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Marionette on Booth & Gladstone Park: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Balmain

March 6, 2016 / Balmain, Inner West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

This tiny little place, tucked away from busy Darling street, is one of the most kid-friendly cafes in Balmain. While their main game is coffee (check out their website, The Little Marionette for more details about their roasting business), they also have fantastic food and friendly, accomodating staff.

We noticed on our visit that most families were getting their coffee and food to go, and enjoying it in Gladstone Park across the road. We chose to dine in and enjoyed the surprisingly quiet dining area inside.

It’s pretty obvious that families are among the prime visitors to this little cafe from the outside. They have set up a challkboard wall and at any time of day you’ll see either kids creating a masterpiece on the wall and pavement, or evidence of the mini Picasso who had dined there perviously. It’s a genius move really, as parents can order their coffee or food to go while kids are happily occupied.

We ordered an In House Bircher Museli (with yoghurt and honey, small $7), pot of English Breakfast organic tea ($4), Breakfast Sandwich (fried eggs, bacon, spinach, fresh tomato and avocado topped with relish on Turkish toast, $12), a kid’s toasted Cheese Sandwich ($4), Babyccino ($1), flat white ($4).

The babyccino was a hit, with the takeaway cup and marshmallow perched on the straw. My bircher was delicious – very generous serve for a “small” size. Alec said repeatedly how delicious his sandwich was, so I think we have found our new regular cafe in Balmain.

Across the road from Marionette on Booth is Gladstone Park, where you will find large grassed areas under cover of trees, a large playground with climbing structures for kids of a wide age range, basketball courts and bathrooms.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: No.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Black Star Pastry and Cafe
1A Booth St,
Balmain NSW 2041
Phone: 0402 434 597
Prices: $
Hours: Mon-Fri 6:30am-4pm, Sat 7am-4pm, Sun 8am-4pm
Get Directions

Tintos: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Balmain, Sydney

January 30, 2016 / Balmain, Inner West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 5 Comments

I do love trying new cafes. This week I stumbled upon Tintos in Balmain – a tiny little hole in the wall that opens up into a reasonably-sized cafe, right off Darling Street. I admit I was seduced by the cronuts in the window …

Lucky I was, as this little cafe is an absolute gem. As we sat down at cable reel that was doubling as a table, I noticed a few big baskets of toys and colouring in supplies. What an amazing find! Cheese was entertained for our entire stay and we had to pry her away from the toys when it was time to leave.

We ordered a light meal – two Avocado Toasts ($11), mine with Haloumi ($5) and Alec’s with a Poached Egg ($3) and Bacon ($4). They were just perfect.

Soy and lindseed bread with smashed avocado in olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon. Just devine.

Cheese devoured a giant Mixed Berry Smoothie ($7.5).

My English Breakfast tea ($4) was by Tea Craft and served in a pot so big I got several cups out of it. Tintos prides itself on having excellent coffee, and it’s always good to be able to try and agree that they deliver what they promise on.

Our table was right next to a giant map that covered most of one wall. On the map were blu-tacked coins placed there, I assumed, by visitors from all over the world. I really enjoyed seeing where people had come from to get to this little cafe in Balmain.

Tintos is a fantastic little cafe that we will be going back to soon, to try more dishes off the menu.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Very little.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Tintos
306 Darling St,
Balmain NSW 2041
Phone: (02) 9810 2962
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Sat 6am-5pm, Sun 7:30-5pm
Get Directions

Cafe Berlin; Kid-Friendly Cafes, Balmain, Sydney

September 7, 2014 / Balmain, Inner West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 2 Comments

A quick weekday lunch in Balmain brought us to Cafe Berlin. It’s the suburb’s oldest and longest-running cafe, having opened in 1984. We were attracted by the pretty display of food at the front counter, including the huge quiches which I ordered quickly after we were seated. Cafe Berlin is known in the neighborhood for its home-style cooking and sweets, made daily by owner Heidi Schmidt and her mum, Jan.

We ordered a vegetarian quiche and a side of fries, a steak sandwich, a croissant and a babyccino. The babyccino came in a takeaway cup with a marshmallow stuck on the straw — much to Miss E’s amusement and entertainment. My quiche was giant, and really delicious, the fries perfectly cooked, and salad fresh with a touch of dressing. Alec’s sandwich was juicy and well-cooked, and E’s croissant was flaky and quickly devoured.

Our meals all arrived pretty quickly, and the staff were very friendly. It was a quick in-and-out meal for us as we were on the go, and I really appreciated that everything ran smoothly and quickly to fit in with our plans.

Last Bite: A casual lunch or breakfast in Balmain. Kids welcome!

