Sir William Wallace Hotel

This pub looks romantic and charming, tucked into the narrow streets of Balmain. It's well loved by locals with its open fire, dog-friendly policy and leadlight windows. The dining area skips forward a century, freshly whitewashed and a bit stark. The menu is brought to you by Bill and Toni and is pretty basic - pasta, burgers, steak, fish, schnitzel, a few salads, but the food is lovingly prepared and comes out fast. It's also very affordable, so the place is buzzing from the get-go. No desserts for those with a sweet tooth, but for a simple lunch or dinner it does the trick.