Café Nova

Cafe Nova is a family-run Mediterranean cafe that has anchored the Murray Street strip since 1999, and one of Gawler's easier spots to bring a dog for coffee or a long lunch. The menu stretches from breakfast through to dinner, with wood-fired pizzas and coffee the standouts.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the leafy, vine-covered alfresco courtyard, which is the spot most owners recommend, and at the footpath tables out front on Murray Street. Indoors is not the place for the dog. Water bowls are not always out, so pack a collapsible one; staff are friendly and happy to fill it if you ask. The courtyard is also the calmer choice when the main room is busy.

Worth knowing

The kitchen runs a big menu covering breakfast, pizza, pasta and Greek-leaning plates such as the lamb salad, plus a serious cheesecake cabinet. Hours run 7:30am to 8:30pm Monday to Saturday and to 5pm Sunday, making it one of the few dinner options in town where a dog can join you at an outside table. It gets busy, so book or time your visit around the rush.

Getting there and parking

It sits at 19 Murray Street in the middle of town. Free street parking runs along Murray Street and the side streets such as Calton Road, with more parking near the Gawler Civic Centre a short walk away.

Close by with the dogs

The riverside paths and central Gawler walking trails are close by for a leg stretch before or after. For a proper off-lead run, the fenced Clonlea Reserve dog park is a short drive across town, with a dedicated small dog park for little legs. Cibo Espresso covers the quick coffee alternative on the same strip.

Aim for mid-morning or mid-afternoon on a weekday if you want a quiet courtyard table. More of the town's picks are on the Gawler destination page.