Roma Bar

Roma Bar has anchored the Darwin CBD coffee scene from Cavenagh Street since 1989, and its big covered verandah is one of the most reliable dog tables in the city. The kitchen goes beyond standard cafe fare, with chilli scrambled eggs, banana pancakes, savoury mince on toast and an eclectic all-day spread, and the coffee has a decades-long local reputation.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome on the raised, undercover verandah that looks out over Cavenagh Street, which means shade in the wet season and airflow through the build-up. Water bowls are usually provided out the front, and the staff are used to regulars arriving with dogs. Inside stays people-only. The verandah is roomy, so a settled dog on a lead fits easily beside most tables.

Worth knowing

Hours run 7am to 2:30pm Monday to Friday, with weekends from around 8am to 1pm, so it is strictly a breakfast-and-lunch venue. Weekday mornings hum with the office crowd; weekends are more relaxed but the kitchen winds down early. Dry-season mornings are the best sitting, and the outdoor tables go fast once the tourist traffic finds the place.

Getting there and parking

Find it at 9 Cavenagh Street in the heart of the CBD, an easy walk from the Mitchell Street precinct. Metered street parking runs along Cavenagh Street and the surrounding blocks during business hours, with off-street council parking nearby.

Close by with the dogs

Bicentennial Park and the Esplanade are a short walk for clifftop paths and harbour views, with dogs on-lead unless signed otherwise. For a proper off-lead run, the Bundilla Fenced Dog Park at Fannie Bay is a short drive. Other CBD dog tables include Perk and Palate and Ray's Cafe and Patisserie.

More options are on the NT dog friendly cafes guide and the Darwin City destination page.

Max: verandah table, water bowl down, chilli scrambled eggs under guard. This city's oldest coffee habit still does it best.