Girdlers Café - Avalon

Girdlers is a wholefood cafe on Avalon Beach's main strip, set on Hilltop Road just off Old Barrenjoey Road, and dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating out front on a leash. Hours run 7am to 2:30pm Monday to Thursday and to 3pm Friday through Sunday.

The dog setup

Dogs stick to the outdoor tables; the indoor room is people-only. Staff are used to four-legged regulars, and the pavement seating is roomy enough for a dog to settle beside the table. It is worth bringing your own collapsible bowl in case the house water bowl is in use. Confirm leash and seating rules at the table, since footpath dining policies can shift with council rules.

The vibe

Health-conscious and easy-going, with a wholefood brunch menu that covers the vegan and gluten-free end of the table alongside the bacon and egg roll, salmon crepes and banana bread. The house organic coffee blend is what locals come back for. Weekday mornings are quietest; on Saturdays the footpath tables go quickly once the beach crowd rolls in.

Max: grab an outdoor table early on a Saturday. The pavement seats fill before nine once the walkers start arriving.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits in the Avalon shopping strip with street parking along Old Barrenjoey Road and the side streets. Parking fills on weekend mornings, so check the time-limit signage before you settle in. Avalon Beach is a short walk downhill.

While you're out there

Careel Bay is nearby and calmer than the main beach when the swell is up. For off-leash time, Bayview Dog Park is a short drive south, and back in town Sunset Diner keeps a dog-friendly courtyard for later in the day. The Brightside Cafe covers the next suburb down the road.

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