A local's guide to dog friendly cafes

Let’s face it, we treat our dogs as part of the family, so we love nothing better than sharing a puppycino with our best mate… afterall they’re called companion animals for good reason.

For those coffee lovers visiting the Barrington Coast with their fur kids, our region has an abundance of great cafés and eateries where you can to sit outdoors with your well-behaved dog and enjoy the scenery as you sip.

Our best advice is to always ask before sitting down at a café table.

And here’s the official advice from MidCoast Council:

Your dog can join you for a coffee and socialising in outdoor seating areas and with the permission of the food business operator if it's on a leash and under your control, it is not fed and is kept on the ground. However if your dog is dangerous or a restricted dog, it may not join you in this instance.

And of course don’t forget that cafes also only accept well-behaved humans too, so here’s a great chance to impress others with your perfect dog-with-owner manners.

Beach Bums, Forster

Boasting one of the most enviable locations on the Barrington Coast, this café serves up a seasonal menu, with extensive breakfast offerings, roasted coffee all while enjoying the fabulous ocean view over Forster’s Main Beach. The relaxed seaside vibe means shoes are optional here.

Beach Street Dispensary, Harrington

What better place to enjoy a locally roasted coffee than sitting opposite the view of the mighty Manning River? Serving breakfast and lunch with delicious cakes and slices for that other time of the day.

Bent On Food, Wingham

Bent On Food is committed to making a difference in the community by serving our locals and tourist using a low carbon footprint in a sustainable workplace, showcase all of what our region has to offer.

Billy T Cafe, Stroud

Fresh and delicious with loads of old favourites to keep the visitors and locals happy, plus plenty of new dishes inspired from flavours around the world. Coffee is from Single O, not just for great coffee but for the ethics behind the brand.

Blowfish, Old Bar

Serving quality street food, this beachfront favourite offers up breakfast, burgers, tacos, milkshakes and much more for you to enjoy in the grassy parklands leading to Old Bar Beach.

Buyi Espresso Bar, Old Bar

This new kid on the block took its name from the local Indigenous word which means either a big breath or out of breath and this café wants all visitors to sit and catch their breath!

Café Giardino, Taree

Located in the main street of Taree this beautiful Italian café has outdoor seating where your dog can sit peacefully. The indoor vibe has definite feeling of Venice or Florence.

Café Thyme, Taree

Buzzy little café overlooking Victoria street and has access to a lovely homewares shop next door. Their philosophy is to serve quality meals and drinks to satisfy all tastes

Café Toscano, Forster

This exciting dining destination is open seven days offering a mouth-watering array of cakes and pastries as well as an authentic Italian menu of deliciousness.

Flow Bar, Old Bar

This is a unique family friendly café restaurant that’s also a live music venue, located 100 metres from the beach. As Old Bar Beach is dog friendly and leash free why not stop and have a meal with pup before or after you run/swim/play?

Kembali, Blueys Beach

This chilled out café serves fresh and healthy food infuses with flavours from Indonesia and it just an ideal place to stop and grab a green smoothie bowl, Ayam Goreng (fried Chicken) or some tasty smoothies.

Land & Sea Cafe, Gloucester

Sit out front or take your furry pal out the back to the courtyard, it's great for breakfast, lunch and dinner too. The Friday night specials are always good, and the Sunday roasts are great for a family get-together.

Old Bar Village Café, Old Bar

Serving up great food all day for your enjoyment, sit down and relax in a truly village setting and make sure you don’t leave without perusing their wonderful shelves of produce, local condiments and toys.

Paradise Marina, Forster

This café situated right on the lake in Forster is the perfect place for a bite to eat. Developing a great reputation for using premium fresh local produce to create top quality breakfasts, lunches and everything in between.

Raw Sugar, Taree

This café has prime position in the heart of Taree and its alfresco dining under trees and umbrellas is why tourist and locals love it so much. The café serves up delicious breakfast and lunch staples with amazing coffee

Tartt, Forster

This café is all about local produce and superior coffee, in fact it’s not just a job but a passion. Located at bridge end of Forster, the café is set up with tables and umbrellas outside.

Tea Gardens Boatshed, Tea Gardens

Relax on the waterfront with views over Myall Lakes and enjoy a sun drenched buffet breakfast or moonlight dinner for two on the restaurant’s gorgeous deck

The Common, Gloucester

The sunniest location in pretty Gloucester. Sit with your dog at the outside tables in the Meeting Place, choose shady or sunny, and they’ll deliver delicious coffee and light meals to your table for breakfast or lunch. Pop into the Gloucester Gallery afterwards, it’s part of the same heritage building, or get takeaway from the window and stroll to leafy Billabong Park.

The Deck, Tuncurry

In an enviable position overlooking Wallis Lake this café-bar-restaurant and takeaway has got it all! The best part of this dining experience is that you and your dog can walk off the kilojoules afterwards in John Wright Park.

The Garden Grub, Wingham

For delicious foods suitable to those with food intolerances, look no further than this atmospheric café in the heart of Wingham. Starting out as a vegetarian café they have involved to serve all kinds of food including, gluten free, vegan and everything else in between.