Relish Coffeehouse

Relish Coffeehouse is a locally owned espresso and brunch spot at Shop 1/559 Freemans Drive in the heart of Cooranbong, and it makes no secret of its dog policy: their own social posts announce that dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables.

The dog setup

Dogs join you at the outdoor tables on a lead, with staff known to bring out water and, according to regulars, the odd sausage treat for well-behaved visitors. Keep your dog settled at the table as you would at any street-side seating, and note there is no dedicated fenced area, just friendly pavement tables.

Worth knowing

The kitchen is known for smooth, consistent espresso, banana bread and a good sausage roll, plus cooked breakfast and lunch plates with generous portion sizes. It has a small garden area that adds to the relaxed, family-friendly feel. This is strictly a weekday venue: open Monday to Friday from 6am to 3:30pm and closed weekends, so plan a morning coffee run, not a weekend outing.

Getting there and parking

Freemans Drive runs through the centre of Cooranbong, with free street parking along the strip. It is an easy stop if you are passing through on the drive between the M1 and Lake Macquarie's western shore.

Close by with the dogs

The Avondale Dairy Walk is a short drive away for a proper on-lead walk afterwards. Lake Macquarie City Council's nearest designated leash-free grounds are the Morisset Dog Exercise Area and the Dora Creek Dog Exercise Area, both a few minutes south. For another coffee with dogs on the same side of the lake, Biv's Coffeehouse in Morisset is the closest match.

More options are on the NSW dog friendly cafes guide and the Cooranbong destination page.

Max: weekday mornings only. The staff remember the regulars' dogs by name, so go twice and you will be one.