Puppy love rules in Sydney’s top dog-friendly pubs
Sydney loves its dogs and while we have a long way to go to match some European cities, four-legged patrons are now welcome at a growing number of city pubs.
THESE days, pub patrons are almost as likely to have four legs as two, as the number of dog-friendly watering holes across Sydney grows.
The Vic On The Park in Marrickville (2 Addison Rd, viconthepark.com.au) has always welcomed pets, with water bowls for dogs on the back deck, an Instagram hashtag #dogsofthevic and also playing host for Maggie’s Rescue fundraising events.
Licensee Sarah Lewis says there are lots of dogs in the area, so it makes sense to embrace them.
“What better way to spend the afternoon than being outdoors, having a beer with your dog,” she says.
“We want to be a part of the community, there are lots of young families with newborns and a dog around here, and I’ve been told by customers that they prefer to come here over other places because we are so happy to have the dogs.”
Dogs are allowed on the spacious back deck and the car park, but not indoors, and there are plans to have a mobile dog washing service on weekends, from noon-4pm in the car park.
“We ask that the bigger dogs are on a leash, but if they get off every now and again we don’t mind. Generally the dogs are more well behaved than most of our patrons,” Lewis says. “We supply water bowls, keep Schmackos behind the bar and sometimes a piece of meat accidentally falls onto the ground for them. People order for their dogs as well.”
Marrickville locals Jim Dekroney and Outlaw the beagle are regulars at The Vic on the Park.
“We’d rather go out with the dog, he’s like American Express, we don’t leave home without him,” he says. “We’ve never had a problem here and it’s good for him to be around other dogs.”
After a renovation 12 months ago, The Collaroy Hotel’s new annex Pelican Pavilion (1064 Pittwater Rd, Collaroy Beach, collaroyhotel.com.au), has a dedicated Canine Corner.
Licensee Alistair Flower says it was an important part of the new venue.
“We deliberately wanted to create a community-based lifestyle hotel,” he says.
“Pelican Pavilion is a bar right on the sand, so it’s accessible from the beach or nearby park after people have taken their dog for a walk.”
While the majority of customers are locals, Flower says the venue also attracts those on daytrips.
“We are a local community hotel, but with the position on the beach it becomes a lifestyle destination,” he says.
“People drive up with their dogs, go for a walk on Long Reef headland and then stop for a coffee and cake.”
Patrons can order food and coffee from the pavilion or tie up their dog, buy a drink at the hotel and take it back to the pavilion.
“We provide water and dog biscuits and there’s also a puppycino for a posher-looking dog. If you ask nicely, we’ll give it to you for free,” Flower says.
The Collaroy patron Duncan Stedman from Whale Beach says he will always choose a venue where his dog Tilly is welcome, over one that doesn’t allow dogs.
“She’s part of the family and the rest of the family have all gotten dogs over the last six months so when we go out it’s a big family affair,” he says.
The Greens in North Sydney (50 Ridge St, North Sydney, thegreens northsydney.com.au) is so committed to its canine customers the chef makes dog biscuits, $2.50, from scratch.
“There are a lot of dog lovers in our local community and many of our customers consider their pets part of the family, so it was a no-brainer to welcome dogs to the outdoor courtyard. Our chef has even created his own homemade dog biscuits. It’s only fair the pooches get to eat as well as our customers do,” general manager Tony Williams says. “There’s also a great big park next door so we often get pet owners walking their dog and popping in for a coffee or lunch.”
In Surry Hills, The Beresford is turning its dog-friendliness into a dog show on December 5, from 3pm.
In the pub’s courtyard, where furry friends are always welcome, the show will feature competitions with treats, toys and other prizes, and owners are encouraged to dress their pooches up for a turn down the runway.
OR TRY THESE DOG-FRIENDLY PUBS ...
● The Grounds of Alexandria
7A, 2 Huntley St, Alexandria, 9699 2225, thegrounds.com.au
Choose from three sections; the cafe’s terrace is pet-friendly or there is doggie parking outside if you want to pop inside. Dogs are allowed in the Potting Shed, an outdoor garden area, as long as they are on a leash. And it’s not just dogs. Fluffy is The Potting Shed’s resident macaw and guests have been known to bring in their birds for a play date.
● Zeus Street Greek
2/34 Morley Ave, Rosebery, 8315 5610, zeusstreetgreek.com.au
Dogs are welcome in the restaurant’s large outdoor deck.
● The Norfolk
305 Cleveland St, Redfern, 9699 3177, thenorfolk.com
Dogs are welcome in the beer garden.
