The 23 Best Pet-Friendly Cafes In Australia

Slurp up a morning brew alongside your furry companion with a pet-friendly cafe in your nearest capital city.

Coffee and contemplation – an AM prerequisite for almost every Aussie. If you’re a fur parent, devoted to sharing life’s sweetest moments with your buddy, caffeine pit stops are also a great opportunity to get your pet out of the house. Presenting the ultimate list of pet-friendly cafes to help you and your beloved unwind in comfort right around Australia.

Featuring sprawling grounds (with plenty of sniffs), pet-friendly treats (a puppaccino, perhaps?) and silky-smooth human-only brews, these must-visits are made for you and your boo.

Pet-friendly cafes in Sydney, NSW

Naked Brew

Treat your pooch to their very own ‘Doggie Menu’ at Naked Brew in Sydney’s inner west.

Home to the city’s cult doggie donut, made with unsalted peanut butter and chicken stock plus yoghurt frosting, ice cream, waffle and smoothie, each exclusively finessed for pups, it’s a pet-friendly cafe with all the bells and whistles.

cookies and doggie donut treats in jars at Naked Brew, Sydney — Spy the jar of doggie donut treats at Naked Brew.

Address: 110 Swanson Street, Erskineville, NSW

Centennial Homestead

Grab a table on Centennial Homestead ’s massive deck, or a comfy couch on the lush grass, for serene views of Centennial Park in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

It’s also located across the road from the park’s off-leash area, so you can get their exercise in during a single visit.

Water bowls within the pet-friendly cafe’s ‘puppy parking’ lot out front are also super convenient.

dogs eating from bowl at Centennial Homestead in Sydney, NSW — Centennial Homestead has puppy parking out front.

Address: 1 Grand Drive, Centennial Park, NSW

Lost and Found

Sucker for high tea? Give your pampered pal the ultimate day out at Lost and Found . The team put on a ‘Doggy High Tea’, priced at $45 per pet, every Sunday when you order their human version.

While yours includes typical tiny sandwiches and pastries, theirs arrives in equally extravagant fashion, decked out with pet-friendly garnishes and whipped with safe ingredients to satisfy delicate bellies.

two dogs enjoying the doggy high tea at Lost and Found cafe, North Sydney — Bring your pup to elevate your high tea experience.

Address: 223 Miller Street, North Sydney, NSW

Pet-friendly cafes in Melbourne, Vic

Bellboy Cafe

Munch on New York-inspired bagels while your furry friend laps up puppaccinos and dehydrated treats at Bellboy Cafe .

Melbourne’s top inner-city pet-friendly cafe is fitted with floor-to-ceiling glass so it’s plenty light and airy inside, but while you’re seated outside with your pal, you’re in good proximity to the Instagram-friendly dog kennel to help make memories of your visit.

brunch dishes on the table at Bellboy Cafe in Melbourne, Vic — Enjoy brunch all day at Bellboy Cafe.

Address: 131 Nicholson Street, Brunswick East, Vic

Fourth Chapter

Treat your bestie to peanut butter on toast or freshly baked doggie biscuits at Fourth Chapter on High Street (recently named the coolest street in the world) in trendy Prahran.

An awesome human menu spans healthy breakfast and lunch bowls, American-style comfort food and generously prepared cafe classics including the big brekkie, smashed avo and bacon and egg roll. Keep your pet on a leash and grab a seat on the sidewalk or in the cosy courtyard.

burger and fries at Fourth Chapter cafe, Prahran — Dine on generous serves.

Address: 385 High Street, Prahran, Vic

Pet-friendly cafes in Brisbane, Qld

Snag & Brown

Venture south about 15 minutes on road from Brisbane’s CBD to take advantage of Snag & Brown ’s very own, albeit small, dog park.

The pet-friendly cafe dishes up puppaccinos in wide, low-rise bowls (a genius move for doggos) and invites off-leash frolicking within the park, so it’s a perfect morning out for your furry friend. We humans can choose from a menu of all-day breakfast classics and sweet treats.

a pup on leash sitting on the floor at Snag & Brown, Brisbane — Pups are welcome to explore the doggie park off-leash.

