Kafenio

Kafenio is a small, well-loved coffee shop at 9/1-7 Cronulla Street, right in the central pedestrian mall. The alfresco tables spill onto the walkway, which gives a dog room to settle beside you while you sort out a coffee before or after a walk.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables in the pedestrian walkway. Indoors is off limits, as is standard for food premises in NSW. The mall is open and sunny, so bring your own water bowl to keep the dog comfortable, and expect foot traffic rather than quiet on weekend mornings.

Worth knowing

Locals rate the coffee highly, often calling it among the best in Cronulla, with a strong, consistent style that visitors compare to a good Melbourne pour. The kitchen does well-regarded toasties and sandwiches, fresh muffins and cakes, and quick breakfast bites. Service is personal, the kind of place that remembers a regular order. It runs 6:30am to 3pm seven days.

Getting there and parking

It is a very short walk from Cronulla Station. Street parking on nearby streets is timed and fills early, with paid parking in the Cronulla Plaza area close by.

Close by with the dogs

Know the council rules before you plan the walk: dogs are prohibited on the Cronulla Esplanade walkway and on the sand at Wanda and Shelly beaches. The shire's off-leash ocean option is Greenhills Beach north of Wanda, entered via Gate 5 and off-lead before 10am, which we cover on Greenhills Beach Dog Off Lead. Kurnell Dog Beach is another sand option a short drive around the bay.

For a second coffee in the same strip, Grind Espresso and Makers Daily are both nearby. The New South Wales dog friendly cafes guide and Cronulla destination page list more.

Max: best coffee in the mall, and there is room for me at the footpath table. Bring my bowl though.