The Navy Bear

The Navy Bear is a casual waterfront cafe inside the Royal Australian Navy Sailing Association grounds at 1C New Beach Road, Darling Point, set in a tin shed right on the water at Rushcutters Bay. Dogs are welcome in the shed seating and out on the deck, and with the marina and sailing boats as the view, there is always something to watch while the coffee comes.

The dog setup

Unusually for Sydney, dogs are allowed indoors in the casual shed seating as well as outside on the waterfront deck. Water bowls are put out, and staff are used to well-behaved dogs settling beside the tables. Keep your dog close: this is a working sailing club with boat traffic, rigging and other patrons moving through, not just a cafe deck.

The vibe and the menu

The menu covers relaxed brunch territory: smashed avo with smoked chilli oil, mushroom bruschetta with truffle ricotta and poached eggs, sourdough with Pepe Saya butter, ham and cheese croissants and a steak sandwich, with pumpkin bread among the regulars' picks and vegetarian and gluten-free options covered. Hours run 7am to 2:30pm daily, weather permitting, and cafe hours can shift with the conditions, so confirm before you go on a grey day.

Getting there and parking

Street parking along New Beach Road covers it but fills up on weekends, so morning arrival is the play, both for the marina light and the parking. Edgecliff Station is a 10 to 15 minute walk, and the harbourside path continues east toward Double Bay for anyone arriving on foot.

The location is the dog-walk argument on its own: Rushcutters Bay Park with its large off-leash area sits right next door, so a run and a coffee slot together easily. Scramble and Bean is another dog-friendly cafe across the bay, and Flybridge Cafe is the other option in Darling Point itself.

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