Address: 97 Ekibin Road, Annerley, Qld

St Coco Cafe

St Coco Cafe ’s contemporary fit out, complete with a pet-friendly al fresco space dotted with picnic tables and retro-print umbrellas, unleashes a very chilled morning out in suburban Brissie.

Plus, your fur baby’s forever-rumbling belly is (momentarily) sorted as doggie ice cream and puppaccinos beg to be indulged in.

a dog poses in front of St Coco Cafe — St Coco Cafe is a place for pet lovers.

Address: Shop 8B 3-5 Cupania Street, Daisy Hill, Qld

Little Black Pug Cafe

Soak up the city’s year-round sunshine with an outdoor table at Little Black Pug Cafe in the southern suburbs of Brisbane.

The pet-friendly cafe loads up smashing sweet and savoury favourites as well as doggie meatballs made with grain-free beef and vegetables, plus a ‘Puggy-cino’ in honour of the team’s adorable namesake muse, Bowie.

a plate of pancakes with sliced fruits at Little Black Pug Cafe — Pancakes are always a good idea. (Image: Shaelah Ariotti)

Address: 6/1297 Logan Road, Mount Gravatt, Qld

Pet-friendly cafes in Canberra, ACT

Stella’s by the Lake

Wouldn’t it be nice to sink beers with your best bud? Stella’s by the Lake , located in suburban Canberra right next to Lake Ginninderra and close to one of the best skateboard-friendly walks in the city, is answering prayers.

Offering a healthy ‘Dog Beer’ made with turmeric and beef marrow leg bones, the pet-friendly cafe doesn’t stop there. Peanut-buttered bones, puppaccinos and donuts are also ready to be devoured in style.

an old lady petting a dog outside Stellas by the Lake cafe in Canberra — Spot adorable pets when you dine here.

Address: 1 Beissel Street, Belconnen, ACT

Two Before Ten

Keep your pal toasty when the mercury drops at Two Before Ten , located right next to a great dog-friendly walk in Aranda (so you can squeeze in their daily walk).

Dog blankets, created from old coffee sacks, water bowls and a bunch of pet-friendly seating options make it a comfortable pitstop for pooches. For humans, the cafe’s paddock-to-plate food philosophy ensures effortless nourishment.

pouring honey over a dish at Two Before Ten cafe — Indulge in exquisite delights at Two Before Ten. (Image: Pew Pew Studio)

Address: 68 Bandjalong Crescent, Aranda, ACT

Local Press Cafe

Stroll the Kingston Foreshore to find Local Press Cafe , a pet-friendly destination with serious views. Puppaccinos are on the menu and water bowls are filled high as a delicious menu packed with seasonal produce and excellent coffee satisfies two-legged patrons.

Address: Corner Eastlake Parade and Giles Street, Kingston Foreshore, ACT

Pet-friendly cafes in Adelaide, SA

Fare and Square

Let your little bud peruse Fare and Square ’s incredible ‘Furnu’ – a menu for fur babies. The popular Adelaide cafe’s clever pet-friendly offering includes a ‘Furchino’ sprinkled with carob, poached eggs on brown rice, the ‘Beethoven Bolognese’ of beef mince, veg and pasta, a ‘Scooby-Doo Stew’ of chicken tenderloins, veg and brown rice, and ‘Goofy Snacks’ which are 50-gram portions of dehydrated chicken. Delish.

Address: 6/8 Wellington Square, North Adelaide, SA

Peter Rabbit Cafe

Featuring a colourful garden area for pets to flex their mightiest sniffs, Peter Rabbit Cafe on the west end of Hindley Street is a pet-friendly winner.

Let them people and puppy watch as you seize the always-atmospheric venue’s menu of breakfast and lunch classics plus creative, globally inspired dishes.

friends dining in tables under huge yellow umbrellas at Peter Rabbit Cafe — Nab a table in the serene garden area.

Address: 234-244 Hindley Street, Adelaide, SA

The Banksia Tree Cafe

Explore the charms of Port Adelaide before dropping into a well-deserved break at The Banksia Tree Cafe . The pet-friendly spot offers a fur-friendly menu of peanut butter-rimmed puppaccinos and treats, including rocky road and ice cream cones. Choose a spot on the patio where dogs are always welcome.

