Orange Basket Cafe

Orange Basket Cafe runs from Unit 7, 6 Lea Street in Hackham's small plaza, and it is not your average suburban coffee stop: it is a not-for-profit social enterprise staffed by people living with disabilities, serving affordable cafe classics on a weekday schedule. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables, which makes it a regular after-walk stop for locals.

The dog setup

Dogs join you at the footpath and courtyard seating out front, on lead and settled by your feet. Indoor seating is for people only. Staff are quick to bring out a water bowl for canine visitors according to regulars, but a travel bowl is a sensible backup. No pet fee, and the plaza parking puts you steps from the tables.

Worth knowing

The menu is hearty cafe classics at kind prices: egg and bacon rolls, loaded hot dogs, baked jacket potatoes, and cakes and pastries made on site, washed down with thick milkshakes and coffee. The service is the other reason people return, warm and genuinely community-minded. Note the hours: Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 2:30pm, Friday with a second evening session to 7pm, closed weekends entirely.

Getting there and parking

The Lea Street plaza has free on-site parking right by the outdoor seating, an easy in-and-out for a coffee stop in southern Adelaide.

Close by with the dogs

Dinton Farm Reserve Fenced Dog Park in Huntfield Heights is about five minutes' drive, with separate large and small dog yards, water and a walking track, a natural pairing for a post-run coffee. Wilfred Taylor Reserve in Morphett Vale offers wide paths for a calmer stroll, and FLAVA Cafe at Christies Beach is another dog-friendly table a few minutes up the road.

More options are on the South Australia dog friendly cafes guide and the Hackham destination page.

Max: closed weekends, so this one is a weekday mission. Time my park run at Dinton Farm for a Friday and we finish at the hot dog cart.