How to Spend a Charming Day and Night in the Inner West Pockets of Balmain and Rozelle
Discover the harbourside suburbs that are bursting with lush parks, tasty pints and delicious eats.
How to Spend a Charming Day and Night in the Inner West Pockets of Balmain and Rozelle
In partnership with
Discover the harbourside suburbs that are bursting with lush parks, tasty pints and delicious eats.
The vibrant suburbs of Balmain and Rozelle stand out as some of Sydney's most captivating and dynamic locales, a short ferry ride or light rail jaunt from the Harbour City's CBD.
The area boasts an array of shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants in quaint Victorian-era buildings. Once humble blue-collar neighbourhoods, the suburbs have transformed into stylish hubs that entice residents, locals and tourists alike.
Together with Balmain Rozelle Chamber of Commerce, we've curated this guide so you can make the most out of these suburbs in Sydney's inner west from day to night.
Read on to discover some of our go-to spots to visit in Rozelle during the day, then flick the switch above, and we'll dim the lights to show the top spots to check out in Balmain once the sun starts to dip.
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Every two years, the Harbour City hosts the Biennale of Sydney. This year, 96 local and international artists and collectives contributing 400-plus pieces are taking over the city from Saturday, March 9-Monday, June 10, under the theme Ten Thousand Suns.
Start your day right by heading down to Rozelle’s White Bay Power Station (open to the public for the first time in over a century for the Biennale) to explore the numerous exhibitions as well as VNS Matrix’s exploration of women and technology via banners, Indigenous weaving and jewellery-making, and so much more.
Image: Daniel Boud
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Keep the art theme going and stroll down to the Kate Owen Gallery to browse one of Sydney’s most astonishing collections of First Nations art from all over the country (with a particular focus on the NT and Central Desert).
If you’re keen to secure your own piece, five specialist Aboriginal art consultants will help you find the perfect artwork. If you’re here to soak up the world’s oldest living culture, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better spot in the city.
Images: Kate Owen Gallery of current (April 2024) exhibition of artist Tommy Watson.
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After getting your fill of artwork, treat yourself to a mindful reset at CalmBar, where the unique combination of ice baths, infrared sauna and breathwork classes aim to help you relax, recover and build resilience.
Book a 60-minute session in one of the four private rooms and switch from hot Clearlight infrared saunas to ice-cold handmade Odin Australia red cedar ice baths to invigorate yourself for the rest of the day.
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If you’re keen to get some greenery to complement your new artwork and calm state, you can meet all your gardening needs at That Plant Shop. Inside you’ll find an extensive collection of rare and common indoor and outdoor plants — hand-selected by owner/plant whisperer Edwina, affectionately called ‘That Plant Lady’.
Workshops are also held each Saturday in-store for potting and terrarium building, so you can really get your hands dirty on your inner west adventure.
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Come to The Well Store to peruse the curated selection of natural and organic body products covering make-up, skincare, wellness and homewares.
The Well Store proudly champions cruelty-free alternatives, advocating for animal welfare. As a trusted local purveyor of health-conscious goods, it helps customers make informed choices for a more health-conscious lifestyle.
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After all the browsing of artworks and plants, you’ll probably need a pick-me-up. The Old Rosebud cafe in the heart of Rozelle is ideal for your arvo flat white or late lunch. For those on the move, The Old Rosebud cafe offers a convenient takeaway menu with an array of sandwiches and wraps. Or you can opt for a smoothie at the wellness bar: go super-fruity with the berry smoothie, indulgent with the chocolate peanut butter smoothie or healthy with the superfood green smoothie.
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End your Rozelle jaunt with a sweet treat from Belle Fleur Fine Chocolates, home to inventive chocolate creations — like the ‘Aussie’, “a unique Aussie salted flavour” in a smooth dark chocolate ganache, aka Vegemite in chocolate. There are also plenty of options for more conservative chocoholics, including truffles, pralines and caramels (including salted).
Even if eating chocolate isn’t your thing, check out the shop, as it often has large chocolate sculptures of famous buildings, tool sets and more. It’s moved down the street from its original location but is still pumping out excellent chocolates like it has for nearly 40 years.
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As the sun starts to dip, head over to Balmain and enjoy the iconic waterfront views of the world-famous Sydney Harbour from one of the many harbourside parks. If you’ve got some choccies to enjoy before your night-time escapades, why not check out Elkington Park overlooking Iron Cove and enjoy a walk around Birchgrove Oval or Mort Bay and visit Sydney’s largest neighbourhood street library at Thames St Wharf?
Whichever park you choose, you’ll enjoy stunning waterfront views and lush greenery — it’s easy to forget you’re in a major city.Image: Getty Images via Canva
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Balmain is blessed with numerous historic and beloved pubs. Cat & Fiddle is just one such place. This independently owned and operated establishment has been a mainstay in the locale since 1920. It’s undergone numerous facelifts but remains a local favourite, with live music, bottomless brunch weekends and generous Mediterranean-style pub grub.
Images: Balmain Rozelle Chamber of Commerce
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Casa Esquina is simply one of the best al fresco dining experiences that Balmain and the surrounding peninsula suburbs currently have on offer. The restaurant sprawls across multiple levels in the former Efendy site, which has been completely reimagined with the beautiful front courtyard and two camphor laurel trees.
Argentina is the inspiration for the food, the wine and the approach to hospitality. The menu is intended for sharing (although it definitely doesn’t have to be), while the kitchen’s huge open-flame parrilla grill is the star of the show. What’s going to bring you back to Casa Esquina is its vibe. Its indoor-meets-outdoor architecture creates an atmosphere that is infectiously lively and fun.
Image credit: Steven Woodburn
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With a pub at every corner, Balmain is the perfect place for a pub crawl. The Royal Oak should definitely be on your route if that’s the case. With weekly trivia, daily specials, live music, cold beers and cocktails, The Royal has all the trappings we love in an Aussie pub.
Not just a spot for drinks with mates, the buzzing open-plan kitchen churns out dishes of all kinds, covering all bases. From pub grub classics (steak, bangers and mash, fish and chips, chicken parmi) to pasta dishes, fresh seafood (Sydney rock oysters, anyone?) and desserts galore.
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Balmain’s oldest licensed pub, The Dry Dock, was established in 1857 and has long been a community cornerstone. In its latest iteration, it’s split into three distinct but enjoyable offerings: a classic front bar complete with screened sports and tap beers; a lounge bar full of couches and booths around a fireplace in the centre; and a super sleek dining room with its own oyster bar and charcoal grill. While there’s plenty of luxury to be found, it also remains a standard pub at heart. There’s plenty of room for walk-ins if you’re after a casual pint – and you can bring your four-legged friends with you.
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The Lodge Bar is an intimate cocktail and wine bar on Darling Street, Balmain, that has been welcoming patrons for more than a decade. Its wine list constantly evolves but promises stunning drops from Aussie producers alongside Italian, French and Spanish vino. If you’re more of a cocktail connoisseur, the bartenders can serve up all the classics, as well as The Lodge Bar signatures. The Lodge Bar’s food menu is brimming with sharing plates, from cheeseboards to churros. It’s a stylish spot to cheers to an epic day and night in Rozelle and Balmain.
For more information on Balmain and Rozelle, visit the website.
Images: Balmain Rozelle Chamber of Commerce
For more information on Balmain and Rozelle, visit the website.
Images: Balmain Rozelle Chamber of Commerce
