The Cabin

The Cabin is a cozy coffee shop on Exeter's Main Road in the West Tamar, and the go-to dog stop for the township. Its outdoor courtyard takes dogs on lead, and with a 4.7-star local rating built over nearly 400 reviews, it has become the default breakfast stop for West Tamar dog walkers.

The dog setup

Dogs join you in the outdoor courtyard seating rather than inside. The courtyard has reasonable space, so even a bigger dog fits under the table without squeezing past other diners. Keep leads on and your dog settled beside you as with any outdoor hospitality seating, and ask at the counter about a water bowl on arrival.

Worth knowing

The food is a step above the usual highway cafe: eggs benedict in vegetarian and smoked salmon versions is the standout, with a fritter stack, buckwheat crepes and gluten-free toast covering the rest, plus gnocchi and chai lattes on the regulars' lists. Coffee runs on Villino beans, a respected Tasmanian roaster. Hours are 6am to 1:30pm weekdays and 7am to 1:30pm weekends, so it is breakfast and lunch only.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits on Main Road through Exeter with on-street parking along the strip, and it makes a natural stop on the drive between Launceston and the Tamar mouth.

Close by with the dogs

The Exeter Fenced Dog Park is in town for a proper off-lead run before a leashed breakfast, and the Legana off-lead park sits on the way south. Swan Point and Paper Beach offer quieter waterside walks nearby. Heading north, Two Dogs Laughing in Beaconsfield is another West Tamar dog-friendly favourite.

More options are on the TAS dog friendly cafes guide and the Exeter destination page.

Max: pair the fenced park with breakfast and you have the best dog morning on the West Tamar, benedict included.