TOP 10 BEST Restaurants in Balmain - Updated November 2024

The Cottage Balmain

87/100 (1695 ratings)

Restaurants

Australian

Bar

Pizza

Australian

Gluten Free Options

Pizza

Vegan Options

Bar

Vegetarian Friendly

Gluten Free Options

Vegan Options

Vegetarian Friendly

Brunch

Drinks

Dinner

Lunch

Risotto

Zucchini Flowers

Lamb

Salad

Truffled Polenta Bites

Pork Belly

Scallops

Smoky Salad

Oysters

Duck

Spanner Crab Tagliatelle

Wagyu

Charcuterie board

Oyster

Salmon Cauliflower

Salmon

Roasted Cauliflower

Sweet Potato Fries

Warm Chocolate Brownie

Tapas

Esspresso Martini

Broccolini

Baked Goats Cheese

Prawns

Sticky Date Pudding

Brussel Sprouts

Beef

Gin Cured Salmon

Polenta

Arancini

Sit down

Australian

Bar

Pizza

Accepts Visa

Live Music

Serves Alcohol

Wine and Beer

Reservations

Full Bar

Accepts Credit Cards

Seating

Outdoor Seating

Table Service

Accepts Mastercard

Drinks

Brunch

Dinner

Lunch

Mid-range

"The Cottage is beautiful little house transformed in a cute restaurant bar. They selection of wine is really good (From AUS/NZ/FRA..) Their..."

FrenchieFoodie

"The Cottage gives off great vibes, even in the evening when you can't see anything. The fairy lights set the mood to chill, drink some wine, and..."

Anna

"I visit The Cottage Bar and Kitchen in Balmain on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Luckily I had a table booked as it quickly filled up by 12:30pm with a..."

Weekendfoodescapes

"Amazing beer garden - best in the Inner West. Great food and love the espresso martinis. Garden fills up quickly on weekends so must get in early..."

Bianca Honson

"What a lovely place. We came here for my partners birthday party on Sunday afternoon. We were pleasantly surprised with the live music duo. What a..."

Food Lover33

"I visited The Cottage a few weeks ago for late lunch with family, and overall, I was incredibly satisfied with the experience. After walking all the..."

Sean M

"I had been wanting to visit this place since a long time due to its sheer chic and cozy ambiance. Finally ended up visiting this place last week for..."

Manali Godbole

"Perfect weekend spot - especially on a sunny day if you are lucky enough to grab a table in the garden area and listen to some live music. Good for..."

Coffeebrunchanddinner

"I really like the ambiance of this place! The array of miscellaneous decorations laid around the cottage really give it a homey and relaxed vibe. The..."

Lien Nguyen

"Located on Darling Street, The Cottage is set back from the main road and as its name suggests, is a restaurant set inside a cottage. Urban oasis..."

Eatwithmyfoodsafari

"Highly recommend this place for food and ambience! Upstairs is beautiful;my friends and I sat there comfortably for hours. For a catch up between two..."

HurryDaFoodup

"Lovely outdoor area for afternoon drinks on the Main Street of Balmain. We only stopped off for a couple of drinks but the food looked great!..."

Lawrence Wisdom

"I spent an hour or two here on a lazy Sunday afternoon around Christmas time. I can recommend this place. The service is fantastic and they have live..."

David Washington

"What a fantastic little nook of Balmain! Food was spectacular. We had the banquet but my favourite by far was the cauliflower in a eggplant tahini..."

Hungry Minion

"Stepping in to The Cottage Balmain is like being invited into the rustic home of an eccentric artist. There’s mismatched furniture and eclectic..."

Eat Drink Play

"Love this converted terrace, turn bar and restaurant! Truly a place to be on a balmy afternoon. This is just a fantastic place to hangout with your..."

Those Who Love To Eat

"Lovely food, great staff, the cocktails were amazing. We had a private room upstairs which fit about 30 people. Was great for an intimate dinner...."

Monica Gianfrancesco

"The Cottage was great for dinner and drinks. The staff were friendly, helpful and quick. The waitress recommended some dishes for us to try. The..."

Richard Conway

"Atmosphere and service is great, even on busy Saturday nights. It can get noisy and crowded in the front areas, but it still maintains an intimate..."

ChocChip

"Superb food, beautiful space, great staff.. I came in to The Cottage with a coeliac friend last Saturday night for a drink while we were waiting for..."

