes, shops and historic pubs, this seaside suburb is the perfect place for a bit of romance.
Provided by Balmain Rozelle Chamber of Commerce
A travel photographer friend of ours who had never been to Balmain before once remarked that it felt like someone plucked a wealthy county town from regional NSW and dropped it in the middle of Sydney.
And I can see his point.
From narrow streets and sandstone cottages to legendary pubs and cozy restaurants, Balmain feels a million miles away from the CBD's gritty high-rises looming across the water.
But it's the strong neighborhood vibe here that creates an intangible 'none else where' feeling that's rarely felt in other suburbs of the city.
Combine its fascinating history with stunning harbor views and deep connections to much of modern Sydney, and you get the perfect setting for romance.
Balmain is also a really pretty suburb. In fact, it was the subject of Christina's first Colorwalk, which was a great way to explore the neighborhood and improve your photography skills at the same time.
So we've put together a round-up of places to see and things to do in some of our favorite parts of Sydney. Please remember that this is not an exhaustive list of everything on the Korean Peninsula. Those are just some of our favorite places.
To jump directly to each category, click on each item below:
> Cafe
> Restaurant
> Drinks
>Entertainment
> Shopping
For a map of the locations and more information about these places, check out the very handy Balmain Rozelle Chamber of Commerce site.
Balmain and Rozelle are easily accessible. Four bus routes and four ferry routes serve the area, there is a permanent taxi rank in the town centre, and if you drive you can also park for free on the main street after 7pm.
Check out our video Shorts about where Balmain and Rozelle went on a date.
cafe
Here are some of our favorite brunch spots on the peninsula:
Dates don't always have to be dinner. The cafes of Balmain and Rozelle are popular and have some of the best breakfast and lunch options Sydney has to offer.
• Euforia Espresso, 58 Darling St, Balmain East.
• Kafeine, 260 Darling St, Balmain
• Bertoni, 281 Darling St, Balmain
• Contessa Cafe, 371A&B Darling Street, Balmain.
• Hungry Bull Co, 411 Darling Street, Balmain
• Home Croissanterie, 1/418 Darling St, Balmain.
• Old Rosebud, 654 Darling St, Rozelle.
• Dirty Red, 711 Darling St, Rozelle.
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restaurant
Balmain has a variety of restaurant options. There's everything from cheeky burger joints to great Thai and Indian food to fine dining on the water.
• Capello Ristorante & Pizzeria, 79 Darling St, Balmain East
• L'Auberge du Bout du Monde, 358 Darling St, Balmain.
• Corner House, 79 Elliot St, Balmain.
• The Fenwick, 2-8 Weston St, Peacock Point Reserve, Balmain East.
If there’s one place Balmain is famous for, it’s this pub. Although there are fewer of them than there used to be, those that remain are still here for a reason, especially food.
Here are the top products we recommend: pub restaurant On the peninsula:
• Dry Dock Dining Room, 22 Cameron St, Balmain.
• Birchgrove Restaurant in Riverview, 29 Birchgrove Rd, Balmain.
• Cat & Fiddle Bistro, 456 Darling St, Balmain.
• Sackville's Chez Blue, 599 Darling St, Rozelle.
![Balmain and Rozelle's Date Ideas - Pub Dining - Burgers at Bald Rock Hotel](https://mrandmrsromance.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Balmain-Mr-Mrs-Romance-4-pub-food.jpg)
The best pub burger on the peninsula? Bald Rock Hotel, Roselle
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drink
Once a favorite hangout for workers at power stations, docks and even mines (Birchgrove had two!), Balmain's pubs are the perfect option for a leisurely date night.
• The Bold Rock Hotel, 15 Mansfield St, Rozelle.
• London Hotel, 234 Darling St, Balmain
• The Dry Dock Hotel, 22 Cameron St, Balmain.
• Riverview Hotel, 29 Birchgrove Rd, Balmain.
• The Cat & Fiddle Hotel, 456 Darling St, Balmain
• Balmain Hotel (72-76 Mullens St, Balmain)
• Royal Oak, 36 College St, Balmain.
• Merton Hotel, 38 Victoria Rd, Rozelle.
• Native Rose Hotel (68 Victoria Rd, Rozelle)
With Sydney's growing number of small bars, craft breweries and distilleries, we've seen some great pubs pop up on the peninsula.
• Corner Bar Rozelle, 632 Darling St, Rozelle
• Cantina Bar Balmain (350 Darling St, Balmain)
• Bar 26, 26-30 Halloran St, Lilyfield.
• White Bay Brewery (26C Mansfield St, Rozelle)
• Blackwattle Distilling Co distillery and cellar door (tasting only), 26F Mansfield St, Rozelle.
Lastly, never underestimate the virtue of good things. Bye.
Many restaurants in Balmain have BYO licenses and affordable corkage fees. Some places have different openings for Friday and Saturday, so check first.
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game
Live music is really back in Sydney, especially in the pubs. Everywhere from The London to Bald Rock, Cat and Fiddle and Unity Hall, seriously talented bands take the stage for band nights.
Check out each venue to see which nights the bands are playing.
There are beautiful galleries around Balmain, such as Art Gallery in Darling, Balmainspace in Beattie St, Artereal in Rozelle and Lara Scolari Gallery.
For an overload of art, the famous Biennale comes to Balmain in 2024. Taking over the long-dead White Bay Power Station, this large-scale international art exhibition makes the most of the impressive space.
There is also a free bus from the city to and from the power plant, and on weekends there is also a free shuttle direct from the Biennale to Balmain and Rozelle.
More information about this can be found here.
Balmain, located on Sydney's harbour, is a great place for a picnic. Buy local produce from the small shops on Darling Street and make the most of the views of the city, the Harbor Bridge, Cockatoo Island or Sydney's north.
The Tom Uren Trail follows most of the coastline on the eastern end of the peninsula and you'll find small parks around Balmain East with some of the best views.
To watch the sunset over the water, head to Callan Park in Rozelle to explore the spacious grounds and grab a spot at a hidden picnic spot right next to Bay Run.
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shopping
Whether shopping for a picnic date or having a delicious meal at home, Balmain and Rozelle have few stores that we enjoy going to.
Our favorite places are Field Blend Wine & Cheese Store in Balmain and Cheese Celebration in Rozelle on the road to Balmain East. They have everything you need for the pork dish of your dreams.
It's really fun to wander through the historic Rozelle Collectors' Market on a sunny Saturday morning. Especially if you have a snack at the end of the hour! The range of what can be found here is dazzling.
Nearby are some unique shops, including That Plant Shop and We Are Mindful clothing store, which are fun to browse.
In fact, this is one of our favorite things about the area: the abundance of interesting independent boutiques and small shops along Darling St in Rozelle and Balmain. One of our favorite places is Bits of Australia in Balmain East, the perfect place to buy Australian souvenirs, cards, gifts and even local art.
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I hope that revealing all our secrets doesn't mean our area is so full that you can't find a table. But these businesses are worth keeping an eye on. Save some space for us!