Shaka Cafe

Shaka Cafe sits at 37 Moore Road in Freshwater, a short stroll up from the beach, and it is exactly what a surf-club-adjacent cafe should be: bacon and egg rolls from 6:30am, ocean-facing outdoor tables, and a steady stream of locals drifting in from a morning swim or surf with their dogs.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the street-side outdoor seating only; the indoor room stays people-only under NSW health rules. The tables give you a clear view of Moore Road, and staff are generally accommodating of well-behaved dogs settled beside the table. Reviewers describe a warm welcome for visiting dogs, but bring your own water on a hot morning rather than counting on a bowl.

The vibe and the menu

Shaka pours Allpress Espresso alongside a menu of bacon and egg rolls, avocado toast, acai bowls, wraps, burgers and fish and chips, plus smoothies, cold-pressed juices and a beer and wine licence if you are lingering. Hours run 6:30am to 2pm on weekdays and 6:30am to 3pm on weekends, so it is a morning-and-lunch place. Street parking on Moore Road fills fast on weekends and through summer; the Freshwater Beach carpark on Beach Street is the backup, with a short walk back up.

While you're out there

Freshwater Beach itself is not an off-leash beach, so check Northern Beaches Council signage for where dogs can go before you plan the route. The best off-lead option nearby is Flora and Ritchie Roberts Reserve at Curl Curl, with lagoon-side off-leash zones a few minutes north, and Manly's off-leash dog beach is the dedicated sand option further around the coast. Closer to the village, Vines at Limberlost is the other Freshwater cafe that suits a post-walk coffee.

More of the area's dog-friendly venues are on the Freshwater destination page, with the state list in the NSW cafes index.