Facebook User

"AMAZING!!! We went out for dinner at The Cottage, and loved every mouthful! The service was really friendly and helpful but not interfering, and the..."

Emma

"This was definitely LeeLee’s favourite. It was so mushy inside, with a crispy coating. More importantly, it was warm and not served cold as LeeLoo..."

DroolWorthyWorld

"Yes, yum! Zucchini fries is a must try. Something different and because it's a vegetable it's healthy right!? Ahahahha sorry I was trying to sound..."

Bunnybloggers

"The Cottage is almost like a little bit of Surry Hills but transported into Balmain. The place isn't big yet it uses its space so well to create a..."

Sir And Mlady Dine Out

"Beautiful ambience, delicious & refreshing mocktail. Service not bad. Food is alright. Best dish is the scallops with sweet corn..."

Tinkabellez

"AMAZING. I love everything about this establishment -- the food, the ambiance, the soundtrack, the service, the cocktail and wine list... There's..."

Nancy Wu

"Cutest place, has such a nice atmosphere, great service and food was awesome. Good selection of wine and cocktails, their pâté was soooo delicious..."

Lisa Saggers

"Had a private function dinner here upstairs and it was perfect! Staff are so so lovely, a reflection of the great management. Will definately be..."

Jo

"Had a really good dinner last night with my boyfriend. It was really noisy inside due to a birthday or girls nights and the staff were really..."

Mae.

"I went last week to the cottage and loved it! We sat outside in the sun and had lunch and enjoyed the live music. Can't believe anyone would have..."

Natalie

"Atmosphere with amazing food. Have just found my new local bar! , with friendly faces and a warm atmosphere I can see myself spending alot more time..."

French_roberta

"The vibe. The food. The nick nacks. Loved it! Will be back, definitely a place for a nice relaxed dinner..."

Hungry Vixen

"Awesome place. Friends recommended it to us so we tried the "fun guy" pizza, meatballs, cheese plate and the flower pot dessert. Everything was..."

Nicole Doughty

"Lovely decor and service, had a relaxing afternoon in the front..."

Peter

"Appealing food, good selection of drinks inside a lovely venue but lethargic service.Ordered a margarita pizza and a couple of beers. The..."

Daniel Grigg

"Awesome!!. New menu is great! The staff are so friendly and helpful... Been here a few times lately and it just gets better and..."

Fliss

"The cottage!. Celebrated my birthday here with some girlfirends last week. We shared woodfired pizzas and selected some of the meats and cheeses, all..."

Nm28

"Great atmosphere and set out. Top service, staff always asking to make sure everything is okay. Food is average. Is it normal for sardines to have..."

Ella

"Fantastic wine bar!!. Had a great experience at The Cottage- my partner and I went on a Monday evening and shared a selection of meats and cheese as..."

Ange

"Amazing! Awesome atmosphere, friendly staff, great food, wine and beer and good value! Love this..."

Food Force

"Enjoyed Every Minute!!!. I recently went to The Cottage and enjoyed every minute, it has a great décor, delicious food and really cool vibe. The..."

Skye

"First time at the cottage last saturday night. Wow... It was amazing. Great atmosphere, great food, excellent service!! Well done to all the staff..."

Manelle

"Unique and homely. I've been once and absolutely loved it, such a unique experience compared to what other small bars in Sydney have to offer. Great..."

Dan

"The Cottage! What a great find!. I'm not one to normally write a review, however this place was so great I must give credit where credit is due!..."

Charlotte

"Simply the Best!!!. My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience here last night.We were greeted by friendly staff who were professional..."

Dealseeker

"I Love the Cottage. What a fun family Birthday night we had here. I couldn't fault it. We were meet by Os and instantly felt at home. It is out there..."

Annie

"My new 'little secret'. What a find! A deliciously cosy bar and restaurant with just the right amount of warmth and electric energy to make it my new..."

Emma

"I had my birthday party at the cottage bar and kitchen last night and could not have asked for better service. The staff were incredibly attentive,..."

