Urban Nook

Urban Nook is a small specialty coffee bar at Shop 51/822 Pittwater Road, Dee Why, on the main strip a block back from the beachfront. It has built a local following on barista coffee and its Berry Power smoothie, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables along Pittwater Road, which suits a quick stop on a beachside walk.

The dog setup

Seating for dog owners is the street-side outdoor section; the interior is compact and really is a two-person-deep counter, so treat outside as the option. Access is flat off the pavement, which makes it easy for older dogs or anyone managing a lead, a coffee and a pram at once. Staff are friendly and will usually bring water on request, but carry your own bowl for busier stretches. Keep your dog close to the table, as the footpath sees steady pedestrian traffic.

The vibe

This is a grab-a-flat-white kind of place rather than a long brunch sit. The menu runs to coffee, smoothies, cheesecake and simple made-to-order bites. Hours are 6:30 am to 2:00 pm weekdays and 7:00 am to 1:00 pm Saturdays, closed Sundays, so weekday mornings are your window. It is a young cafe with a modest review history, so confirm anything unusual on the day.

Getting there and parking

Kerbside parking on Pittwater Road is tight; the council car parks off Oaks Avenue or the Howard Avenue side streets are the practical choice. Buses run frequently along Pittwater Road if you are walking the dog down from the surrounding blocks.

Close by with the dogs

For off-leash time after coffee, Dee Why Dog Park and the big 24/7 off-leash reserve at Flora and Ritchie Roberts Reserve in Curl Curl are both close, the latter running down to the lagoon edge where dogs can paddle. DY Local is another dog-friendly cafe on the same strip.

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

Max: pair the coffee with the walk down to the lagoon at Curl Curl, not the surf beach. Dogs are off the menu on the ocean sand, and the rangers do patrol.