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Minimal – bring a travel stroller or sit at a table outside.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Cafe Berlin
249 Darling St,
Balmain NSW
Phone: (02) 9810 2336
Prices: $-$$
Hours: Daily, 6am-6pm
Get Directions

Best Babyccino in Sydney at Bar Contessa, Balmain

July 16, 2014 / Balmain, Inner West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Ever in search of cool cafes that remind us of New York, Bar Contessa “a casual cafe/restaurant which brings a unique slice of New York City cool to the streets of Balmain” sounded right up our alley. In fact, on walking through the entrance, Alec remarked, “this is just like Brooklyn”. Result!

Bar Contessa is actually one of the longest-standing eateries on Darling St (it was established in 1992). The current owner and head chef, Marco Adoncello, took over almost 10 years ago. Since then, this family owned and operated cafe has become renowned for its American-inspired fare infused with Adoncello’s Italian heritage. Recent renovations brought a New York-feel to the cafe, with a bold, sprawling street art mural, leather booths, bare bricks and swinging bulbs.

Adoncello sources his fresh produce from friends and family who operate a range of fruit, vegetable and butcher businesses within Sydney. Bar Contessa’s free range eggs are delivered directly from a farm on the Hawksberry River, and their breads and sweets are delivered straight from the Luxe Bakery ovens to their café at 6am every morning.

I have to admit however, that Bar Contessa came to my attention through an Instagram photo I saw of their babyccinos. The most adorable babyccinos ever. And yes, that is what we are all about these days. Something to entertain the kid, and (hopefully!) exceptional food for the adults.

We were quickly seated during prime brunch hour on a Saturday, by a very friendly waitress. I couldn’t see the famed babyccino on the menu, so I asked the waitress if they had one. She confirmed that they do indeed, have the fancypants babyccino from my instagram feed, commenting that they get a lot of families dropping in particularly to try one.

Alec and I ordered the same dish, Rosa’s Breakfast Bruschetta (named after Adoncello’s wife: thick slice of toasted organic soy linseed sourdough w/smashed avocado, fresh roma tomato, basil, rocket, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic reduction & free range poached egg $16.50), and we shared a side of the Chunky Beer Battered Fries (served w/ ketchup & mayo). Bar Contessa doesn’t have a kids’ menu, but they do make dishes to order for little ones. We asked for a small scrambled egg and sourdough as it’s Miss E’s current go-to breakfast dish.

Our meals were delicious. The bruschetta had the prefect mix of creamy avocado, poached egg with balsamic cutting through it. The thick fries were to die for. Piping hot, soft on the inside, with a tasty batter that barely needed sauce.

We enjoyed our meals and entire dining experience so much that Bar Contessa is sure to become one of our regular haunts.

Last bite: There’s something for everyone at this stylish, Inner West cafe.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: No.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Bar Contessa
371b Darling St,
Balmain
Phone: (02) 9555 7399
Prices: $$
Hours: Daily 7:30am-3pm
Get Directions

The Cottage Bar & Kitchen; Kid-Friendly Restaurants Balmain, Sydney

June 12, 2014 / Balmain, Inner West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

The Cottage Bar & Kitchen is a cosy restaurant and wine bar that feels like you’re dining at your granny’s farmhouse. Vintage and kitsch furniture, chalkboards, fresh flowers and old photographs add to the rustic charm. From the front the restaurant looks quite small, but the cottage layout creates an intimate environment, with small rooms spreading back to a newly-opened alfresco courtyard (with heat lamps, of course). The menu features plates to share and pizzas cooked in the huge pizza oven – one of the centre pieces of the venue. Great to show to wiggly kids who won’t stay in their chairs.

We ordered a freshly squeezed orange juice for E, House Cut Chips with the cottage ketchup and aioli ($8), Arancini of tomato, smocked mozzarella and parmesan ($12), Seared Scallops with pear and elderflower puree ($18) and the Margherita wood-fired pizza ($18). All of our food was delicious (I particularly enjoyed the arancini balls and pizza) but, after the juice and chips, there was a long wait for the rest of the food. Epically long. Luckily for us E was in a chilled out mood and enjoyed playing with stickers until it arrived.

While there was nothing particularly “kid-friendly” about the restaurant, the staff could not have been nicer. Our waitress was kind and sweet to our curious toddler and, as we were the first to arrive when they opened, she was able to roam around our small dining room, look out the windows and investigate the curios without bothering anyone.

Last Bite: A long and leisurely lunch awaits.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: No.
Easy access: No. There are a few steps to get in.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

The Cottage Bar & Kitchen
342 Darling St,
Sydney NSW
Phone: 02 8084 8185
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-12am Sun 12pm-10pm
Get Directions