Emily

Contessa Balmain

83/100 (874 ratings)

Restaurants

Gluten Free Options

Vegan Options

Cafe

Vegetarian Friendly

Gluten Free Options

Vegan Options

Vegetarian Friendly

Breakfast

Lunch

Brunch

Prawns

French Toast

Toasts

Bruschette

Burger

Salad

Sit down

Café

Wheelchair Accessible

Serves Alcohol

Highchairs Available

Full Bar

Outdoor Seating

Takeout

Accepts Mastercard

Accepts Visa

Seating

Table Service

Lunch

Brunch

Breakfast

Cheap Eats

"Beautiful presentation and great value for money for the tuna salad. Chai latte and banana smoothie were delicious too...."

Grace

"We have been in this place for breakfast and we have eaten The Farmhouse Omelette, Rosa’s Breakfast Bruschetta and coffee. They were ok, with a..."

Chicca Fumagalli

"We ordered the Italian meatballs and eggs. The meatballs were seasoned well and juicy. However, would have preferred more of the delicious pesto to..."

Celeste

"Contessa meaning countess in latin is authentic to it’s Italian Roots fused with modern Australian cafe culture. Marco has cultivated a symbiotic..."

Jade K

"Nice staff and food and drinks were all very delicious. 1 potato leek soup2 prawn garlic spaghetti 3 risotto4 kids egg and..."

Eucalyptus33

"We were served by a lovely cheerful host on a busy Sunday and seated for lunch. Coffee was on point 👌 My friend and I both ordered the salad on..."

AdzTheFoodie

"Such amazing food! Everything tasted great and the staff were all so friendly. Definitely recommend the Nutella french toast if you have a sweet..."

Bella Rychter

"Tasty brekkie and big portion. Coffee is good too. Staffs are friendly and quick service. It is a bit pricy considering it is in Balmain, the price..."

Mic

"Good luck finding a table here for brunch on Saturday or Sunday! There’s a reason why Contessa is so popular though, the staff are beyond friendly..."

Blurred Limes

"The food and drink was very nice. I ordered Contessa corn cake and seasonal fruit frappe. The corn cake was nicely cooked, with a mixture of sauce..."

FluffyHamster

"Contessa is just one of those places that is constantly busy all day. And with good reason. Their selection of brunch dishes is incredible. ..."

Every Crumb

"Happy mornings begin at Contessa Balmain! There is even an outdoor table for you if you want to bring your furry friend! Dog Lovers, rejoice! This..."

JESSA BONELLI Aka “thetravelbelle” 💃

"Contessa is a busy cafe but it's worth the wait for a table if it's packed. The place has an indoor and outdoor seating with lots of natural light...."

EdeliciouS

"our favourite "go to" for breakfast. we've been fans now for about 6 months, and i now judge every breakfast place by the standards at Contessa..."

Megan Starling

"Fist time coming to this venue. Even though place was packed with customers when I came, service was quick and friendly. Coffee was awesome, from The..."

Foodblogs

"✔️ Was blown away by the amazing food & service at Contessa. I came here with my uncle on Sunday, they were packed as always which makes the vibe..."

Vic Aoun

"A friendly cafe with good portioned and tasty food. Really enjoyed the corn cake with salmon, could have be even better with just a few more drops of..."

GymEatSleep

"Even on a Wednesday morning, most of the tables were full. There was such a great variety of cafe, Italian and American inspired dishes it was..."

Foodsofchar

"From the bare brick walls and large mural, this is one of our favourite Italian/ American cafe. Not only do they have amazing customer service..."

Famishedduo

"Great cafe for the locals with friendly staff and chef. Very generous servings of food, loved the spaghetti and corn cakes. Nutella french toast..."

Anna

"Nice place, tasty food, great espresso martini, and super friendly and lovely service!! We really enjoyed our brunch here and what a fantastic start..."

Zheng Yufeng

"A good cafe to grab lunch. Service was friendly and efficient. I had the corn cakes with beans which I thought was a good size. It tasted fresh and I..."

Kerri

"Cafe uses The Grounds Coffee beans, sandwich was nicely toasted sour dough, bacon Avo, and some salad. Interesting add on with pickle Cucumber. Not..."

Howard Phung

"Generous serves of good food and friendly serviceContessa Balmain is a cafe/restaurant serving breakfast and lunch 7 days a week. It is..."

Milo_wendy

"Contessa Balmain is a licensed cafe situated in the suburb of Balmain. Their cuisine is inspired by owner Marco’s Italian roots and passion for..."

Love At First Bite

"Famous for their ‘Froggycinos’ Cafe Contessa seems to have flown under the radar …. But no longer! They are making their presence very clear..."

