3 Tomatoes

3 Tomatoes is a Middle Eastern-leaning brunch cafe on the corner of Holden and Clissold Streets in Ashbury, the kind of neighbourhood spot where the footpath tables fill with locals and their dogs on a Saturday morning.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables on the footpath frontage; indoors is people-only. The seating is casual and close together, which makes it easy to settle a dog beside your chair, and staff have a habit of bringing a water bowl out before anyone asks. Keep the lead short at the corner tables, as Holden Street gets a steady run of cars through the intersection.

Worth knowing

The menu runs slow-cooked lamb, yoghurt chickpeas, falafel and a Middle Eastern-inspired brunch list, poured with Will & Co coffee, with gluten-free bread on hand. Doors open 6:30am on weekdays and 7:30am on weekends, closing 3pm both, and the kitchen winds up about half an hour early. Friday and Saturday mornings are the busiest stretch, so expect a short wait for a corner table.

Getting there and parking

The cafe is at 121 Holden Street, Ashbury. Free street parking is available on the surrounding residential streets, and it is a short walk from Ashfield station if you are coming in by train.

Close by with the dogs

Peace Park Fenced Dog Park is a few streets away for off-lead time either side of brunch, and Bede Spillane Reserve in Croydon is another fully fenced option close by. First Street Pantry is a second dog-friendly cafe in the same pocket if the corner is full.

More options are on the New South Wales dog friendly cafes guide and the Ashbury destination page.

Max: weekday mornings beat Saturday for a corner table. The lamb Shakshuka-style dishes run out late morning on weekends.