Li’l BREW Espresso Bar

Li'l BREW Espresso Bar is a compact grab-and-go espresso bar at Pavilion 2, 15 Edinburgh Avenue in the NewActon precinct, on the city side of Lake Burley Griffin. It runs weekdays only, 6:30am to 3pm, and closes on weekends and public holidays, so plan it as a weekday stop on the way to or from the lake.

The dog setup. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating, leashed, which suits a mid-walk pause rather than a long brunch. The precinct around it is pedestrian friendly with landscaped open space, so there is room to settle a dog beside the small tables. The bar itself is tight, so bring your own water bowl and tuck your dog in close when office crowds hit mid-morning.

What to order. The coffee is Veneziano's Crave blend, pulled by baristas locals rate among Canberra's best, with filter and cold brew for hot mornings. Food is grab-and-go: croissants and pastries early, then sandwiches and salads through lunch, with a decent run of vegetarian and vegan plates. Visit Canberra lists it and HerCanberra's first-look write-up covers the opening.

Getting there. NewActon sits a short walk from the CBD. Paid precinct parking includes the Wilson Parking under the Nishi building, but the natural arrival is on foot along the lakeside paths, coffee in hand on the way back.

Close by with the dogs. Loop back over the water toward Yarralumla dog park for an off-leash run, or head east where the lake paths stay on-leash but interesting. If you want a second stop near the city, The Griff Coffee Bar and Margot Espresso Bar over in Parkes are close by. The rest are under ACT cafes and in the Canberra destination guide.