The Secret Garden Cafe

The Secret Garden Cafe sits inside the Garden Mania lifestyle centre at 19 Lindsays Road in Boambee, a plant nursery and homewares stop just off the Pacific Highway south of Coffs Harbour. The reason dog owners detour here is the outdoor dining: a veranda and garden tables set under mature fig trees, where leashed dogs are welcome while you eat.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome across the outdoor patio, courtyard and garden seating, on a lead and by your side, since the grounds are shared with the working nursery and gift shop. Water bowls are set out around the garden, and there is no dog fee. Indoor dining is off limits, so this is a fair-weather option; on a rainy day the covered veranda helps but pick your table with the weather in mind. Because the cafe shares space with shoppers and plants, keep your dog close rather than on a loose lead at the table edge.

The vibe and the menu

This is a garden-cafe the old way: loose-leaf tea in china cups, homemade cakes, and scones with jam and cream that regulars plan their morning around. The breakfast and lunch menu covers bacon and egg rolls, corn fritters and savoury muffins with tomato relish, with vegetarian options alongside. High tea runs by prior appointment. Hours are 8:30am to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday, 8:30am to 3pm Sunday, closed Mondays. Weekends fill once the nursery gets busy, so weekday mornings are the quiet window.

Getting there and parking

The cafe is a few minutes off the Pacific Highway, an easy detour heading either direction, with free on-site parking and some shaded spots under the figs. After coffee you can wander the nursery and homewares before getting back on the road.

For exercise either side of brunch, the creekside loop at Boambee dog lead creek is the local leg-stretcher, and the off-leash sand at Boambee dog beach is a short drive east for a paddle. Artisti Coffee Roasters at Toormina is another dog-friendly caffeine stop nearby.

More of the area's dog-friendly venues are on the Boambee destination page, with the state list in the NSW cafes index.