Alexandra | Lalan_eats

"Contessa Balmain will make my Top 10 Cafe List this year, such a superb venue. A venue that is so incredibly busy but never faulted on service,..."

Spooning Australia

"They serve the grounds coffee which was nice. Was not really hungry so just tried their muffin by luv. Would like to come back to try their brekky..."

Eathealthy

"Contessa is one of those cozy cafes in Balmain area that has been around for a long time. The cafe has a very warm ambient and very friendly staff...."

Hong Kong Blogger

"Contessa has been a local institution in Balmain for more than two decades with current owner Marco running the business for the last 13 years. It is..."

The RnB Diary

"I haven't ordered chicken parmigiana in years because I've always found it to be a plain and boring dish - schnitzel, tomato and cheese. However, I..."

Beef Ball

"A nice little cafe with friendly staff and great service. When we arrived the place was packed, luckily we didnt have to wait long for a..."

Asian Food Ninja

"Are you addicted to brunch? Are you looking for your next brunching hit?🍴 @contessabalmain will fill your every brunching fantasy with their..."

My Bondi Summer

"Came here on a Sunday for brunch. Was greeted by what seemed to the manager, was very friendly and inviting. Waited about 10minutes for a table on a..."

Kevin Dinh

"Little busy cafe, was pretty full on a Sunday morning, but we were seated quickly. My chicken Parmy was good from presentation to taste. They..."

Chenny

"Came here for breakfast on a Sunday and it was fantastic, the lovely waitress was super friendly and the atmosphere was great, they were super busy..."

Daniel Tambasco

"Very busy happening place. Good social media exposure. Had been seeing lots of good updates on my Insta so gave it a try. Staff were awesome...."

Missfoodie

"Started off with Bloody Mary's, which got us wanting more!Great spot for a long catch up with good food and a sneaky cocktail!..."

TheFatCouple

"Cutest babycino you will find in any cafe in Sydney, which they have named a frogacino. The cafe has a nice ambience and service is warm and..."

Eatwithmyfoodsafari

"Follow my insta @burgernsbikinisBrunch at Contessa is such a hidden gem! Balmain is not an area I frequent often as a foodie, but after..."

@burgersnbikinis

"I've been to Contessa twice now and definitely recommend it. Friendly staff always makes us feel like a regular and the food is fantastic...."

Xoxo.msjamie

"It’s absolutely no surprise how a place that is something of an icon in the Balmain cafe scene has outlasted so many Prime Ministers these past 14..."

The Next Rush

"Contessa Balmain is a funky and very stylish cafe. Boasting indoor and outdoor seating combined with friendly staff and great service creates an..."

2Foodiefrogs

"Totally heart this cafe in Balmain! I can see why it's jam packed on the weekends especially. The food here is flavoursome and hearty, the thing..."

Those Who Love To Eat

"Had a Bloody Mary and the mushroom risotto. They were kind enough to accommodate my request to add chicken. The food was delicious. Would definitely..."

Hannah

"Love this place! As a local this is our go-to cafe and we never leave disappointed. Food is great (chicken tortilla is delicious) and service is..."

Sarep

"Great little neighbourhood cafe in Balmain serving up a wide selection of breakfast and lunch items along with good coffee. Contessa is licensed so..."

Charn Tangson

"Bianca: Happy 2017 folks! I’ve been an admirer of Contessa Balmain for a little while now. Granted this has all been through some social media..."

Forfoodssake

"Went to sus out this qaint coffee shop in Balmain. I Had a Nutella donut $5 plus lge coffee. Atmosphere was nice. Their food looks amazing and I..."

Patopeaking Eats And Runs

"Along the bustling Darling Street in Balmain is a not so hidden gem, but one that has been shining bright for over a decade under Marco’s..."

Sir And Mlady Dine Out

"Contessa Balmain has been in Balmain for 24 years and 13 years under the current owner. What I notice first is the incredible friendliness and..."

Thewhereto

"We are kindly invited to contessa balmain. We popped in on a saturday lunch time and the cafe was pumping, full of customers!We started..."

The Weekend Foodie

"Busy Coffee shop. Located on Darling St, this place is always busy with either people getting takeaway coffee or sitting down to eat. It’s quite a..."

