Clay Coffee Collective

Clay Coffee Collective is a specialty coffee spot tucked into the arcade off Fern Street in central Gerringong, half cafe and half ceramics showcase, and it makes a genuine point of welcoming dogs. The shaded outdoor courtyard inside the arcade is where you head with a dog in tow, and it works just as well as a coffee-to-go stop on the way to the beach.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor courtyard rather than inside the small, busy shop. There is room to settle a leashed dog beside your table, and the team is known for being friendly to visiting dogs, with water usually on offer. Keep your dog at your feet and out of the doorway flow, because the courtyard fills up quickly on weekend mornings.

The vibe and the menu

Coffee is the draw: Padre beans, batch brew and espresso, often served in the cafe's own handmade ceramics, with work from local ceramic artists around the space. The food side is quick bites done well, including reuben sandwiches, bagels and beef toasties. It is a compact operation with short hours, 7am to 1pm every day, so it suits a morning run rather than a long lunch.

Getting there and parking

The address is Shop 9/123 Fern Street, inside the arcade off the main strip, with free street parking along Fern Street and a car park nearby. Pair it with an off-leash walk out on the Gerringong headland or the beach path towards Werri Beach. Missi Moo is the other local cafe option in town, The Point Kiosk sits right at Werri Beach for a post-swim coffee, and The Hill Bar and Kitchen up the road welcomes dogs on its deck with the farm views.

More dog-friendly venues around town are on the Gerringong destination page, and the full list is in the NSW cafes index.