Oh Sydney, Emerald City - Home to the world's most beautiful beaches, the best coffee and the snyggest dogs. With a plethora of beautiful cafes and restaurants, there are plenty venues in and around the city that combine style and dog-friendliness, providing the perfect spot to enjoy a meal or coffee with your furry best mate. Most venues allow dogs in outdoor areas and courtyards. In some, you may even be allowed to take your furry friends inside. Either way, we always recommend to check with each venue before bringing any of your non-human pals.
It really wasn't easy to pick our top 10 favourite spots for this list, but after many weekends of taste testing, some heated debates and copious amounts of corn fritters, it's finally here!
Drumroll please for our top 10 (in no particular order and totally still subject to change)...
Cuckoo Callay, Surry Hills 
A collision of fine food and impeccable coffee makes Cuckoo Callay everyone’s favourite, friendly neighbourhood cafe located on the bustling Crown Street in the heart of Surry Hills.
With a fun, quirky interior, inventive, unique dishes and a big, dog-friendly outdoor sitting area this is on of the best brunch spots we've come across The perfect spot to meet your mates, bring your four legged friend and enjoy all of the fun and flavour their asian-inspired menu has to offer.
Oh, and by night, Cuckoo Callay transforms into a hawker style diner with a menu inspired by Korean and Japanese street food. Definitely worth checking out on a nice summer night.
Favourite dish: Okonomiyaki waffle - $27
Our rating: ★★★★★
Bird & Bear, Various Locations
What's better than one dog-friendly cafe? Six of them! Proudly a family affair, Bird & Bear started in 2011 as a single cafe on a small marina in Elizabeth Bay and now runs 6 gorgeous venues. Our fave? Hard to tell, but we do love NAVY BEAR: As one of their most unique venues, the Navy Bear is located in the royal Australian navy sailing association (RANSA), a lively little sailing club housed in a rustic tin shed nestled beside water’s edge in Rushcutters Bay, with views across the harbour. A sunday morning here with your pooch, will leave you feeling relaxed and recharged.All Bird & Bear venues have made a Sustainable Seafood Commitment under The GoodFish Project - Australia’s first entirely independent consumer source of reference, offering a holistic approach to assessing the environmental impact of fisheries and aquaculture operations. We stan!
Favourite dish: Vegetable Poke Bowl - $18
Our rating: ★★★☆☆
The Copper Mill, Alexandria
The Copper Mill is a stylish cafe located in the trendy suburb of Alexandria. The cafe, featuring concrete floors, wooden benchtops and slate-coloured walls is known for its industrial-chic decor, delicious food, and of course pet-friendly policy.
Make sure to check out their insta to have a look at their beautifully plated dishes - they look like little work of arts.
Favourite dish: Strawberry & Beetroot Chilled Breakfast Rice - $16
Our rating: ★★★★★
The Lookout, Elisabeth Bay
On a beautiful sun-drenched wooden deck, the aptly named Lookout cafe lures locals with its robust coffee, winning harbour views and seasonal brunch. Reminiscent of a beachside kiosk, the cafe has an open-plan kitchen and spacious outdoor seating. A gentle harbour breeze blows onto the deck while patrons enjoy front-row seats to the show of boats cruising on Elizabeth Bay.
The food menu is simple but creative and delicious. On the caffeine front, the Lookout uses Mecca Coffee and Sample Coffee and, if you’re sitting in, it’s served in mugs courtesy of Melbourne’s Claystone Pottery.
A Sunday morning well spent. The Lookout is located in Beare Park - the perfect spot for you and your dog to see and be seen and make some new frenz. There's also direct access to the water - a great opportunity for your dog to cool off.
Favourite dish: Dukkah Eggs - $23.50
Our rating: ★★★★☆
Shila Kitchen Teahouse, Balmain
Inspired by its many traditions and culinary practices, Shila aims to create an authentic “home” for Persian food in Australia. And they're doing it oh so well. With its historical roots, beautiful interior and delicious homemade products, Shila's is a modern Persian oasis while its dishes (and plates) burst with the colour, aromas, and flavours of an ancient past. The Teahouse also hosts a deli and a little shop with homemade Persian delicacies. *yum* And don't forget to try the Persian coffee of course.
