Little Marionette Cafe, Balmain, NSW
Little Marionette, 1a Booth Street Balmain(Mon-Fri 6:30-4, Saturday 7-4, Sunday 8-4)
Pulling up opposite Gladstone Park in Balmain brings back memories. My first job out of university was based Balmain. Even 13 years ago Balmain was trendy but fast forward to today, and on a sunny Saturday afternoon, Balmain has transformed from village trendy to a more bustling trendy. Balmain is a secret no more but with its historic buildings still retains a character. Little Marionette fits in perfectly into the Balmain streetscape. It’s cute, it’s chic and it’s tiny. Little Marionette is so small, that the staff actually delivers coffees in cups and saucer to customers, in Gladstone Park. Very cool, the sun, a picnic rug with lunch and coffee! We sneak in about 20 minutes before Little Marionette closes and settle into the cosy retro looking interior. Coffee is delivered by a barista who sports a beret, very European! As to my cappuccino, well first impressions are a strong flavour that is balanced by a creamy part deux with the hints of chocolate sneaking in but before long my cup is empty, a definite positive for Little Marionette’s baristas. It’s when you lament you need to order another cappuccino, is when you know you have had a good coffee.
M’s lemongrass steeps in a dainty little teapot which is in keeping with the provincial theme of Little Marionette. I open the teapot and I am hit with citrus aromas, so as I take a sip of the tea, I am fully expectant of a lemongrass explosion in my mouth. Surprisingly though, it’s not full on at all, quite refined and cleansing actually. Not sure I had planned it this way, but a sip of the lemongrass tea was a perfect cleansing ending to my Little Marionette experience.
Little Marionette Cafe, definitely pays homage to a bygone era with friendly service, retro fixtures and classic tunes. A little gem in Balmain for sure!
Recommendation : Get into the car and get into Balmain and enjoy a couple hours at The Little Marionette!
Good taste, Sascha, this was my favourite “sit and read a book” cafe when I lived in Balmain, it always draws interesting people too – a different crowd to the rest of Darling Street…
C