● The Oxford Tavern
1 New Canterbury Rd, Petersham, 8019 9351, theoxfordtavern.com.au
You can sit in the outdoor beer garden with your dog.
● Stain Cafe
47 Gladesville Rd, Hunters Hill, 9817 6886, facebook.com/stainhuntershill
There’s outdoor seating and dog bowls. A second venue at Lane Cove, 1 Felton Ave, also has a playground right outside the cafe, making it ideal for dogs and little people.
● Honest Don’s
2a McCauley St, Thirroul 4268 1881, facebook.com/GiddyUpKids
If you’re down Wollongong way order the puppychinos, $4, a mix of frothy milk and liver treats, and $1 from every sale is donated to the Wollongong Animal Rescue Network. Dogs can sit outside with their owners.
● Cuckoo Callay
Newtown Railway Station, 324A King St, Newtown, 9557 7006, cuckoo-callay.com.au
There’s an outdoor area where you can sit with your dog. The cafe sells homemade peanut butter, maple bacon dog biscuits called pupples, plus puppychinos made with pooch-friendly goat’s milk and dried liver sprinkles, $3 each.
● Bazaar Deli
777 Old South Head Rd, Vaucluse, 9337 6507, bazaardeli.com.au
Located parkside, it provides water bowls, blankets and Gourmet Marchand Kangaroo dried meat sticks, $2.50, for fur customers.
● La Puerta
5/2A Waters Rd, Neutral Bay, 9953 8367, lapuertarestaurant.com.au
This South American restaurant welcomes people and pets in the outdoor seating area.
● The Beresford
354 Bourke St, Surry Hills, 8313 5000, merivale.com.au/theberesfordhotel
Dogs are allowed in the large courtyard.
● West Village
30 Terminus St, Petersham, 9569 4675, westvillagesydney.com.au
The former White Cockatoo has been reborn as West Village and has a pet-friendly courtyard.
● The London
85 Underwood St, |Paddington, 9331 3200, hotellondon.com.au
Dogs are allowed on the lower level, including the front bar and back courtyard.
● The Sugarmill Hotel
33-35 Darlinghurst Rd, Potts Point, 9368 7333, sugarmill.com.au
Dogs are allowed in the outdoor seating area.
● Gazebo
2 Elizabeth Bay Rd, Elizabeth Bay, 8070 2424, thegazebo.com.au
This wine bar allows dogs in the outside seating area.
● Manly Wine
8-13 South Steyne, Manly, 8966 9000, manlywine.com.au
A pet-friendly wine bar on the northern beaches.
● The Winery
285A Crown St, Surry Hills, 9331 0833, thewinerysurryhills.com.au
Dogs are allowed at this inner-city laneway wine bar.
● Orangeville Meat Co
Unit 2/11 Rodeo Rd, Gregory Hills, 4623 1269
This butcher/cafe sells bags of bones, so dogs and their humans are catered to.
● Cafe 104
104 Argyle St, Camden, 4655 8035, facebook.com/104Caffe
There’s outdoor seating and free bacon for dogs.
● The Cricketers Arms Hotel
255 Darling St, Balmain, 9818 4232, facebook.com/CAHBalmain
Pets are welcome in the public bar of the refurbished hotel, which serves Italian-style bar food from One Ford Street kitchen, the restaurant attached to the venue.
● The Balmain Hotel
4 Mullens St, Balmain, 9810 7500, thebalmain.com
Dogs are welcome in the outdoor courtyard.
● The Hughenden Boutique Hotel
14 Queen St, Woollahra, 9363 4863, thehughenden.com.au
Stay overnight with your pooch at the Hughenden. Dogs are allowed throughout, apart from the breakfast room.
● The Grand National
161 Underwood St, Paddington, 9363 4557, thegrandnationalhotel.com.au
The front bar welcomes pets.
● The Carrington
565 Bourke St, Surry Hills, 9357 3734, thecarringtonsydney.com
The new owners of this recently reopened hotel allow dogs throughout the pub, except for the hallway area in front of the kitchen.
● The Duck Inn
74 Rose St, Chippendale, 9319 4415, theduckinnpubandkitchen.com
Dogs are allowed in the front bar and outside courtyard, but not the dining room.
● Arcadia Liquors
7 Cope St, Redfern, 8068 4470, arcadialiquors.com
Clean, well behaved, dogs are welcome.
Originally published as Puppy love rules in Sydney’s top dog-friendly pubs
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