The Best Pubs in Balmain for a Buzzing Bevvie
The best pubs in Balmain are filled with good drinks and great vibes, reminding us nothing beats a cold brew and some sunshine.
No matter the time of year, beer gardens and the sunshine go hand in hand. And no other suburb in Sydney does it as well as Balmain in the Inner West.
This buzzing neighbourhood over-delivers when it comes to the pub scene, and with some of Sydney’s oldest and most intriguing pubs, why not spend an afternoon at one of these local haunts?
With sun-drenched courtyards, delicious pub grub, sandstone buildings, and vibes aplenty, here are the best pubs in Balmain to hit up on your next outing.
Royal Oak
According to the team at the Royal Oak, this local is 'more than just a pub'! Simplicity is the secret ingredient at this long-standing pub, where a good meal with friends is the key to happiness.
Stop in with your mates to catch a game on the big screens, enjoy a casual drink in the beer garden, or dine in for a long lunch with a menu filled with pub classics.
It's old-school charm meets modern dining at one of the best pubs in Balmain.
36 College Street, Balmain
The Dry Dock
A Balmain mainstay serving customers for over 160 years, The Dry Dock was treated to a mega-makeover and is now one of the most stylish pubs in the area.
There's a sports lounge for the big games and a classic pub setting for laidback brews, but it's the Dining Room that has our attention.
The modern Euro-inspired bistro features an open kitchen, oyster bar, lush greenery and high-quality dishes created using the freshest ingredients.
22 Cameron Street, Balmain
The Bald Rock Hotel
Known by locals as 'the little pub on the corner', The Bald Rock Hotel is the cosy pub just a stone's throw from Balmain in neighbouring suburb Rozelle.
One of the oldest heritage pubs in the area, expect all the classics here including Happy Hour specials, nightly dinner deals, weekly community events, plenty of beer on tap and generous servings of welcoming hospitality you can only get in places like this.
15 Mansfield Street, Rozelle
The Balmain Hotel
One of the best pubs in Balmain is, not surprisingly, The Balmain Hotel. Outside, the Pasifika-themed beer garden is home to thatched roofed cabanas, macramé baskets, Astroturf and a lot of fun. Pull a pew under the hanging coloured lights and enjoy the buzzing atmosphere.
This beer garden is great for a catch-up with friends and can be hired for private functions. The kitchen serves regular specials during the week and offers a wide range of share platters in addition to all your pub favourites with a gourmet twist.
74 Mullens Street, Balmain
Cat and Fiddle Hotel
The Cat and Fiddle Hotel is a Sydney institution known for its plush interiors, up-market clientele and well-stocked bar. This gastro-pub is more cocktails with the girls than beers with the boys, making it one of our fave picks for the best pubs in Balmain.
Outside, you can grab a table under hanging ferns, all lit by a ceiling of skylights and soak up the live music that filters through the pub's hallowed walls every weekend.
456 Darling Street, Balmain
Dick’s Hotel
Shaded and tranquil, Dick’s Hotel has a beer garden where you can put your feet up as you sip on organic beer and tuck into rustic comfort food.
Perched on the corner of Montague and Beattie streets, this classic pub is where you’ll find weekly trivia, cheap jugs and happy hours.
Perfect for breaking up a busy workweek, sit back on their wooden benches enjoy the scent of the herbs planted throughout the garden and dream about the weekend that’s only a few days away.
89 Beattie Street, Balmain
The London Hotel
A colonial-era building complete with sandstone walls, The London Hotel boasts beautiful harbour views from the verandah, making this one of the best pubs in Balmain for a tipple in the sunshine.
If you’re feeling peckish, the bar menu is all about traditional pub grub, or step it up a notch with a fine dining experience in their modern Australian restaurant.
234 Darling Street, Balmain
East Villiage Hotel Balmain
Tucked away in East Balmain, the East Village Hotel is as welcoming as they come. With a great menu of fancy pub fare, lots for the kids to enjoy, and a beer garden with space to spread out, East Village is a relaxing haven for families (and their pups).
Their menu offers an elevated pub dining experience with bites like Nicoise salad and salt and pepper squid all served alongside pub classics like fish and chips and chicken parmy.
82 Darling Street, Balmain East
The Riverview Hotel
Affectionately called ‘The Riv’, the Riverview Hotel is an enduring Balmain institution with a reputation for its relaxed service and cosy ambience with an open fireplace. It's also dog-friendly, which we love to see!
Tuck into fail-safe pub grub at the main bar, or enjoy the modern Australian menu upstairs at the Birchgrove Restaurant, with an outside courtyard, heritage-listed windows filling the space with natural light, and gorgeous contemporary interior design.
29 Birchgrove Road, Balmain
Now you've finished exploring the best pubs in Balmain, why not check out their amazing foodie scene with our edit of the best restaurants in Balmain? Then, take a look at our deep dive into the best cafes in the Inner West.
