Boffee Café

Boffee Cafe is a coastal breakfast-and-lunch spot at 64 Caves Beach Road, a short walk up from the sand on the Swansea side of Lake Macquarie. It opens from 6am daily and closes in the early afternoon, and the covered footpath seating out front is a genuine dog zone rather than a token couple of tables, which makes it the default coffee stop for the local dog-walking circuit.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor, undercover footpath seating along Caves Beach Road, on lead and settled beside the table. Water bowls are typically put out for pups, and the staff are used to four-legged regulars. The space is small and other dogs pass through often, so a settled, sociable dog fits best. Indoor seating is kept for people.

Worth knowing

The menu leans brunch with a strong vegetarian and vegan range: loaded acai bowls, poached eggs, vegan pancakes, chilli scramble, brekkie tacos and cheese toasties all come up in reviews, alongside bacon and egg rolls and smashed pumpkin on sourdough. Coffee, teas and thick milkshakes cover the drinks. Service is quick and friendly, but tables turn over fast on weekends, so arrive early at peak brunch hours if you want a footpath table with the dog.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits on Caves Beach Road on the main strip through the village. Free street parking lines Caves Beach Road and the surrounding streets, and the entry is flat and level, easy with a dog on lead and a pram at the same time.

Close by with the dogs

One caution for the beach walk: dogs are prohibited on the main Caves Beach itself and Lake Macquarie City Council enforces it. For an off-lead run, the leash-free area at Hams Beach in Swansea Heads, accessed via Mawson Close, is 24 hours a day, and the Swansea Dog Exercise Area is a short drive back toward the lake. If you are making a morning of it, The Channel Cafe in Swansea is another dog-friendly stop in the same direction. More options sit in the Caves Beach guide and across NSW.