Cafe Viva, Balmain

A recent trip down into Balmain - past the busy centre and on down Darling St took me to this kinda funky and fabulous cafe for a catchup with friends. I was only going to have coffee - but ended up stopping long enough for lunch and to take these photos.

A friendly place - with a warm dark interior, music and movie memorabilia on it's walls and booths near the windows - it has a sort of American diner vibe but in a local cafe way (and good coffee!). With room to move, and big picture windows to watch the passers-by it's a place you could setup in to work a while, or simply enjoy some food and pass some time (as I did). There's also the themed 'viva nights' to go back and try.

Here's where it is - if you are in the neighbourhood or need to try something new:

Cafe Viva

189 Darling Street

Balmain

 

Delmain Providore, Balmain

A late after school outing to the waterlogged park with my son and the dog - we needed a quick followup for afternoon coffee. 

We had the car, so headed down into Balmain and stopped into this little cafe-deli-fruit&veg shop on Darling St. Choosing to sit outside at the quirky long table with little stools . . . and watch the passers-by whilst we had a quick snack - a coffee, a hot chocolate, and a fresh (white chocolate & berry) muffin - perfect for a rainy and cold winter afternoon.

You'll find it right down in the heart of Balmain:

Delmain Providore

306 Darling St

Balmain

Bertoni Casalinga, Balmain

Bertoni's is a cafe institution right in the heart of Balmain, and my personal favourite cafe. It's great for coffee, for snacks, for lunch, for grabbing something to take home for dinner (or stay for dinner some nights). I've been a regular since they opened, then more casual, then an everyday regular again, now more casual again - but it's the place I make tracks to when I want a good coffee at any time of the day, with or without my coffee buddy friend. 
The big communal table means you're never sitting alone even when you're by yourself - of course, if the table's full - then it's the red milk crates (complete with padding) to sit wherever you like in the front area and outside. If you turn up, and the queue is long, don't worry - it's fast & friendly. Oh, and I have the cookbook - so sometimes I can make my own home-cooked version of their home-cooked dishes available and served up daily.


If you want to drop by - here's what you need to know:
Bertoni Casalinga
281 Darling St
Balmain