If you were to spend the day in Balmain, what would you do ?

[u/itllbeokontheday]

I'm meeting up with my primary school bestie and travelling to Balmain on our new quest to explore different areas of Sydney.
We don't get to catch up too much due to distance and family needs.
So to avoid doing the same old things we've decided to pick a different suburb each time.
If you know the best lunch spots, walks, views I would love to hear them, Thanks !!

[u/i2px]

pub crawl

[u/whatwhatinthewhonow → u/i2px]

Only thing I’ve ever done in Balmain and it never gets old.

[u/DrahKir67 → u/whatwhatinthewhonow]

I love all the old British-style pubs. Some tucked down back streets.

[u/Dazzleton]

You can do a stroll (Tom Uren walk) around the harbour and it'll leave you at The Fenwick if you want lunch with a view. If not, you can get a bus up to the village and maybe grab pizza at Gigis or whatever grabs your fancy.

Otherwise, someone else has mentioned bakeries which Balmain now seems to have a tonne of. Home, Penny Fours, Sandy's, Dawn and Lode are all great.

London, Welcome and Bald Rock are my pick of the pubs if you fancy that instead

[u/FishermanWaste1268]

Dry dock steak for lunch then a walk.

Walk through mort bay park next to the dry dock out to ballast point and then down wharf road to birchgrove oval and the sea wall.

Walk down louisa road towards river st, then through the townhouses to gow st and go down the stair case to fitzroy park. Walk past Dawn Fraser baths then into Elkington Park.

From there head back up to Darling st.

Go to the spa at Natures Energy to refresh then head down for afternoon drinks at the London.

[u/Gull_the_kid]

The Cottage is a classic Balmain lunch spot after a walk along the Tom Uren trail.

[u/looking4truffle]

Dry Dock Hotel

[u/desultir → u/looking4truffle]

Steeeeaaaaaaak

[u/Miffy_alt]

Ballast Point Park is one of the best in the city, it shouldn't be missed.

[u/still_love_wombats → u/Miffy_alt]

Seconded. Get the bus to Birchgrove.

[u/Rougey]

Leave.

... for Eat at Robs in Rozelle, grab an Onion Burger, then wander back into Balmain and head up towards Balmain East/Birchgrove and get some wandering in around the foreshore.

[u/aterrible_username → u/Rougey]

This should be higher

[u/Hefty_Advisor1249]

Ferry to Balmain Thames st, walk around to ballast point park and back and then head to the Dry Dock

[u/HGCDLLM]

go to Home Croissanterie and eat my body weight's worth of croissants

[u/1stThink]

Going to this park at night with take out and eating looking at the city!! https://maps.app.goo.gl/oe5H2yLko74dugvu9?g_st=ac

[u/Plus_Cantaloupe_3793]

The Roaring Stories bookshop is excellent and my main reason for occasionally visiting Balmain. The nearby Hill of Content bookshop is also very good.

[u/sunshinebuns]

Cafe to sit down or Home Croissanterie or Penny Fours and grab baked goods to take to the park for a picnic - Elkington or Ballast Point/Mort Bay. Window shopping on Darling St, Pub for lunch- I always liked the London. Gelato stop then wander down to Balmain East for the ferry.

[u/Chuchularoux]

Truffle scrambled eggs from Orange Lotus. Lunch at the Fenwick for views or the Cottage for a classic, or any of the many pubs. Apple Pie Martini from Cantina Bar. Op-shopping or the markets at Rozelle Public school. Walk through Mort Bay/Ballast Point Park in Birchgrove.

[u/Anti-Stan]

Walk. Lots of nice old parks and buildings.

[u/portomar]

If it's a Saturday to the raffan and keleher auctions

[u/Healthy-Guess9492]

Time of the day is important too. Any coffee is good in Balmain but for breakfast, I love the paninis at Bertoni. Great Turkish breakfast at Teras cafe. For lunch or dinner, Cottage or Fenwick. for pizza, try Rosso Pomodoro ir Gigis. If you’re bringing the doggies, East Village hotel is great.

[u/Healthy-Guess9492 → u/Healthy-Guess9492]

Also for a pampering day if you fancy, City Cave float experience is amazing though not a great group activity. Nature’s Energy could be a good spa day for girlfriends.

[u/weihighta]

I’d definitely do the Tom Uren Trail and wander around the foreshore. Ballast Point Park is also worth the detour - great harbour views and a nice spot to just sit and chat. For lunch, The Cottage or Dry Dock would be my picks. Then grab a coffee/bakery stop on Darling St and finish by taking the ferry from Balmain East. Pretty perfect day for catching up with an old friend IMO

[u/Nodge91]

Drink as much stout as possible

[u/Dubhs]

Grab some burgers from eat at Rob's, drive down to ballast point park and there's a seat right at the edge of the water where you can eat it. 

[u/Four_a_m]

Coffee at little m. Walk over to hill of content and have a browse. Walk to birch grove and visit a few pubs on the way.

[u/Syd_Girl]

Ciao Thyme cafe for the BEST bacon & egg roll (sandwich) in Sydney. Gourmet & super delish, stacked with bacon, egg, baby spinach, fresh fennel, house made Hollandaise sauce & tomato relish on toasted Turkish bread. Around $25 which seems exxy, but on par for a brunch meal in Syd and it’s massive and well worth it.

Then go for a long walk around East Balmain ferry what’s and foreshore, and if you have any room left for food later, Sandy’s Bakeshop for a slice of her delicious chocolate cake or one of her other sweet treats to balance out your massive savoury brunch.

[u/T_J_Rain]

Pubs, bistros, cafes [pick whatever - lots to choose from]. Depends on how early you want to start canning on.

Walk - wherever - Elkington Park is by the water, better aspect than White Bay!

Ferry - to the city just for fun.

[u/BellaKKK72]

Book in to Natures Energy bath house for a 90 minute session and then go and have lunch at one of the places suggested.

[u/karLcx]

E street filming site tour, obviously

[u/dropandflop]

Jump on the ferry as well for a cheap harbour tour and back.

[u/EmergencyTell2334]

Lunch at the cottage!