Shila's owners say: 'Australia has welcomed us to their land with open arms, and as immigrants, we wish to return that warmth by sharing the culinary treasures of our motherland.' Love, love, LOVE!
Favourite dish: Spicy Mirza Omelette - $16
Our rating: ★★★★★
The Grounds of Alexandria, Alexandria
The Grounds of Alexandria is not only one of the most popular cafes in Sydney, but also one of the most spectacular. With its lush gardens, rustic decor, and abundance of natural light, it's a beautiful place to enjoy breakfast or brunch with your furry friend. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating areas, where they can enjoy a drink of water while you sip on your coffee. There are plenty of different spaces and themed events to enjoy, including a flower shop, a tiny zoo and the Potting Shed, home of Fluffy, the pet parrot mascot of The Grounds.
A little tip: The Grounds are a popular spot for tourists and can be pretty busy, especially on weekends. Try to avoid peak hours.
Favourite dish: Zucchini Fritters Romesco - $22
Our rating: ★★★★☆
Porch and Parlour, Bondi Beach
A beautiful and stylish cafe in Bondi Beach, Porch & Parlour is built on the pillars of flavour, freshness, people, culture & community. Since starting out as an idea between mates in 2010, they have evolved beyond their staple breakfast and lunch offering into catering, events, sundowners, flowers & most recently our ceramics brand (we're impressed!).
Their food is fresh and wholesome, just the way we love it. They cook with health in mind, use local produce as much as possible and support businesses they believe in. We love their ethos, food and not to mention the proximity to the most beautiful beach in the world.
If you are familiar with Bondi, you'll know there are plenty of four-legged friends accompanying their (very fit) parents on their morning run or for weekend brunch. So of course doggies are welcome in its outdoor seating area.
Favourite dish: Smash & Hash - $25
Our rating: ★★★☆☆
Naked Brew, Erskinville
There's dog-friendly cafes and then theres' Naked Brew. Priding themselves on creating delicious unique meals that break away from the norm, as well as offering timeless classics, they even have a dedicated doggie menu, featuring Doggie Belgian Waffles, Doggie-Chinos (of course) and donut treats.
A laid-back vibe and super friendly staff will give you and your best mate the perfect excuse to laze the day away.
Favourite dish for humans: Apple & Cinnamon Oat Crumble French Toast - $17.80
Favourite dish for doggies: Naked brew o.g. doggie donut - $5
Our rating: ★★★★★
The Newport, Newport
What would Sydney be without Merivale. A lot less stylish, that's for sure.
The Newport isn't exactly a small and cosy cafe. Think of it more as one big, classy entertainment venue. With its alfresco marketplace feel, you can choose your own adventure within a variety of food outlets overlooking the water.
Whether it’s freshly-baked goods or juicy meat dishes from the Kiosk, classic bites from The Shack, or a wood-fired pizza by their very own pizza maestro Vincenzo Biondini - there's something for everyone.
The in-venue gymnasium filled with games provides hours of entertainment for human kids, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy a your meal with your fur baby.
Visit for a morning coffee, stay for a family lunch and dance as the sun sets on the deck with a mix of live entertainment and local DJs.
While pups are not allowed inside the Pavilion, The Pergola, Gymnasium or Arms Bar, they are welcome anywhere else.
Favourite dish: Orange & Herb Rotisserie Chicken - $26
Our rating: ★★★★★
Yiayia's Garden, Haberfield
Tiayia's is a fun & unique fusion of Aussie favourites and traditional Greek cuisine. From their famous chubster pancakes and Mcthick’n burger to a Greek moussaka made by Yiayia (“grandma”) herself! Yiayia's used to be vegan but now also serves non-vegan dishes using free range & pasture-raised eggs and milk and meat from local Aussie farms.
All served up in a funky indoor/outdoor venue in a heritage building renovated with modern street art. There’s a lot going and it's a very unique experience for sure.
Favourite dish: Big Fat Greek Brekky - $26
Our rating: ★★★☆☆
