Sir William Wallace Hotel

This is something that I haven't encountered before – a Scottish Pub. Basically it is named after that guy whom the movie Braveheart was made, and sure enough they have the poster on the wall (which appeared to have been signed by Mel himself). It was an okay pub, but nothing really fantastic. The front bar was pretty nice, but the restaurant out the back looked pretty tacky. Basically it is a small suburban pub hidden away in the back streets of Balmain and the only reason I managed to find it was because I had done my research before hand. The staff were okay but nothing fantastic. Due to the difficulties getting here (I had to walk from the Birchgrove ferry wharf) it is not one of those places that I would go out of my way to visit again. Also, I suspect that this is one of those pubs that is really only visited by the locals.

Whilst not everyones cup of tea, I am a big fan of the William Wallace Hotel. This is one of the very few remaining traditional pubs in Balmain. More of a mans drinking spot that family friendly joint, the untouched old world charm is welcoming and a refreshing point of difference to other pubs in the area. And the drinks are still reasonably priced. 4.5 stars from me

One of Sydney's best local pubs and now has a great rocking little Asian bistro Bamboo dumpling bar. What more could you ask for !!! The Chili chicken dumplings and the duck pancakes are a must.