After a coffee and want to take your dog? Here are 7 top dog friendly cafes in Sydney (plus a must-do countryside café in a dog park)
Love eating out? Hate leaving your pooch at home? Help is at hand! More and more cafes are letting diners bring their dogs along, after all, what’s a capucino without a pupacino! We’ve “hound” picked some of our favourite cafes that welcome dogs around Sydney for you and your furry friend to try.
1. Café Bones Hawthorne Canal Reserve, Leichhardt- www.cafebones.com.au
This self proclaimed “world’s first dog friendly café” is a Sydney institution. Located in the off leash Hawthorne Canal Reserve, the outdoor only café has been a mecca for dog lovers for years. They serve organic Fair Trade coffee, pupacinos and their own home baked dog biscuits, a winning combination!
2. Centennial Homestead
1 Grand Drive, Centennial Parklands- www.centennialhomestead.com.au
Located adjacent to the off leash area near Federation Pavillion, this pup friendly eatery is open for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Bright and breezy, it offers a wide menu, including vegetarian and vegan options. A perfect spot to relax after a morning’s jog or ball game.
3. Sydney Park Kiosk Sydney Park Rd, St Peters- www.sydneyparkkiosk.com.au
Just near the chimney stacks in Sydney Park, this café is a local favourite with hounds and their humans. A casual alfresco café with wide open views, this is the place for the whole family, and their doggos of course! Parking is available on Sydney Park Road or off Princes Highway near the stacks.
4. Queens Park Kitchen Darley Rd, Queens Park- www.queensparkkitchen.com.au
Next door to the children’s playground, this is the “pawfect” spot for recharging the batteries after a romp in the off leash area in Queens Park. It offers a decent menu for breakfast through lunch along with coffee and a smallish alcoholic drinks choice. A great place to sit out on the terrace in the sun with your furry friend and watch the world go by.
5. The Boatshed Bar and Café
Lower level 11 Narrabeen St, Narrabeen- www.theboatshedcafe.com.au
This little gem is located on the edge of Narrabeen Lagoon with fabulous lake views. Work up an appetite by walking the 8.6km flat Narrabeen Lagoon Heritage Walk then grab a table and watch the passing parade of people and their pooches. The café has water bowls for dogs, shaded tables and the menu includes several seafood options. If you’d prefer, order takeaway fish’n’chips and sit on the grass at the water’s edge with your furry friend. Pawsome!
6. 2773 19 Ross St, Glenbrook- www.2773glenbrook.com.au
Located in an old timber house, this dog friendly café has it all- great coffee, a kids’ playground, resident chickens and live music to boot! The menu features locally sourced produce and organic Fair Trade coffee plus home- made lemonade. Kick back and enjoy the fresh mountain air with your hound while listening to live Jazz, Blues or modern classics on the weekend. An easy 1.5 hour drive from Sydney.
7. Chew Chew Pet Restaurant
Shop 3, Railway Walk, Wollstonecraft Station, Wollstonecraft- www.chewchew.com.au
The ultimate doggy dining experience! Open Wednesday through Sunday, this café offers in-house gourmet dining for your pampered pooch. The 3- course meals include organic chicken and lamb dishes or fresh salmon. Chicken risotto is the numero uno favourite according to four-legged “ruff”viewers. Desserts include doggy waffles and cappuccinos. Humans are well catered for too with dedicated outdoor tables. Don’t forget to stock up on dog treats while you’re there! An experience not to be missed.
……Fancy a day in the country?
Kurrajong Bark Park
16 Old Bells Line of Road, Kurrajong- visit website or find them on Facebook
Enjoy fresh air and sweeping country vistas just a short 1.5 hour drive from Sydney CBD. There is a large fenced area for bigger hounds plus a dedicated play area for small dogs as well as an agility course. The recycled and upcycled vibe makes it a delightfully quirky space. Café BCM is open early every day and serves coffee and light meals. It has a great community feel and everyone is friendly. Pawfection!
Want to get away from it all? Check out some suggestions for a getaway with your hound.