Postcards From Peta

"What a bloody beauty - sitting on Balmain Rd is @contessabalmain - home of the 'Deluxe Cheeseburger' 💪100% house made beef pattie,..."

Issac_eatsalot

"Love this amazing cafe in Balmain. As I walked in I felt the warmth. The staff were unbelievable and made us feel welcomed. The coffee was on point..."

Lollieats

"Love coming here on a Sunday for brunch. Awesome, American style menu with an Italian twist. Generous servings, yummy coffee. Wait staff are friendly..."

Rirrii

"Contessa Balmain is an experience that you have to be a part of along Darling Street. This place is a mix of New York and Italian - a place to sit..."

Coffeebrunchanddinner

"We had the opportunity to dine in for lunch at Contessa yesterday. We found the overall service to be attentive and inviting. The cafe space had a..."

Mish Mash

"Nice cafe just up the road from the heart of Balmain. Good food, great coffee, but is a bit pricey in my opinion. But you pay for quality, and that's..."

Live2eat

"Great atmosphere nice big breakfast can be slightly $$$$ to be a regular but great every now and again. The decor is fantastic and it's worth a visit..."

Julian Stambe

"Best cafe in Sydney! I've never been to a cafe more times than Bar Contessa and every time it's been a 10/10 experience. Amazing coffee, attentive..."

Pats

"Went in for brunch on a Sunday. Seated quickly. Friendly waiters/waitress. Took order promptly. Coffee was a little slow in coming. Actually the..."

DRJ

"The menu is extensive at Bar Contessa. It covers all of your sweet and savoury favourites for breakfast. Our poached eggs from the Hawkesbury Valley..."

Little Munch

"I think I have a new favourite brunch place! Walking along the quiet main road of Balmain I was drawn into Bar Contessa by its modern yet rustic..."

My SeeFood Diet

"Hangover heaven. The coffee will wake you right up and the all day breakfast menu is a godsend! Wish they open another restaurant in my..."

Suburban Eatz

"What an absolute gem. With the postive reviews I couldn't resist. Came here with a group of 10 and they were happy to accomodate us. Staff were very..."

Tim G

"Yum! I often take my staff here for Fri morn breakfast meetings. Staff are nice, food is tasty, eggs Benedict to die for! Always busy, no surprise..."

Nina

"My favourite sunday brunch. Service is always amazing. Generous portion of the dish and I always go back for their creamy mushroom..."

Edelweiss Tam

"Great service, amazing food clearly made with..."

Wayne

"Outstanding food, coffee and service from Marco and the team. Came here for a lazy lunch with my family of four and no-one was disappointed. Our new..."

David Eagle

"The best Meat Ball Linguini in a long time. Went to Bar Contessa for an impromptu family dinner last Friday and was drawn by its ambience and rustic..."

JP

"The Lady is Looking Hot!. Bar Contessa is a long time favourite for a lazy brunch, quick coffee or late lunch on weekends when I find myself out on..."

Angelo_W73

"Awesome. For a small place it has real atmosphere and the food (and coffee) are fantastic. Recommend the risotto but it's all great. Friendly and..."

Paul

"Great food, good value. I had the risotto special with avo, prawns, sundried tomatoes in a creamy white wine sauce, which was extremely tasty; my..."

Kbalm

"Good food, good vibes, amazing coffee. We ordered eggs Benedict- I’ve had better and Nutella French toast - I expected it to be warm, it was cold..."

Aastha Choudhary

"Located on Darling St, this place is always busy with either people getting takeaway coffee or sitting down to eat. It’s quite a small cafe but..."

Peta McConachie (Postcards from Peta)

"Always great! Love the Iced-chai, the French toast is literally the best, fluffy and well made. Absolutely loved the burger as..."

Hrithika Mulchandani

"This is such an awesome spot for brunch! You can never go wrong with the coffee or a "Contessa fry up"! We have been here so many times and the..."

Dominic Lattouf

"I’ve found Eggs Benedict Heaven! Costing under $20, the Hollandaise sauce (the most important part) is made to perfection and clings to the eggs...."

Robert

"Love Contessa's fruity frappes and eggs benedict, and the fry-up brekkie is what all big breakfasts should aim to be. Service is always friendly and..."

Belinda J

"Outstanding cafe! The staff are awesome - incredibly friendly but not too over the top. The service is really good and the food - omg - definitely..."

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