Overview
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.