The Balmain Hotel in Sydney may be the second oldest in the district, dating back to 1869, but the owners of the former West End Hotel decided they were going to swerve the traditional pub look of the area and go in another direction – or more accurately, several directions.
The renovated Balmain Hotel is an eclectic mix of contradictions, blending the classy with the edgy, the refined with the kitsch; Hermes wallpaper decorates one room, the dizzying pop-art graffiti of Ben Frost fills another dedicated to pinball machines. Other renowned artists have popped in to lend their talents, such as Gabrielle Courtnay and former Sneaky Sound System member Daimon Downey. Outside there’s shades of the Pacific islands, with palm frond covers to protect cocktail drinkers in the garden and a cool breeze whispers through the Bora Bora bar. Not only is The Balmain different from the area’s many other pubs, it’s different from itself at every turn, making it a fun break with convention.
