Miles & Henry Bookstore Cafe

Miles & Henry Bookstore Cafe is an independent bookstore and cafe combined at 5/80 Main Street in the heart of Alstonville, a village in the Ballina Shire hinterland. New and pre-loved books share the room with barista coffee and a breakfast and lunch menu, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables.

The dog setup

Dogs settle in the outdoor seating area, with room under the table, and staff are known to bring out a water bowl. The bookstore and cafe interior is people only, so plan on an outside table. Well-behaved dogs get the warmest reception, and the pace here is relaxed enough that a long stay is normal.

The vibe

The draw is the mix: shelves of second-hand and new books, gifts, chai tea and specialty coffee, and a menu of freshly prepared light bites, breakfasts and baked goods with vegetarian and vegan-friendly choices. The decor is clever and vintage-inspired, and it functions as a local gathering spot rather than a quick-turnover cafe. Hours run 7am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday, 7am to 2:30pm Saturdays, and it closes Sundays.

Pepsi: A water bowl and a second-hand shelf to sniff along the way. This village gets me.

Getting there and parking

It sits directly on Main Street, with on-street parking along the main road and the side streets, and the whole village is walkable on foot once you arrive.

Close by with the dogs

Gap Road dog park is the shire's off-lead area for Alstonville, with a fenced front section, agility gear and a wider unfenced run behind. On Main Street itself, Buckley's Chance is another village coffee stop.

More of the Northern Rivers is on the dog friendly cafes in NSW page.