Greenknowe Cafe

Greenknowe Cafe is a relaxed, plant-filled spot at 8 Greenknowe Avenue in Elizabeth Bay, serving Filipino-inspired breakfast and lunch alongside cafe classics, and it is a genuine favourite with local dog walkers. The patio out front is where dogs go, and the cafe backs it up with actual dog service rather than mere tolerance.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome on the undercover patio seating along Greenknowe Avenue, leashed, while indoor tables stay people-only. Water bowls are provided and topped up by staff, and they will bring your dog a puppycino, which is more than most city patios manage. Space is limited, so pick your time if your dog needs room.

The vibe

The Filipino-Australian menu is the reason to come: the ube ricotta pancakes and ube latte, Boomerang beef tapa, pork adobo lumpia, arroz caldo and lomi all get name-checked by food writers and regulars alike. Rated 4.8 from more than 270 reviews. Hours run 7am to 3pm every day of the week.

Getting there and parking

Street parking is limited and metered around Elizabeth Bay, so most people arrive on foot or by transport. Kings Cross station is a short walk away and buses run along Darlinghurst Road, which suits a dog-and-walk outing better than driving anyway.

Close by with the dogs

Rushcutters Bay Park is a few minutes' walk down the hill, and Woollahra council allows dogs off-leash there between 3:30pm and 10:30am, with leashes required through the middle of the day, so a morning patio brunch pairs neatly with off-leash time beforehand. Beare Park down towards the water suits a calmer on-lead stroll. Cafe-wise, Tuyo in Potts Point and Scramble and Bean are other dog-friendly stops within walking distance.

More options are on the New South Wales dog friendly cafes guide and the Elizabeth Bay destination page.

Pepsi: the puppycino is a proper treat and the staff refill water bowls without being asked, which tells you everything about how used to dogs this patio is.