Address: 147 St. Vincent Street, Port Adelaide, SA

Pet-friendly cafes in Perth, WA

Two Dogs Laughing, WA

It’s a fact – puppaccinos taste better when they’re free of charge. It’s why Two Dogs Laughing , a suburban pet-friendly cafe in Perth‘s Fremantle, is a smash hit with fur parents.

a woman with her dog at standing at the entrance door of Two Dogs Laughing cafe — Two Dogs Laughing is a hit with fur parents.

An interior mural, featuring a guitar-strumming pooch sporting a sombrero, cements this spot’s canine-friendly status. Furry buds are welcome to sprawl out under the legs of al fresco tables and chairs as an all-day menu of breakfast done with a twist – think scrambled eggs with sambal and poached eggs with kimchi – roll out of the kitchen.

dogs welcome people tolerated illustration at Two Dogs Laughing cafe — Doggos are more than welcome at this suburban pet-friendly cafe in Fremantle.

Address: 199 South Street, Beaconsfield, WA

Peninsula Farm Cafe

Craving space? Let your pal soak up the enormous grounds and soothing views at Peninsula Farm Cafe on the banks of the Swan River. It’s a stunning spot, set within a National Trust venue so expect manicured sights from every angle.

You’ll keep your fur babe happy in the outdoor area where healthy dog treats flow and families linger longer thanks to an onsite cubby house.

two dogs sitting on the grounds of Peninsula Farm Cafe — Keep your fur babe happy in the outdoor area.

Address: 2C Johnson Road, Marylands, WA

The Orange Box

Life’s a beach every day at The Orange Box on beautiful Leighton Beach, and pets are always welcome.

Whether you’re snuggling your little mate in one of the venue’s hammocks or beach chairs or letting them stretch their legs on the oval next door, it’s a sensational pitstop in one of the city’s prettiest locales.

a dog posing for a picture at The Orange Box cafe in North Fremantle — The Orange Box is a pet-friendly pitstop for pups.

Address: 14 Leighton Beach Boulevard, North Fremantle, WA

Pet-friendly cafes in Hobart, Tas

Room for a Pony

It’s a cafe but make sure you visit in the afternoon as pet-friendly sunset sessions at Room for a Pony in Hobart are always epic. Your furry pal will lap up the outdoor area, often littered with four-legged friends, as you indulge in the venue’s menu of creative dishes including a bacon, cheese and kimchi butty and a Chinese fried chilli omelette. When it’s wine o’clock, their selection never disappoints.

Address: 338 Elizabeth Street, Hobart, Tas

Sisterhood

Home to an undercover, outdoor dog area with heaters, Sisterhood in Sandy Bay, right next to touristy Battery Point, is fabulous.

Before you leave, check out the main section’s Instagram-perfection fit out and don’t miss the pet-friendly cafe’s incredible coffee art atop every style of steamed brew. Puppaccinos and doggy treats fly around the joint on high rotation.

two dogs licking out of a cup at Sisterhood Cafe — Treat your fur babies to a date at Sisterhood.

Address: 4/48 King Street, Sandy Bay, Tas

Giddy Up Food Store

Go for the human-style bottomless brunch, stay for the pet-friendly fun. Giddy Up Food Store in Sandy Bay is a popular brunch spot that also welcomes four-legged friends. The courtyard offers your pal good space to stretch their legs as a rotating door of local canines frequent this hot spot daily.

Address: 50 Princes Street, Sandy Bay, Tas

Pet-friendly cafes in Darwin, NT

Laneway Coffee

Indulge in Darwin’s thriving cafe culture as your furry friend remains right by your side at Laneway Coffee in Parap. The pet-friendly cafe is abuzz with crowds who can’t get enough of the menu’s wide range of healthy bowls, breakfast hits and burgers.

As for your little mate? There are often doggy donuts in stock and puppaccinos are an every-visit must.

handing out a doggie donut to a pup at Laneway Coffee, Darwin, NT — Give your pup a doggie donut.

Address: 4/1 Vickers Street, Parap, NT

The Boatshed Coffee House

Keep your pet on a leash during your visit to the Boatshed Coffee House in Cullen Bay. Overlooking the sparkling water, choose from the menu’s breakfast and lunch dishes, spanning tacos, toasties, wraps, fresh salads, traditional crepes and more.

