Balmain is one of Sydney’s oldest working-class suburbs, and the place where most of Sydney’s ferries were built. Balmain is now a colourful and artistic suburb, home to some of Australia’s best-known writers, actors, film directors, musicians and artists. Stylish cafés, bistros, pubs and restaurants burst with creative energy. Its pulsating nightlife is a magnet for a cosmopolitan crowd. Browse up and down Darling Street for your fill of retail therapy – galleries, bookshops, flowers, homewares, delis, children’s wear and toy shops. Explore back streets and spot the different architectural styles typical of the 1800s and early 1900s, from wrought-iron and sandstone to timber workers’ cottages. Party on at one of the many great hotels, such as the Unity Hall, Cat and Fiddle and Royal Oak – DJs, jazz, bands and live theatre.