Stevies Little Shop

Stevies Little Shop is a deli-cafe on Willison Road in Carlton, a short walk from Carlton Station in Sydney's south, and dogs are welcome at the footpath tables out the front. That combination of good deli food and a street-side table makes it an easy stop mid-walk rather than a special trip.

The dog setup

Dogs sit with you at the outdoor tables on the footpath; the shop itself is a food premises and dogs stay outside. Water bowls are commonly put out for dogs, but pack your own to be certain on a hot day. It opens early, 6am across the week, and closes at 2pm, so weekday mornings are the calmest window for a footpath table and an easy park.

The food

The deli side is the draw. Free-range meats, house-made pies and sausage rolls, corn fritters and a strong bacon and egg roll come up constantly in reviews, and there are gluten-free treats and matcha for the non-carnivores. Take-home meals, dips and condiments make it a handy stop to grab dinner on the way back from the park. It rates 4.8 across nearly 200 reviews, which for a small suburban deli-cafe is a strong sign of consistency.

Getting there and pairing a walk

It is walking distance from Carlton Station, and free street parking is available in the surrounding streets, though it gets busy on weekend mornings. Carss Bush Park a short drive south pairs well for a proper on-lead walk before or after, and the fenced Frys Reserve Fenced Dog Park at Kogarah is the off-lead option nearby. Fellow dog-friendly coffee in the suburb includes LOB Cafe on Jubilee Avenue and Sweet Marie's Cafe.

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