It’s a sun-drenched spot, with good coffee, for a relaxed morning together before letting them run like crazy at the nearby Kahlin Oval.

Address: 54-56 Marina Boulevard, Cullen Bay, NT

Ray’s Cafe & Patisserie

Nestled within busy Smith Street, Ray’s Cafe & Patisserie is an understated spot with an outstanding menu and some of the best coffee in town.

Your pet is welcome to sit by your side in the surprisingly large courtyard as you pick your poison from a range of quality pastries and larger breakfast and lunch dishes.

a dessert plate at Ray’s Cafe & Patisserie, Darwin City — Pair your coffee with French toast.

Address: 66 Smith Street, Darwin City, NT

The Great Ocean Road has captured the hearts of Australians with its astounding scenery since 1932, but going off-course can enrich your experience with untouched nature, foodie delights and charming towns.

It’s a chilly 16 degrees. My husband pulls on a steamer and jogs – as all seasoned surfers do – into the water. We’re at Bells Beach , the legendary break on Victoria’s Surf Coast that’s home to the Rip Curl Pro, the world’s longest-running event in competitive surfing. Each year, over the Easter long weekend, up to 40,000 people descend on the region for the event. Today, though, we have the beach almost to ourselves, and the less-than-favourable temperature doesn’t deter my husband from surfing this famous break.

Torquay to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

The red dome of Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The nearby surf town of Torquay marks the starting point for the Great Ocean Road . Unfolding our map, which we have marked out with a highlighted route for our children to follow, we set off for lesser-known Anglesea, a chilled-out town 20 minutes south of here. Its wide, sandy beach is a gentler swimming option for our young family. Groms can learn to surf here with Go Ride a Wave, which also runs stand-up paddle boarding on the Anglesea River.

Split point lookout — The lighthouse overlooks the Shipwreck Coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

After a couple of nights in Anglesea, we hit the road again, first stopping at Aireys Inlet. Here we stretch our legs at Split Point Lighthouse, which was made famous by the 1990s television series Round the Twist, before driving under the Memorial Arch that welcomes us, officially, to the Great Ocean Road.

This 243-kilometre coastal road was built by returned First World War servicemen and serves as a permanent memorial to those who fought and died during the war. Carved into rock using hand tools and horse-drawn carts, it was a huge engineering feat and provided much-needed access to isolated coastal communities.

Lorne to Birregurra

Lorne is a delightful beachside stop for lunch and browsing boutique stores. It’s also the gateway to Great Otway National Park , which comprises a varied landscape of old-growth forests, cool-temperate rainforests, heathy woodlands and rugged coast. With the highest rainfall in Victoria, the region is home to many waterfalls – 10 of which are within 10 kilometres of Lorne.

Turning slightly off the main drag, we wind along a gum-shaded road to Erskine Falls. Here, our son leads the way through the hyper-green rainforest and down 200-plus stairs to the cascade that drops 30 metres into a lush fern gully. We hop over large boulders to get closer to the falls, enjoying the entire place to ourselves; it’s worth the return climb.

From Sheoak Falls Picnic Area, there are walking trails to Henderson Falls, Phantom Falls, Won Wondah Falls and Kalimna Falls, some of which follow an old timber tramway from forest-logging days, which only came to an end in 2008.

You can follow your appetite north to the town of Birregurra, which is part of the Otway Harvest Trail that connects farm gates, markets, wineries, breweries and distilleries. It’s home to three-hatted modern Australian restaurant Brae , helmed by celebrated chef Dan Hunter, set among native gardens and an organic farm, and Otways Distillery, which produces small-batch spirits using local produce and botanicals.

Brae restaurant — Brae is a three-hatted restaurant in Birregurra. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Apollo Bay to The Otways

Back on track, the cliff-hugging stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is breathtaking. At Teddys Lookout, we overlook the winding road ahead and St George River spilling into the ocean. We spend languid days in Apollo Bay, a buzzy seaside town that boasts a three-kilometre-long, crescent-shaped beach with a backdrop of rolling green hills. One evening, as the sun sets, we take the steep 10-minute walk to Marriners Lookout, which affords panoramic views of the ocean, hinterland and town.

