Cafe T.A.N.K

Cafe T.A.N.K sits on Thompson Street in Drummoyne, a few doors from the public school, and has built its reputation on two things: serious coffee and a genuine welcome for dogs. The team makes a fuss of four legged visitors, water bowls and treats appear at the table, and the walls carry a rotating collection of dog paintings. It is the kind of local spot regulars plan their morning walk around.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor and footpath seating out front. Staff are known to bring out water and treats unprompted, and puppyccinos are on the menu so younger or smaller dogs get their own cup. Some baristas here are known for latte art with a twist: regulars have been surprised with a portrait of their own dog foamed into the coffee. The street side is quiet enough in the mornings that a relaxed sit with a dog at your feet is easy.

The menu and the vibe

The coffee is the drawcard, with a strong local following and consistent praise for the brews. Breakfast is the other: bacon and egg rolls and fritters get regular mentions from reviewers, along with rotating brunch plates and pastries. Portions are well priced for the quality. The room is family friendly too, with wheelchair access and facilities for young kids, so it copes with a mixed crowd of prams, toddlers and leashes without fuss.

Getting there and hours

The address is 58A Thompson Street, Drummoyne. Free street parking is usually findable in the surrounding residential streets, and the cafe is an easy walk from anywhere on the Drummoyne peninsula. Hours are 7am to 4pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8am to 3pm on weekends, closed Wednesdays. Weekday mornings are calmest; school pickup around 3pm in term time is worth avoiding.

Make a day of it

Pair a visit with a lap of the Bay Run, which passes within walking distance for a scenic on-leash loop around Iron Cove. For off-leash time, Queen Victoria Reserve sits at the end of Queen Victoria Street with a small grassed area and a tidal beach where dogs can splash, off-leash before 9am and after 5pm per City of Canada Bay. Brett Park along the same foreshore follows the same hours.

More dog friendly spots in the area are listed on the New South Wales cafe guide, or see what else is nearby in Drummoyne, including Jenn and the barista up the road.