Sydney’s Balmain is about to receive a new 1920s style Belgian brasserie café, which has taken the place of the old Commercial Hotel.
The Balmain Belgian Beer Café adds to Epoch in Cammeray and the Heritage Belgian Beer Café in the Sydney CBD, continuing the authentic European design, food and drink offer consistent across the Belgian Beer Cafes group.
Licensee Joanna Hehir said they plan to open their doors to the public later this month to unveil the new look, which has completely overhauled the former venue in less than four weeks.
“They started work on October 13 so it’s all been done very quickly,” she said.
Imported Belgian architectural and vintage elements will feature throughout the new venue, including mahogany-stained European oak, engraved bar stools, bevelled mirrors, vintage beer posters and etched glass.
Specially trained bartenders will pull Belgian beers in the nine-step pouring process, with brews to include Stella Artois, Hoegaarden and Leffe, among others.
And the all-day menu will feature traditional cuisine, including steamed mussels served in traditional pots, cheese croquettes, Flemish beef stew and steak et frites.
The Balmain Belgian Beer Café will add to the diversity of licensed premises in the suburb of Balmain, which reportedly has the most pubs per capita of anywhere in Australia.