A 15-minute drive along the road, Maits Rest is a lush rainforest gully that has been protected since the early 20th century. Wandering along the 800-metre boardwalk, we inspect the delicate moss-covered forest floor and the gnarled roots of 300-year-old myrtle beech trees, then crane our necks to see their canopies, some 50 metres above us. It’s therapy in nature.

Cape Otway to the Twelve Apostles

The southernmost tip of Cape Otway is a delightful detour, home to the 1848-built Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. We climb the narrow winding staircase to the gallery deck, explore the keepers’ quarters and telegraph station, and enjoy a coffee and some ‘famous’ scones at the charming onsite cafe.

It’s a pinch-me moment to finally see the Twelve Apostles in person. This unmistakable cluster of limestone stacks rising abruptly from the sea were never 12, however. When coined this in the 1890s as a marketing ploy, there were only nine; today, only seven remain after two collapsed in 2005 and 2009. We admire these Aussie icons from the viewing platform, in awe of Mother Nature’s ever-evolving artwork.

The Grotto is another natural attraction within Port Campbell National Park. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

Edging the wild Southern Ocean, this part of the coast – dubbed Shipwreck Coast – is made up of many sea-carved natural wonders including London Bridge, The Grotto and Gibson Steps. After exploring the lookout trails of Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool – its English name taken from the site of the 1878 shipwreck – we nestle into the sandy beach encircled by towering sandstone cliffs, as our children splash about on the water’s edge, and soak it all in.

Port Campbell to Timboon

Timboon Fine Ice Cream is part of a regional foodie trail. (Image: C McConville)

Just north of Port Campbell National Park, the region of Timboon is part of the 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail, filled with purveyors of delicious foodstuffs such as Timboon Fine Ice Cream , Timboon Railway Shed Distillery and Apostle Whey Cheese. As an antidote to the indulgence, the 20-kilometre Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng Trail is a self-guided ride or walk between Port Campbell and Timboon through tall forests, over historic bridges and past sparkling lakes and farmland with grazing cattle.

Warrnambool to Port Fairy

Warrnambool building — A 19th-century building in Warrnambool. (Image: Peter Foster)

In Warrnambool, a town rich in maritime history, we take the four-kilometre Thunder Point Walk that traces the coast. The kids squeal when an echidna shuffles out from beneath the wooden boardwalk, and we stop to admire a seal lazing on a rock at the port.

Further along, the streets of quaint fishing village Port Fairy are lined with 19th-century cottages, old stone churches and Norfolk pines. Follow the historic walking trail to see some of the 60-plus National Trust buildings. Port Fairy is also home to Port Fairy Folk Festival (6-9 March), one of the country’s longest-running music and cultural festivals. You could time your road trip with the event for a fittingly celebratory end to any journey.

The Great Ocean Road can easily be done in three days, but we’ve spent a week on the road. The highlighted line on our now creased and well-worn map doesn’t follow the famous route precisely. It has sprouted branches in many directions, leading us to untouched rainforest and charming rural towns filled with culinary delights, and where we experienced some of our most memorable moments on the Great Ocean Road.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

The Monty is a highly anticipated, newly refurbished motel with a chic Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic set across the road from the Anglesea River. Basalt Winery in Port Fairy grows cool-climate wines such as pinot noir and Riesling in rich volcanic soil. Stay among the vines in its tiny home, complete with a kitchen, lounge area and outdoor firepit.

The Oak & Anchor Hotel has been a Port Fairy institution since 1857. Cosy up by the bar in winter or bask in the sunshine of the Lawn Bar in summer. The rooms are beautifully boutique with considered details, such as luxe baths for sinking into post-road trip.

Eating there

The Coast in Anglesea is a modern Australian restaurant focused on local ingredients. Grand Pacific Hotel has been a local landmark in Lorne since 1879 and recently underwent a restoration. It serves a mix of traditional pub and Italian fare alongside ocean views.

Graze is a cosy 40-seat dining room in Apollo Bay with a modern Australian menu complemented by regional wines. Apollo Bay Distillery offers tasting flights, a gin blending masterclass and serves woodfired pizzas.