Concrete Playground

Oh my, Granny is really going to have her knickers in a twist once she finds out The Cottage Bar & Kitchen have stolen all her furniture. It seems they've arranged her iron legged table sets neatly on the first floor, then randomly thrown her good chaises haphazardly about the attic. And, she'll be absolutely off her trolley when she realises they've usurped her combination cologne of rustic vanilla, potpourri and the musty zing that lingers amongst the elderly. Despite that, the humble charm of this colonial style haunt in Balmain is enough to sweeten even the most bitter of people.

Breaching the pub laden commands of this old wharfie district, The Cottage is a starkly moored house on Darling St. Greeted by an inclining country style courtyard, fully equipped with rooster weathervane, it is everything inner city bars are not; spacious, obvious and oddly amiss of the facial haired following we've all become so accustomed to. Yes, no moustache wranglers here; the clientele is refreshingly diverse.

What's not so odd is the well assembled wine list fitted with over twenty choices by the glass all aiming to clock in below the $9 threshold. There's some quirky, foreign varietals and a flurry of boutique beers to dip your tongue in. If you're not sure where to kick off, owners Rob, Os and Chris will point you in the right direction. Boasting a wood fire oven the size of a Japanese car, pizzas are the choice with the option of Mediterranean sharing plates for people with friends and miniature stomachs.

If you're feelin' sporty and keen to get away from the hustle but still afraid of open spaces, The Cottage is a smooth transition. Let's just hope Granny doesn't find out this is the reason I've skipped Sunday roasts for the last few weeks.