Billy Boy Cafe & Bistro

Billy Boy Cafe and Bistro is a family-run cafe on The Grand Parade at Brighton-Le-Sands in Sydney's south, right across the road from the beach and Cook Park, with dogs welcome at the outdoor footpath tables. It is a solid coffee-and-brunch stop to bookend a walk along the Botany Bay foreshore.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating on the footpath side; the indoor dining room is humans-only, as is standard. Keep dogs leashed and clear of the walkway, since The Grand Parade footpath carries a steady flow of walkers and prams. Ask staff for a water bowl on a warm day, and bring your own as a backup.

The vibe and the menu

Locals rate it highly for smashed avocado on sourdough, eggs benedict, acai bowls, zucchini fritters and homemade pies and sausage rolls, with banana bread and brownies in the cabinet. Hours are unusually early: doors open at 5am on weekdays and 6am on weekends, trading through to mid-afternoon, so it suits a dawn beach walk before the crowds and the heat.

Getting there and parking

Paid parking runs along The Grand Parade and in the nearby council car parks, and several bus routes along The Grand Parade connect through to Rockdale station. The bayside strip is flat and walkable.

Close by with the dogs

Brighton-Le-Sands Beach and the paved foreshore path sit right across the road, and the Cook Park Trail runs south along the bay for a longer on-leash leg. Off-lead time is available at Kyeemagh Off Leash Dog Area. ExpressoMe is the suburb's other coffee stop worth a lap.

Wider options are on the Brighton-Le-Sands destination page and in the NSW cafes index.