The Gentle Bean

The Gentle Bean is a family-owned Asian-fusion brunch cafe on Liverpool Road in Enfield, and it is one of the few local cafes where dogs are welcome indoors as well as outside. With a dedicated doggy menu on top of the human brunch list, it works in any weather, which is half the point in the inner west.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcomed both indoors and in the outdoor area, a rarer combination among nearby cafes. The doggy menu covers a lactose-free doggychino, a chicken and sweet potato breakfast bowl, fresh pupcakes and house-made gluten-free dog cookies in beef and chicken flavours. Staff bring fresh water out for visiting dogs.

The vibe

The human menu is Asian-fusion brunch: kimchi tuna melts, gochujang omelettes and bagels, with a strong drinks list running to strawberry cheesecake, matcha and taro lattes. One quirk to know about: the cafe runs a cat cuddle cove upstairs, so if you are travelling with a cat-reactive dog, stick to the ground floor and outdoor seating.

Getting there and parking

The cafe is at 244 Liverpool Road, Enfield. Street parking is available on Liverpool Road and side streets such as Wentworth Street, so check signage for time limits. It opens 8am to 4pm Tuesday to Friday and 9am to 4pm on weekends, and is closed Mondays.

Close by with the dogs

For a run before or after brunch, the Henley Park off-leash dog area is a short drive away, and the Grant Park fenced dog park is also in Enfield if you want a fully enclosed session. If you are building a cafe crawl, Garden House Cafe is the other dog-friendly option in the suburb.

Pepsi: a doggychino on the menu, gluten-free cookies in two flavours, and staff who bring the water out before you ask.

Go on a weekday morning for the quietest tables, especially if your dog is still learning to settle around new smells and the resident cats. More options are in the NSW dog friendly cafes guide and the Enfield destination guide.